A redesign in the works for Thinkpads.com?

Message

#91 Post by **BillMorrow** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:16 am

nonny wrote:I don't see any bird reference at all on the template. Is it not there yet, or does it just not show up in my browser?

birds are there..
might be your browser..

dcdomain · #92 Post by **dcdomain** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:22 am

Hey Nonny, what browser are you using? I made sure (or at least tried to) use all compliant CSS code so there wouldn't be any errors across browsers. So far the only thing I found not working across FireFox and IE is the bottom right logo I just coded in. Asked for help here: http://www.csscreator.com/css-forum/sut ... html#25448 so we'll see how this develops.

Hey Bill, if you could help out. I pretty much tried taking ALL the information on your site and categorizing them. I think there's a lot of old stuff here, if possible, I would prefer to cut out some of it (of course if you want it all to still be here, I can integrate it into the site). So before I start on the other pages besides models/acessories, could you please let me know what I can cut out? Also please make sure all your prices are up to date.

Code: Select all

[Contact]:
bill@thinkpads.com
Telephone (noon to 7pm, Eastern Time) is: 772-781-0039 

[Accessories]:
Trackpoint Caps Four for $10 cash, including postage.
Trackpoint caps: 6 for $15 cash, postage included.
http://www.thinkpads.com/prod04.htm
http://www.thinkpads.com/accessories.htm
IBM 512meg memory for A31p = $189
GoldenRam 512meg memory = $189
Hitachi-Travelstar 80gig (9mm, 5400RPM) = $299
Hitachi Travelstar 60gig (9mm, 7200 RPM) = $289 
40gig = $150 (5400RPM)
There are other drives (such as the 9mm 10gig, 20gig and 30gig)
available. Please email for a quote.
ALL 9mm drives are compatible with all the above thinkpads
and the 240 series and X series except the X40 series. 
HDD brackets for T, A, X, R & 600 series thinkpads are included with the purchase of a HDD
http://www.thinkpads.com/cdrwinfo.htm
http://www.thinkpads.com/thinkpad_accessory_compat.htm

[Reviews]:
Windows ME on his new A20p: http://www.thinkpads.com/WinMEonA20p.htm
A21p: http://www.thinkpads.com/A21-preview.htm
http://www.thinkpads.com/quick_reviews.htm x20: http://www.thinkpads.com/x20_review.htm
http://www.thinkpads.com/x40review.htm
A Review of the TransNote Folio carry case. Also perfect for the A30p and A31p: http://www.thinkpads.com/transnote_case_review.htm
Laid Back: http://www.thinkpads.com/laidback.htm
An open forum member posted this comment on a review of the desktop replacement 
Dell Latitude D800, the Thinkpad T40 and ThinkPad T40p, an FIC notebook
and a desktop for comparison: 
Got really nice photos showing inside and out of T40 and T40p.
T40p kicked [censored] in all 2-D and apps, and battery life. Its only weakness is in games, which it was never designed for. Besides, the comparable Dell to T40p in form factor is 600m, not D800 which is a A series competitor. The current 600m uses a similar ATI Radeon 9000 chip, 64MB. 
Click on this link: http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.html?i=1801
then use your page back to return here and order a new ThinkPad T40


[FAQ/Information]:
Driver Matrix: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/TPAD-MATRIX.html

Hardware Maintenance Manuals for most ThinkPads: http://www-1.ibm.com/support/manager.wss?rs=203&rt=0&org=psg&doc=MIGR-39298 and http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/cdt/hmm.html

Zend and the art of recovery cd: http://www.thinkpads.com/hints.htm
Make your own Disaster Recovery CD set: http://www.thinkpads.com/DisasterRecovery.htm

HDD: http://www.thinkpads.com/hdd.htm

Specifications: ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitute/psref/tabook.pdf

