Latest Changes to Dell Community Site

Gel214th We brought back XPS as a group with a dedicated forum (in addition to a blog, wiki and media gallery). You can access from the community home page under Groups, here is url: http://en.community.dell.com/groups/xps_club/default.aspx

Hello,

Thanks for the post, and the care and response.

I see it now that you posted the link.

I would not have been able to find it otherwise.

The whole navigation structure needs to be adjusted.

The links are just...too hidden. I now notice there is a Groups link in the left menu.

How about using some icons or something like that in the navigation menu in the left? Making the text bigger, or something like that.

And what's a group as compared to the main forums?

If I was just logging on to check on an XPS, would I know that I need to go into

Groups--->XPS--->XPS Forum

to get dedicated information?

From a customer perspective, what is the benefit of this navigation scheme to the customer looking for more information, probably with a problem and wanting a solution? 

Who hit whom with the Web 2.0 hammer?:)

The main forum, when you actually get inside a Post, is nice. The WYSIWYG Editor for actually typing a message is nice, and the AJAX features of Preview and Options at the top appearing as Tabs is nice.

I can't find anything of worth or benefit to me with the other aspects of the site though. I already use Facebook, and Wordpress.

I understand the thinking behind the Groups and the Wikis etc. and most likely this is an attempt to expand the Dell Community site, and put some more Community into it...but the Dell Community site was also a Technical area for people to talk about their machines, issues, get solutions, share ideas etc. It was also a fantastic place to get feedback from Dell Community leaders, via the Forums

As a consumer, and a customer, I feel that these changes are too far removed from that core use and purpose, and the little extras that are added don't make up for that loss of intuitive navigation and the ability to find what I needed instantly. 

I think that a fix as simple as reverting to a more usable, threaded forum system (old school if you will) and keeping the WYSIWYG improvements, and the tags etc. would do me personally a world of benefit and perhaps then I would be encouraged to explore the other avenues of the site further. 

And lastly...how do I get Immediate Email notifications of a reply to a thread (there's that old school message forum stuff again...).

:emotion-18:

Gel214th We brought back XPS as a group with a dedicated forum (in addition to a blog, wiki and media gallery). You can access from the community home page under Groups, here is url: http://en.community.dell.com/groups/xps_club/default.aspx

Sean,

I don't quite understand the logic of what Dell has done here.  :emotion-45:

There will be no XPS tech support forum? But there will be an XPS forum under groups? :emotion-40:

Where will a user that comes here for support of their XPS system ask a tech support question?  :emotion-17:

Like I said ... I just don't understand Dells logic here. You know of course that some customers will find the XPS group forum, and it will become a tech support forum. But it will be hidden from the new user that wants XPS support. :emotion-41:

We brought back XPS as a group with a dedicated forum (in addition to a blog, wiki and media gallery).

Whilst a dedicated XPS forum section is good to see Sean, the various sub-sections (listed under 'Media') suggest that the 'XPS Club' is primarily for desktop owners?

This is further emphasised in Chris_Mixon's thread entitled 'XPS Club Forum usage'.   Clicking on the 'General XPS' link provided therein, opens a 'FAQ Desktop' page, in which most XPS PC's/XPS Desktop systems are listed.

Why are there individual/separate sections for most XPS desktops, but not a single forum section for XPS laptop owners - never mind dedicated sub-forums/sub-sections for the various laptop models?

It might as well be called 'XPS Desktop Club' :emotion-55:

I'd been away for a couple of months, and I come back to try and ask a couple of questions, about a "NEAR" Future purchase of a Studio 15N Laptop? And I can't find where to post it, or the Linux Forums.

PCgeek1,

For general questions about laptops (non-XPS) --> Laptop/General Hardware sub-forum

For questions about Linux --> Linux sub-forum

In each case you should see a Start a New Thread link near the upper right-hand corner of the page, next to the Forum Information.

Gel214th

It has been a while since I last logged on and I was shocked to see the change. I too was happy with the way the old site was. I'm gonna have to spend some time to get used to this new site.

Dell - Sean

How do I delete a post? I tried clicking on the 'edit' button and then deleting the text but it didn't work. The writing pops up again if you delete all the text and click on 'post'.

Also, how do I change the size of my media picture I inserted in the 'signature' section. As you can see, I have an image of moving heads and the dimensions are big. I want to make it smaller. When I click on the media icon in 'signature', you can enter width and height (don't know if in cm or inches etc. though) but when I do this the image still stays the same. I remember the old site worked when I did this.

How do I delete a post?

You can't.  Only MOD's and Admin's can delete posts.

Also, how do I change the size of my media picture I inserted in the 'signature' section. As you can see, I have an image of moving heads and the dimensions are big. I want to make it smaller.

You need to resize images which you want to use as an avatar - or in a signature, before you upload it/them :emotion-55: 

There are plenty of FREE image resizers available.  Just Google (i.e.) 'Image Resizer', and you'll undoubtedly find lots more of 'em.

Three which I know off the top of my head, are 'VSO Image Resizer', 'FastStone Photo Resizer', and 'PIXresizer' :emotion-5:

OK this new site is a disaster. I have been using this forum for at least six years and this is the worst I have ever seen it.   If you really do not want to help out the end user just shut down the forum.  Do not make ridiculous changes and say it is better.  I did not complain with the first redesign because I could still get around, but this change is just plain awful.  It will not even work in Opera or Firefox.  Some people really dislike using IE.

Bring back the old site or just shut the forum down and stop wasting our time.

For years i have come to this forum for help and always find it fast, but now you can be here for hours and end up with nothing. This changes to

the community together with the bad support calls i have made over the last two years there is no help to get anymore, so no more dell computers for me. I am glad i talked the company i work for not to upgrade to dell just think 1300 new computers with the support they have these days.

I installed VSO Image Resizer but because my image was a GIFF file (animated and moving), after resizing, the image would no longer move. Furthermore, the image came out more blurred. There was no 'Help' menu, you had to go to the website for instructions. I got bored and uninstalled it.

FOUND SOLUTION

Since the image was from Photobucket, I found that you could resize the GIFF file from within the site. Easy as. You'll notice my GIFF file of "A night on the Roxbury" is now smaller (half the size).