My (short) wish list

[AceHarddrive]

I wish PG Offline could access MSN groups and Usenet forums (like Google groups).

Thanks much!
~Tim   :o

[Wilson Logan]

Tim,

 I had a look at Google groups... that might be doable but the MSN groups are a bit more tricky.

Cheers,

Wilson.

[AceHarddrive]

How about some way to delete unneeded text in the posts?    There's certain people that will reply to a post and, even if it has tons of useless crap beneath it, will not take the time to delete that crap.  I'd hate to have to archive posts with all that crap attached.

~Tim  :o

[Wilson Logan]

Tim,

Probably not a good idea. Imagine you could edit posts, anyone?s posts & then re-distribute the messages as an archive. I think you can see the possibilities for mischief?

Wilson.

[AceHarddrive]

I see your point, Wilson.  What I'm referring to is the habit of "posters" to not clean up their posts.  By this I mean:  

Topic 1
 Reply from B  (replyB + topic)
 Reply from C  (replyC + replyB + topic)
    Reply from D (replyD +reply B + topic)


What I would do is "revise" this (with poster's prior approval) to be:

Topic 1
 Reply from B  (replyB)
 Reply from C  (replyC)
    Reply from D  (replyD + replyB)
     
I had already planned on posting a request to all members asking that they go through their previous posts (by doing a search for their username) and clean them up (removing all extraneous text).

As for a FAQ, we already have several FAQ (or is it FAQS?) in the files section.  I think what Lynn had in mind was to get rid of all extraneous text and postings, collect all related topics together and somehow make a kind of informational database/FAQ/whathaveyou, based on things like strops/stropping/hones/honing/shaving/razors...  For example, Lynn may have one way of sharpening a razor, and I may have another (even if slightly different).  I'd like to think we would give all members...the benefit of experience and knowledge.  A FAQ can only go so far.

I'd suggest you talk to Lynn about all this.  I'm not in charge, but I would like to see the job done to the benefit of all.

~Tim   ;D

[AceHarddrive]

How about downloading posts from bbs's (i.e. 3d Commune, Wetcanvas...)?  Or is there a utility out there that will do that?

Thanks much!
~Tim  ^_-

[Wilson Logan]

Tim,

I don't know about BBS' to be honest. Vis-a-vis a supre FAQ, I did see a very well done one that has the format you want I think. I will try & remember what it was & I'll post its URL here.

Cheers,

Wilson.

[AceHarddrive]

I didn't mean downloading bbs messages to make a FAQ, just downloading them for offline reading, etc.  

~Tim  ^_^

[Wilson Logan]

Yeah, sure but where to start?  I mean, how many BBS formats are there? You'd have to write code for each one individually & each one'd probably be as much work as writing the interface to Yahoo was (i.e. a lot!).

I'm not saying it won't ever happen, just don't hold your breath :)

Cheers,

Wilson.

[JoeRoss]

Whoah. Google has groups?  Somethin I should look into hehe  I think this would be a great way to expand PGO's capabilities since there are also some places that offer the mailing lists through the web too (Coollist.com for one) I'd love to be able to get some of the groups out of smartgroups too...

Joe

[AceHarddrive]

Yup!  Google got groups!  Go here:

http://groups.google.com/grphp?hl=en

~Tim  ^_^

[Brad]

I don't think you can truly say they are "Google Groups".  Google is archiving the usenet newsgroups which is a completely different network than the www.  One of the best usegroup readers is Free Agent and Agent.  Free Agent is a free program for usegroup use only, Agent is the same program but licensed which enables email activity.  I've used Agent for about 5 years and love it.  I don't have to worry about worms and viruses that attach MS products.

http://www.forteinc.com/agent/index.php

Brad

[Wilson Logan]

I'll second that. Agent is the newsreader I use & recommend.

Cheers,

Wilson.

[phazei]

groups.google.com

Google doesn't really have groups.  Google just has web based non-binary nntp access.  NNTP/Usenet/news groups.

They aren't really google's, been around for years, much more diverse than anything else I've seen, some places have 10+ years of group history.  It's free and most isp's supply their own nntp server, usually nntp.yourisp.com.  very usefull.  The binary groups are great as almost all programs/audio/video on the internet are distributed on them first, then they slowly filter down to P2P and IRC.

100% unmonitored, the manner in which they are set up doesn't allow mass monitoring, and there are around 80,000 groups and new ones every day.  There is no centeral server, each nntp server updates from the other servers i believe.