Specifications T: ftp://www.thinkpads.com/pub/T42%20Pages%20from%20tabook.pdf

Name: http://www.thinkpads.com/genesis1.htm

HPA/Pre Desktop Area: ftp://www.thinkpads.com/pub/predesktop.pdf

600 Series Battery issues explained here: http://www3.sympatico.ca/milnoc/TP600Battery/

Undocumented key combinations in EZ setup: http://www.thinkpads.com/EZSetupKeys.htm

Instructions for Windows Logo Key on A30 series and other thinkpad models: http://www.thinkpads.com/windowskey.htm

Troubleshooting memory issues on ThinkPads This is a link to the IBM Web site: http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-4YQLS4.html

Windows XP on the A20p: http://www.thinkpads.com/windows_xp_rc1_on_the_thinkpad_a.htm

Various notes on XP from various anonymous correspondents: http://www.thinkpads.com/WinXP_Comments.htm

Batteryless bios update use this AT YOUR OWN RISK: http://www.thinkpads.com/batteryless.htm

To speed up your modem connection in WinXP click HERE: http://www.thinkpads.com/xpspeedup.htm

Want to mount a HDD over the 6gig limitation on many thinkpads..? Read what one user did for his 760X series: http://www.thinkpads.com/6gig-limit.htm
Large HDD on an older 560?!: http://www.thinkpads.com/largeHDD560.htm

Freedom and responsibility,liberty and duty: that's the deal (who said that?): http://www.carnegie.org/sub/news/gardner.html

DVD Region FAQ: http://www.thinkpads.com/FAQ.htm, http://www.thinkpads.com/DVD_region-FAQ.htm, http://www.dvddemystified.com/

TransNote Note:
When using MS OfficeXP on the transnote, the writing pad feature works and sends the output to MS Word...
Birger tested this on his machine. 
Click me for TransNote Links: http://www.thinkpads.com/TransNoteLinks.htm
Transnote Owners.. Find out how to fill in the void in IBM's neat Transnote. Get cursive script recognised by your Transnote and into MS word.. http://www.thinkpads.com/transnote-tips.htm
Loading WinXP on your transnote or any OTHER non WinXP Thinkpad..? re. transnote: an A30p WinXP preload can be used to easily load XP on the transnote ask Bill for more info on this procedure: http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/MIGR-39961.html

External Video: http://www.thinkpads.com/external-video.htm

Gossip Corner: http://www.thinkpads.com/bills_gossip_corner.htm


[Critical Updates]:
 ATTENTION 
 CRITICAL UPDATE 
 for T41p and R50p made before Jan-30  

IF you own an R50p or a T41p or any T41 and R50 
 and have a 60gig 7200 RPM hard drive 
 Please click here and apply this firmware update to 
 your thinkpad hard drive.. 
 BELOW IS A PART OF WHAT YOU WILL FIND 
 (note: use HERE above to go to the IBM site to get these) 
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=psg1TPAD-HDFIRM
See table on Thinkpads.com


[Downloads]:
FTP: http://www.thinkpads.com/ftp_resource.htm
Travelstar Drive Fitness Test ver. 3.51b8 ftp://www.thinkpads.com/pub/dft32_v351_b8.exe


[Payment]:
I am not required to collect sales tax unless a buyer is in Florida.
for sale pricing: cash or cash equivalent, bank wire, direct deposit or the like...

Comparison shopping..? ThinkPads.com can meet or beat pricing on most ANY ThinkPad 2373 model.
up to 15% off for in stock thinkpads.

Active Military personnel are eligible for as much
of a discount as I can apply to anything I have for sale

Want a quote for 1 or 100 new ThinkPads?
GO to the IBM web site, get a price, then
call or e-mail Bill


[Links]:
IBM Fellows 2001: http://www.thinkpads.com/Fellows.htm
Click ME for a well written dissertation on Palladium and TCPA this is SCARY stuff - be informed and aware!!: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/tcpa-faq.html
INTERNET TAX IPI personnel use ThinkPads, thus I am on their mailing list.This e-mail update got my attention. I thought to share it by way of a link: http://www.ipi.org/ipi/IPIPublications.nsf/PublicationLookupFullText/8298706C0B3F137686256A68007DC188

For those thinkpad users who have screwed up, and lost or don't remember their hard disk password, follow this link http://www.nortek.on.ca/nortek/ These guys can help you..

