Farewell, newsgroups

[Dan Freeman]

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx

"Beginning in June 2010, Microsoft will begin closing newsgroups and
migrating users to Microsoft forums that include Microsoft Answers,
TechNet and MSDN. This move will centralize content, make it easier for
contributors to retain their influence, reduce redundancies and make
content easier to find. Overall, forums offer a better spam management
platform that will improve customer satisfaction by encouraging a
healthy discussion space. "

[Beverly Howard]

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx <<

It's notable that the above link is closed to discussion.

This has been a long time coming and this announcement is making it
clear that ms is not open to any additional input.

As for this group, may I respectfully suggest that this thread continue
with suggestions and discussions that would help users decide which of
the currently available forums would be the best choices for the move
when the door is finally slammed shut in our faces.

Beverly Howard

[Craig Berntson]

There is good support on the Universal Thread, but many people don't like
the UI there. Others don't like the non-technical discussions. Foxite has
lots of users, but I don't go there because I hate the UI. It's very
difficult to navigate. There is FoxForum, but not many people visit there.
Microsoft also has their own forum, but it's blocked by many firewalls
because it has "social" in the URL.

In the end, it's a matter of personal choice.
--
----
Craig Berntson
Microsoft MVP

Post by Beverly Howard

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx <<

It's notable that the above link is closed to discussion.
This has been a long time coming and this announcement is making it clear
that ms is not open to any additional input.
As for this group, may I respectfully suggest that this thread continue
with suggestions and discussions that would help users decide which of the
currently available forums would be the best choices for the move when the
door is finally slammed shut in our faces.
Beverly Howard

[Gene Wirchenko]

On Wed, 5 May 2010 09:18:32 -0600, "Craig Berntson"

Post by Craig Berntson
There is good support on the Universal Thread, but many people don't like
the UI there. Others don't like the non-technical discussions. Foxite has

I find it confusing, unintuitive, and slow. I tried, but. Even
the home page is confusing these days.

Post by Craig Berntson
lots of users, but I don't go there because I hate the UI. It's very
difficult to navigate. There is FoxForum, but not many people visit there.
Microsoft also has their own forum, but it's blocked by many firewalls
because it has "social" in the URL.
In the end, it's a matter of personal choice.

I do not like Web forums and tend to avoid them. A Web forum is
YA site to check that has YA interface and which does not allow for a
delayed reply. (On the last point, I sometimes prepare part of a
reply and then check some things and continue with my reply and only
then send it. I can not easily do this with Web forums.)

With USENET, I download the messages for answering at my
convenience. Delayed reply is very useful here. Another use of it is
to sit on a reply because I wonder if I should really send it.
Sometimes, I decide that it would be better to keep quiet rather than
send a reply that, after examination, I think is not as polite as it
should be.)

My USENET reader (Agent) has killfiling which is a great
timesaver.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

[Villi Bernaroli]

Post by Dan Freeman
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx
"Beginning in June 2010, Microsoft will begin closing newsgroups and
migrating users to Microsoft forums that include Microsoft Answers,
TechNet and MSDN. This move will centralize content, make it easier
for contributors to retain their influence, reduce redundancies and
make content easier to find.

In some ways it could really be as they say, but in many other ways... take
google, for example: what's on usenet groups can be found via googlegroups
or even via googleweb, since many websites publish what they find on
newsgroups. Will the infos on MS forums be searchable with the same ease?
(apart from the big screw up of google's groups search...)
Sure MS will hand to us many search utilities for theyr forums, so maybe
things will improve...

Post by Dan Freeman
Overall, forums offer a better spam management platform

From MS, sure :)

[tom knauf]

Hi,

I hope that dfpug (german foxpro group) and www.foxite.com can handle the
new users ....

Best regards
tom

Post by Villi Bernaroli

Post by Dan Freeman
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx
"Beginning in June 2010, Microsoft will begin closing newsgroups and
migrating users to Microsoft forums that include Microsoft Answers,
TechNet and MSDN. This move will centralize content, make it easier
for contributors to retain their influence, reduce redundancies and
make content easier to find.

In some ways it could really be as they say, but in many other ways...
take google, for example: what's on usenet groups can be found via
googlegroups or even via googleweb, since many websites publish what they
find on newsgroups. Will the infos on MS forums be searchable with the
same ease? (apart from the big screw up of google's groups search...)
Sure MS will hand to us many search utilities for theyr forums, so maybe
things will improve...

Post by Dan Freeman
Overall, forums offer a better spam management platform

From MS, sure :)
--
Villi Bernaroli, Italy
VFP, SOAP, MS SQLserver, MySQL, Oracle

[TonySper]

Really going to miss this group. You all have helped me out with every
problem for years. This group seems to be more helpful than forms with
replies. Also easy to use, no log ins or any firewalls. Please advise were
you are going Dan.
TonySper

Post by Dan Freeman
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx
"Beginning in June 2010, Microsoft will begin closing newsgroups and
migrating users to Microsoft forums that include Microsoft Answers,
TechNet and MSDN. This move will centralize content, make it easier for
contributors to retain their influence, reduce redundancies and make
content easier to find. Overall, forums offer a better spam management
platform that will improve customer satisfaction by encouraging a healthy
discussion space. "

[Paul Hemans]

What about making an ALT user group under google?

