Reorganization of Chat and IM Alternatives forum

[Jeff Hester]

I want to make it as simple as possible. Jake and I chatted about this tonight, and I promised to post my thought based on everyone’s comments to date.

The structure I’ve outline below shows all of the detail, including all subforums. Bold text indicates main sections; blue indicates a news categories; red indicates a link to the new downloads database; green sections don’t show on the main forum index, but show when you drill into a category; gold indicates a potential future subforum; purple indicates a sub-forum.

• AIM
  • AIM News
  • AIM Support
  • AIM Add-ons & Utilties
  • Buddy Icons & Smilies
  • Away Messages
  • AIM Downloads
• MSN Messenger (includes WLM)
  • MSN Messenger News
  • MSN Messenger Support
  • Windows Live Messenger Support
  • MSN/WLM Add-ons & Utilities
  • Display Pics, Emoticons & Skins
  • MSN Messenger Downloads
• Yahoo! Messenger
  • Yahoo! Messenger News
  • Yahoo! Messenger Support
  • Yahoo! Add-ons & Utilities
  • Yahoo! Skins & Personalization
  • Yahoo! Downloads
• Other Instant Messengers
  • Multi-network Instant Messengers
    • Trillian
      • Trillian News
    • Gaim
    • Jabber
  • Alternative IM and Chat Tools
    • ICQ
      • ICQ News
    • Google Talk
      • Google Talk News
    • IRC
      • IRC News
    • Skype
      • Skype News
    • Gizmo
      

I have essentially left the AIM, MSN and Yahoo sections as-is. I’ve eliminated separate sections for Trillian, ICQ and Chat & IM Alternatives, incorporating them instead into a new section titled Other Instant Messengers. We would have four sections for IM instead of the current six.

Other Instant Messengers would have two main forums: Multi-network Instant Messengers and Alternative Messengers. Members can post in any forum. For instance, if I wanted to post about Gaim or some other Jabber client, I could post that directly in the Multi-network IM forum.

I agree with Ian that we need an updated matrix that shows all of the various messaging tools and where they fit. This will be incorporated in the IM Basics area.

You’ll note that I eliminated a separate VoIP forum. I did this for a couple of reasons. First, most of the VoIP tools are also IM tools (Skype, Gizmo, Google Talk). Second, many people don’t know what the term “VoIP” means. Third, the lines are being blurred as AIM, MSN and Yahoo all now include VoIP options.

The goal is to make it easy for people to find the information they need, and it’s a delicate balance. Too few forums, and the sheer volume of topics makes it difficult to find things. Too many forums, and it overwhelms the user with too many choices. This cuts down the number of sections, but I am concerned that effectively demoting forums like Trillian, Google Talk and Skype to a sub-forum level might make bury them too deep.

There is another option. This is a little radical, but we could create an entirely different interface to the forums, replacing the main forum index with something much simpler and easier to navigate. I’ve seen it done elsewhere, but I’ll have to dig around for a good example.

EDIT: After looking at this again and thinking about this some more, I’m inclined to change the last section as follows:

• Other Instant Messengers (this would be resorted alphabetically)
  • Trillian
    • Trillian News
  • Gaim
  • Jabber
  • ICQ
    • ICQ News
  • Google Talk
    • Google Talk News
  • IRC
    • IRC News
  • Skype
    • Skype News
  • Gizmo

[Eagle_Kiwi]

I like that – a lot!
As the keenest “VoIP” person here, I’m DELIGHTED to see that section “vanish”, to be absorbed into its various programs. It’s just another part of IM’ing these days.

I notice an odd omission though. There should be an “Other” sub-section under “Other” – this being a catchall for all “other” IM programs (e.g. Eyeball, QQ, etc etc) not significant enough to have individual sections.

I’m pleased to see no reference to “AOL Instant Messenger” as such – *I* always know it as just “AIM”, as does almost everyone I know.

And MSN/WLM – I think you have it the way it needs to be, there, Jeff. Gradually over time, as people’s perception advance, the “old” name can be further deemphasised and the new one made more prominent – but right now both names MUST be shown.

As for your doing away with “multi-protocols” distinction in “Other” – hmmm, a radical step!?!
I think I like it, as it DOES make things even simpler/cleaner – but I guess there are those who LOOK for such programs. Now (unless they refer to the “matrix” elsewhere) there’s no obvious distinction.
(I never did like the other heading: “Alternative IM and Chat Tools” anyway !)

I could live with that – could others here ?

Overall I feel this is a solid and clean foundation anyway, doubtless subject to minor tweaking as time goes on. 🙂

[Spike]

Great, absolutely perfect idea!

One tidbit, I think you meant for IRC News to be green, not purple.

And, also as Ian said, with “Other Instant Messengers” being a category, maybe have an “Other” forum so people can post about others (like the current Chat & IM Alt. forums).

Great job, though, great ideas and whatnot. I hope we can do the changes ASAP!

[Spike]

In case nobody noticed (I hope you did!) Jeff implemented the changes, and IMHO, they look much better than they did before, more organized/simplified. Thanks, Jeff!

[detn8r]

OK, I searched high and low and this is the only topic I came up with —

Jeff told me that it was discussed (and I believe I was not on the active staff roster at the time) that the ICQ forum was unanimously voted off the island.

I just want to know WHY?! If it was going to be removed from the “big 4” and dropped into “Other IM” why didn’t it?! It just disappeared! I truly think that is wrong! Even more so with the new release of ICQ6 BETA, there is no forum to post it in, other than the general “ALL THE REST OF THE IMs”.

Can we please have a sub-forum for ICQ?

[Spike]

I asked Jeff to remove it due to inactivity. Any ICQ questions can be posted in the general Other IM forum.

Or you could plead your case and I could reconsider re-adding it. Sell me on it! 😀

[detn8r]

Because it is STILL a “Top 4” Instant Messenger? I don’t find it fair that it should be up to YOU as an individual. It has always been part of BBB and the fact that we no longer had a staff member representing it doesn’t mean we just kill it off.

I was having someone who KNOWS ICQ well post a review on the new BETA, but why bother? If there is no specific forum, there is no point.

[Spike]

On the contrary, just because there isn’t a forum doesn’t mean we don’t support it? We don’t have a Gizmodo forum and I’m not going around deleting every Gizmodo article I see? It was an agreement between Jeff, some other staff member who I forget, and me, and we all chose that it be removed (It’s not popular enough to be its own forum along with MSN, AIM, and Y!M, and the Other IM forum is too crowded as it is. We haven’t been any the worse off without it, and it’s been gone for quite some time now, so I don’t see a point in adding it again when all it really does is take up space.

[detn8r]

Your kidding me? You would substitute ICQ with IRC? What potential support would be offer for for IRC that MOST people want? How to register a nickname? How to join a channel? Give me a break!

If you are worried about “space” than delete the OSI forum. Remove the IRC sub-forum! ICQ IS a top 4 instant messenger — hell we even have a IM center for it (although I’m sure that is going to change).

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