#93 Post by **JaneL** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:03 am

>Hey Nonny, what browser are you using?
>

IE6 - no Flash. This is my work machine. I went and looked on my T23, and the page shows fine. I see the border now. I thought you weren't going to do that? The page looks a little... strange on this machine. PM me, and I'll send you a screenshot.

MadeInJapan · #94 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:38 pm

I personally like the site...but it's way to heavy on the new T40 series TP's...IMHO....another page for that would be better, with a link on the main page. Down near the bottom, the graphics collide with FireFox, though it looks fine with Internet Explorer...not sure why.

#95 Post by **BillMorrow** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 3:34 am

believe it or not, "we" (kevin jarrett is doing the work) have restarted the redevelopment of the web site..

in php..

dcdomain (darren) did some really nice stuff and i was hoping he would be able to help again..

i tried to find it and can't pull it up anymore..

i plan on starting a private confrence for this work..
and would appreciate any volunteer help..

kjarrett · #96 Post by **kjarrett** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:37 pm

Hey guys,

'tis true, Bill and I are working on a redesign of Thinkpads.com. Great info in this thread. I've copied the relevant portions to a text file.

Just so everyone is clear, the forum is and will remain separate, but may be "wrapped" into the site, we need to see about that.

We are using PostNuke, which will allow us to generate someting very similar to http://www.linksysinfo.org/ when it is all said and done. Here is a great site with some (not alll) of the themes we are considering:

http://design.crossworlds.ru/templates-eng.html

Here is another cool one, you can "skin" the site yourself and see what the new theme looks like:

http://imagicweb.com/ambient/index.php

We are working on the information architecture now, as well as picking a template. Once that is done, we will start migrating the content. It should move fairly quickly.

Volunteers to help ... would be great ... Bill, whenever you're ready, set up that private forum, and let's get people involved!

I've done several PostNuke sites, including my own (kevin-jarrett.net) and my school (ncs-nj.org). I love the environment and the flexibility. I know Bill is going to love it too.

-kj-

#97 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:04 pm

http://www.freewebs.com/alpages

That's my personal website (Liberals beware, it's a political column). If you want any help redoing your main website and want to keep everything simple, I could create a similar layout for your website. It is known to be compatible with Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Exploder.

Oh, a few tips, the computer that you are doing most of the design work on, keep it's screen in 1024x768 resolution so you'll be formatting for that. 1024x768 is the most popular and sites formatted for that resolution will work on higher resoultion as well. You'll also want to be careful as to which software you use for making your website. If you use FrontPage, the site will possibly have compatibility issues with non-IE browsers. I use Dreamwever and that software works great. Also, divide the site into multiple sections, having each and everything on a singe page, with a few exceptions such as blogs and some news columns, can get to be pretty messy.

#98 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 3:16 am

dcdomain wrote:Hey Nonny, what browser are you using? I made sure (or at least tried to) use all compliant CSS code so there wouldn't be any errors across browsers. So far the only thing I found not working across FireFox and IE is the bottom right logo I just coded in. Asked for help here: http://www.csscreator.com/css-forum/sut ... html#25448 so we'll see how this develops.