Hey, we could even create one called - "Fox 2 Python conversions", just
kidding, (please no flames).

I have been helped immensely by this user group and it will be a sad day to
see it go.

Post by Dan Freeman
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx
"Beginning in June 2010, Microsoft will begin closing newsgroups and
migrating users to Microsoft forums that include Microsoft Answers,
TechNet and MSDN. This move will centralize content, make it easier for
contributors to retain their influence, reduce redundancies and make
content easier to find. Overall, forums offer a better spam management
platform that will improve customer satisfaction by encouraging a healthy
discussion space. "

[Dan Freeman]

There used to be a comp.databases.xbase.fox group. No clue if it's
still there since it's been so long since I've had access to a non-MS
news server.

Dan

Post by Paul Hemans
What about making an ALT user group under google?
Hey, we could even create one called - "Fox 2 Python conversions", just
kidding, (please no flames).
I have been helped immensely by this user group and it will be a sad day to
see it go.

Post by Dan Freeman
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx
"Beginning in June 2010, Microsoft will begin closing newsgroups and
migrating users to Microsoft forums that include Microsoft Answers, TechNet
and MSDN. This move will centralize content, make it easier for
contributors to retain their influence, reduce redundancies and make
content easier to find. Overall, forums offer a better spam management
platform that will improve customer satisfaction by encouraging a healthy
discussion space. "

[Gene Wirchenko]

Post by Dan Freeman
There used to be a comp.databases.xbase.fox group. No clue if it's
still there since it's been so long since I've had access to a non-MS
news server.

It still exists but is moribund. The last on-topic posting might
have been on 2009-11-18. (It was an ad.) The last definitely
on-topic posting was 2009-05-09. The last thread with more than one
post had three posts and extended from 2009-02-17 to 19. I posted to
that thread. I was one of the last to give up on cdxf.

I have just resubscribed to it. If people use it, I will use it.
I used to crosspost to it and this newsgroup.

I suspect that mpfpe will continue to exist even after Microsoft
pulls the plug.

[snip]

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

[ED]

I hope they have reply trees in the forums. There's nothing worse than one
long list of posts and trying to figure out which responds to which.

Also, it states that the forums support RSS. Maybe that will be similar to
using a newsgroup client?

ED


"Dan Freeman" <***@microsoft.com> wrote in message news:u7$4O4%***@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx

"Beginning in June 2010, Microsoft will begin closing newsgroups and
migrating users to Microsoft forums that include Microsoft Answers,
TechNet and MSDN. This move will centralize content, make it easier for
contributors to retain their influence, reduce redundancies and make
content easier to find. Overall, forums offer a better spam management
platform that will improve customer satisfaction by encouraging a
healthy discussion space. "

[Villi Bernaroli]

Post by ED
I hope they have reply trees in the forums. There's nothing worse
than one long list of posts and trying to figure out which responds
to which.

There's an option to have a tree-like view. It's not as clear and
configurable (via newsreader) as that of newsgroups, but the result is
almost the same

Post by ED
Also, it states that the forums support RSS. Maybe that will be
similar to using a newsgroup client?

I didn't look at that but I'll be ASAP

[Olaf Doschke]

Hi Ed,

Post by ED
I hope they have reply trees in the forums. There's nothing worse than one
long list of posts and trying to figure out which responds to which.

I don't mind that as too confusing, because there are more or less easy to
use
citing options to make the reference. It's ordered to chronological, which
not
seldom can also be an advantage. I therefore like tek-tips and
experts-exchange
forums.

Post by ED
Also, it states that the forums support RSS. Maybe that will be similar to
using a newsgroup client?

RSS is nice to get an overview of what updated, but I it's only one way.

The nice part about nntp is that your newsreader is the combination of
a news aggregator aggregating many different topics and vendors and
products and it is also a back channel. Nothing compares...

In regard to MS newsgropus being migrated to MS Forums what is needed
is an nntp bridge duplicating forum messages as news posts and vice versa,
and such a beast was developed and is available here:
https://connect.microsoft.com/site927

Bye, Olaf.

[swdev2]

Ah - it comes.

Finally.

I was wondering when (no, not if) MS would be tossing the nntp'd interface
and newsgroups.

It's been a good run - I'll miss all the old timers that still hang around
and post here..

Hey !!! Be Good!, all of youse ! If you can't be good, don't get caught !!!

Mondo Regards [Bill]

--
===================
William Sanders / EFG VFP / mySql / MS-SQL
www.efgroup.net/vfpwebhosting
www.terrafox.net
----

Post by Dan Freeman
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx
"Beginning in June 2010, Microsoft will begin closing newsgroups and

[snip]