Apple Zealot Site for 2004


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Some may remember about a year and a half ago a site called silverdragonden.com that produced many different Apple Switch parody ads, Dr. Evil being the most famous of them all. Starting in 2004 we have decided to re-focus on Apple computers and make a resource for the Apple Zealots out there.

All of the Apple Switch parodies are back, with more on the way. Now included on the site are user forums, IRC, downloads, news, rumors, and Apple Articles! We're creating a brand new community for Apple users with a fun, energetic environment. It may be for the zealots, but that does not mean that there will be flame wars or trivial arguments. We're striving to make one of the best Apple communities on the web!

The Den pre-opened her doors a couple hours ago, so if you like getting in on sites when they first start, this is a great opportunity. The next few months will shape how the Den progresses in the Apple community, and you can have a say in what goes on. We *officially* open our doors tomorrow, so please excuse some bad looking image placeholders and incorrect CSS. I wanted to give everyone a chance to check it out and provide constructive criticism.

This is not a replacement for Neowin (could anyone ever replace Neowin, really?) Rather this is a complimentary site for those who prefer Apple Computers.

I hope you enjoy the site and much as I enjoyed creating it!

-Yazzi AKA Silver Dragon

http://www.silverdragonden.com

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why do your require us to register to view the images, that is the most annoying thing a website can do, me along im sure many others will close their browser once seeing that, because its not worth the time to register just to read the text on a few images ;)

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I used to have them available out in the open... Problem was that EVERYONE linked to my server and leeched bandwidth. Now at least we can limit the number of people leeching, and get some members.

It's also a cheesy way to get you to register. I admit, it's mean.

-SD

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why do your require us to register to view the images, that is the most annoying thing a website can do, me along im sure many others will close their browser once seeing that, because its not worth the time to register just to read the text on a few images ;)

Woah, two in a row. If it's a huge issue to register, then maybe I should unlock the images. Question is, once you see the images, would you ever come back?

What if I created an intermediate page? High enough resolution so you can read what they say, but not big enough for a desktop? If you want the desktop, you have to register. Or is that just as painful?

-SD

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Woah, two in a row. If it's a huge issue to register, then maybe I should unlock the images. Question is, once you see the images, would you ever come back?

What if I created an intermediate page? High enough resolution so you can read what they say, but not big enough for a desktop? If you want the desktop, you have to register. Or is that just as painful?

-SD

intermediate page sounds good, but your site is a novalty like site, one that you visit once in awhile knowing there is going to be something fresh yet your site is not a site you can visit daily for something new. Yah, i think it would be perfect to have preview images that cant be scaled for desktop use that allow everyone to read hte captions :)

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Good point. The ultimate goal is the build the user forums and news areas in such a way that there will be daily content, but realistically that will take a while to make happen.

Thanks for the great feedback! I'll got to work on those changes ASAP.

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I don't mind logging in. It's a good way to prevent leeching and maybe once more people sign up the forums will be worth subsequent returns to the site.

Gotta love those wallpapers. :)

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I feel like a schmuck replying after every single person!

Yes, it will take a few months to grow the forums. I do believe that once we hit 400 members enough of them will be non-lurkers to have a pretty active member base. Time will tell, but I'll continue to pour my heart into it... See where she goes.

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i know how it is when u want feedback adn you tend to replyt o everything, and its a great thing, because you are getting answers to questions u haven't though of :)

definantly set up some anti-leach thing to prevent leaching of any of hte images though :)

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Thanks. I got sick of waiting for IE to support transparent PNGs, so I used the active X hack to make it work. I think it's pretty cool... Subtle, but cool.

Thank again, it's nice to see someone noticed :)

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I try to use PNG's whenever possible... and I could easily tell that wasn't a GIF or a JPEG :)

Plus, Safari makes it easy to tell... click, hold, and drag around... if you don't see a matte and can see through it, it's a PNG :p

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PNGs really are sweet. I don't have to try and figure out what my matte will be, how aliased text will show up, it just works, and it works well. I just wish MS would get off their butt and support transparent PNGs out of the box!

My only problem is that if I had gone with GIF, the site download time would be quite a bit less. Oh well, I think the translucent drop shadows and boxes are cool enough to justify a few extra seconds! Besides, I can always make a different theme for the extremely low bandwidth users :)

Thanks for all the input guys!

-SD

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One thing I don't understand... Most forum based sites make you register, even Neowin. Why is registering such a big deal? Is it giving out your e-mail address? I could make it non-required... Where exactly is the problem, I'm not understanding.

I do understand why it sucks to have to register in order to just read the Apple Switch desktops. But that will change.

-Y

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I agree with Silver Dragon here, Neowin makes you sign up to view images on the forums, so why should it be such an issue when another site does it? I'm more than happy to sign up and support a site that provides good content...even if I do end up being a lurker. Heh.

As for site feedback, I like it a lot. Smooth looking while still being functional. Fast too, is that your own php script? Becoming a Mac user myself only recently, it's kind of perfect timing to have a new community to join. No cries of "N00b!" to scare me away.

Hope it doesn't disappear into the ether like so many other well-intending tech-related sites though.

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I agree with Silver Dragon here, Neowin makes you sign up to view images on the forums, so why should it be such an issue when another site does it? I'm more than happy to sign up and support a site that provides good content...even if I do end up being a lurker. Heh.

As for site feedback, I like it a lot. Smooth looking while still being functional. Fast too, is that your own php script? Becoming a Mac user myself only recently, it's kind of perfect timing to have a new community to join. No cries of "N00b!" to scare me away.

Hope it doesn't disappear into the ether like so many other well-intending tech-related sites though.

yes but how many sites have you signed up for just to view one thing, than never gone back?

the point is you must offer something to the initial visitor to make htem want to register, this is like havign nude chicks behind a window that blurs what is behind it, and telling us you must pay to get in, but you dont even know if hte chicks are hot ;)

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Interesting analogy... Understanding that the content will come... We just officially opened our doors yesterday and in one day we have had over 500 downloads of the Apple Switch desktops, and that's with registering. Although that's a cool part of the site, it won't end up being the focus. Forum content, community driven news and articles, IRC, etc. will end up being the focus. These items will require registration as letting an guest post is dangerous.

The images *will* be turned into a medium-res preview so you can read what each one says without having to register. That will take a wee bit of time, but should be online soon. Hopefully that will eliminate 99% of the complaints. I have made it a priority, so it should happen sooner than later.

I appreciate the feedback everyone!

-SD

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