Hey Bill, if you could help out. I pretty much tried taking ALL the information on your site and categorizing them. I think there's a lot of old stuff here, if possible, I would prefer to cut out some of it (of course if you want it all to still be here, I can integrate it into the site). So before I start on the other pages besides models/acessories, could you please let me know what I can cut out? Also please make sure all your prices are up to date.
**SNIP**

i have been thinking about this for a while and it is one reason i have NOT redone the web site..

so, i think, for now, it might be a good idea to just build up the new site and leave it to me to load the several pages with info from the old site or, maybe just leave the old site in place linked from the new site..

suggestions welcome..

kjarrett · #99 Post by **kjarrett** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:51 am

Bill, that is an excellent idea, and as soon as I show you how Content Express works, you will be amazed at how easy it will be to add back just the information you want - effectively building the NEW Thinkpads.com just the way you feel is best.

Talk to you later today...

-kj-

Blake · #100 Post by **Blake** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:09 pm

possibly make an upgrade and modding section with walkthru faq's.

replaceing a hard drive is easy but for some people it would be nice to look at actual picture, it would help put them at ease.

maybe an intro page with basic ibm / tech news, and info on each model.
(this can be work because of daily updates but im sure users here would donatate their time and skills to help expand the forum)

a thinkpad directory with users names and models.

also can i MOD the photo forums?

#101 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:07 pm

This may be asking a bit, but one thing that would really be nice and possibly increase traffic is if you one, have each users ThinkPad(s) listed down and have the forum personalized to that and various other user settings. It'd also be nice to have a section where oyu can get full system specs, values, trade values, resale values and comparisons between various models.

Guest · #102 Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:21 am

>This may be asking a bit, but one thing that would really be nice and possibly increase traffic is if you one, have each users ThinkPad(s) listed down and have the forum personalized to that and various other user settings. It'd also be nice to have a section where oyu can get full system specs, values, trade values, resale values and comparisons between various models.
>

I think most of that's called http://www.ibm.com ...

MadeInJapan · #103 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:55 pm

Bill...the site is looking better...still a few spots that are not viewable (scrambled) with FireFox, but not as much as before. I like what you're doing with it. Keep up the good work!

#104 Post by **BillMorrow** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:58 am

ok..
MIJ, thanks..

i have looked at the new site with firefox and it is working fine..

you might be looking at the old site..
the new site is here: http://www.thinkpads.com/postnuke

guest:
this need to be kept to registered users, so i killed the ability of any guest to post..
please sign up and join..

Blake:
good idea and not one that has not been visited before..
its lots of work and not within my personal ability to do so..
(aside from needing the hardware, there is the time problem)
so, the new site will have an area where posts can be made and added..

thanks guys..

#105 Post by **JaneL** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:41 pm

>guest:
>this need to be kept to registered users, so i killed the ability of any guest to post..
>please sign up and join.. :)
>

That was just me.

leoblob · #106 Post by **leoblob** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:18 pm

I'll leave the "design-y" aspects to the artists. From a user interface standpoint, I think the current board works well. It loads quick (even with dial-up), and the structure is such that I understood from the very first visit, where to go and what to do (based on my experiences with other sites, mostly car-related).

Maybe this has been said already and I simply missed it, but the one "feature" I think would be helpful, is that if you try to post or respond to a post, and you're not logged in yet, that the board automatically asks you to log in. This will make it more convenient if you're just looking thru the posts (not logged in yet), and then you find something you want to say. Right now, you have to go back to the log-in screen to do it.

This is a great place (as-is). I've learned so much in the couple of months I've been coming here.

#107 Post by **BillMorrow** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:49 am

leoblob wrote: **SNIP***
This is a great place (as-is). I've learned so much in the couple of months I've been coming here.

won't be making changes to the open forum..

we're talking about the changes to http://www.thinkpads.com

leoblob · #108 Post by **leoblob** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:13 pm

Oops! sorry...

Kenn · #109 Post by **Kenn** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 1:48 am

As much as I'm all for the community here (#1!), I think the current state of the design may discourage a lot of first-time buyers, especially those who haven't been referred here by others. From a business perspective it would probably be good to make a simpler and more professional ecommerce look for the business side, especially when people actually get around to purchasing.

However, I do like the "homespun and honest" disarray of the "information" segment - updates with news, tabook stuff, new models...it has a kind of personal, blog/aintitcool kind of feel.

The forums can and should stay with the default phpbb, it works just fine!

tsrzad · #110 Post by **tsrzad** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:35 pm

How about a way to flag certain posts as an individual user? It would be agreat to build a bookmarks archive for future reference.You could access your bookmarks directory just like you can access your profile allowing each user to build a custom reference library. Though I've just joined, I have great respect for the wealth of knowledge and experience that's already here; having an efficient interface to organize it on an individual basis would be quite an asset to the community. I should note, however, that I have no idea about web design, and thus have no clue how difficult it may or may not be to achieve this.

As far as a comprehensive redesign goes, I find it's current incarnation quite easy to navigate and free of too much 'design'. I'm an architectural designer by profession and know about designing too much....lol

my $0.02

tsrzad · #111 Post by **tsrzad** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:45 pm

Doh!

I just realized that we're not dicussing the design of the forum. Yeah, the other site is a little assaulting on the optical nerve.....

syhead · #112 Post by **syhead** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 5:34 pm

I didn't take the time to read other people's suggestions, but I just wanted to say the the site does not load properly in my browser (Firefox 1.0). So, yes, it does need redesign, preferably considering compatibility with other browsers, such as Firefox.

#113 Post by **BillMorrow** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:06 am

we are still, slowly, working on the new web site..

i need more time to learn how to add and modify the new php site..

go take a look and make suggestions, here..

http://www.thinkpads.com/postnuke

Jonathan Cordery · #114 Post by **Jonathan Cordery** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:02 pm

could you make it illegal to use the word 'issue' in the new website?

thinklad · #115 Post by **thinklad** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 3:03 pm

I don't know how possible it is but recently I was trying to search for info on batteries for my T30. The search function turned up all sorts of irrelevant posts because everyone brags about their thinkpad specs in their signature.

Is there a way to prohibit the search from looking at signatures or a way to have the signature separated from the rest of the post?

Just a thought to make the site more useful.

#116 Post by **JaneL** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 10:43 pm

To kj -

>What do you think of the text on the lined background? Is it still >readable? Try pressing "Hot News" on the left.
>

I just looked at the 2/19 update and the question above. Tiny black text on a medium blue lined background is illegible once you're over about 35.

Moroner · #117 Post by **Moroner** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:44 am

I have to second nonny, the contrast of the background itself is way too strong, and it hurts my eyes even without trying to read the text. I would suggest you reduce the contrast in the background a lot, and make it brighter overall to improve contrast to the text. I would also make the grey background of the box brighter for better contrast. Given that most people only scan the text on web sites, you will want to make that as comfortable as possible.

It is nice to see that the text size actually scales (apart from the topics list box in the top right corner), and I would make the default size maybe 10% to 20% larger. After all, there are a lot of T-series users out there with 120 to 133 dpi resolution screens.

#118 Post by **JaneL** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:58 am

If you need a guide to go by, the blue/grey and white color scheme and text size used for this forum is very easy for me to see the text against. Dump the fade effect on title lines and textured backgrounds, make the text bigger, and brighten everything up.

rjm1135 · #119 Post by **rjm1135** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:20 pm

How about a section on "Buying from Bill". It could include all the info. potential buyers need to know -

How to email Bill without it being flagged as spam.
Cherry Pick option - how much and what checks are run.
Size of box your thinkpad will ship in - so you can calculate shipping.
etc.,etc.

These are questions I, and I'm sure other buyers, would ask and it would save a lot of back and forth if it could all be found in one place.

Anyway, just a thought.

Cheers,
Rob.

thinhare · #120 Post by **thinhare** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:32 am

the search function definitely needs some refining work. it's really really awful.

A redesign in the works for Thinkpads.com?

Is Thinkpads.com in need of a redesign?

one design suggestion

an issue with issues

Suggestion to make searching more productive

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