How do you use Neowin?


How do you use Neowin?  

221 members have voted

  1. 1. What is your most common way to START each session of Neowin?

    • I start by browsing from the main forum index
      36
    • I start from the recent forum posts list on the front page
      27
    • I start from the latest forum activity forum header
      11
    • I start from the New / Active Post listing
      11
    • I have specific threads or forums bookmarked
      7
    • I wait for email notifications
      0
    • I use a RSS listing of recent forum posts
      3
    • I start by using the search function for a particular topic of interest
      1
    • I start by using the search function and searching for my own username
      0
    • I use Google to search Neowin or I arrive from another search engine
      0
    • I usually only come to the forums when the front page links me here
      0
    • I usually only come to the forums when another site links me here
      0
    • Other (please explain)
      1
  2. 2. What are some of the typical ways that you use Neowin (once you already get here)?

    • I browse the Main Forum Index
      59
    • I use the Recent Forum Posts (from the front page)
      43
    • I use the Latest Forum Activity (from the forum header)
      53
    • I use the New / Active Post links
      26
    • I jump to specific forums (I have memorized the forum numbers for URL hacking)
      20
    • I use the IPB search function
      9
    • I use the IPB search function to find people who have responded to my posts
      8
    • I use Google to search Neowin ("keyword site:neowin.net")
      3


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Question #1 is not multiple choice. I would like to know the most often way that you get here (or what the first thing you do once you do get here). Even if you vary your routine, try to come up whatever seems to be the most prevalent.

Question #2 is multiple choice. This should round out our knowledge as to which methods are commonly used to find interesting topics.

p.s. When I say "Google", I really mean any search engine.

p.p.s. Since when could we have more than 10 poll options?

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I just voted. I love the recent fourm posts thingy that refreshes, its nice.

I have that disabled. I prefer the New / Active posts listing because it gives me an entire page full of active topics. I am not sure how many others use this though which is one of the reasons what I created this topic.

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I have that disabled. I prefer the New / Active posts listing because it gives me an entire page full of active topics. I am not sure how many others use this though which is one of the reasons what I created this topic.

This.

I wish the latest forum activity bar could be removed completely as a user option, it takes up much needed real estate

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I type in neowin.net and start at the main page, view recent posts from there, if I see something I would like to read or post on I do that. If I don't see something there I will the browse to the main forum index page and then browse through that. I have some favorite forums I enjoy frequenting Hardware Hangout, and a few others such as the subscriber only areas. So many to choose from. I hope this helps get a better idea at least from my standpoint.

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This.

I wish the latest forum activity bar could be removed completely as a user option, it takes up much needed real estate

You do know of the +/- button next to the Quick Links drop down menu, eh? I have my activity bar minimized (and thus disabled).

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You do know of the +/- button next to the Quick Links drop down menu, eh? I have my activity bar minimized (and thus disabled).

Well I'll be damned! Something as simple as that.

Thanks! You just saved 200 'finger flicks' a day! Maybe I use Neowin too much... :p

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I have that disabled. I prefer the New / Active posts listing because it gives me an entire page full of active topics. I am not sure how many others use this though which is one of the reasons what I created this topic.

I usually use the Ajax header with the recent topics, i hate it though because for some reason it is the last thing that loads while Neowin loads so sometimes im already reading a topic and when the damn thing loads is pushes everything down...

I had no idea about the "new/active" posts link, i just saw it and from now on i will be using that instead of the header... thanks

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Come on, 13% of people use URL hacking to switch forums? I thought only I would be so addicted. :p

Edit:

Pfft. Now its over 16%

Edited by Fred Derf
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I use advanced search for my username to continue topics I have already participated in. I also use search for "linux" to help out anyone that posted a Linux-related question. Then I search the forums I am interested in (Linux and Breaking News).

I find the "advanced" search to be the only search that is useful. The 'quick' search on the top page isn't of value to me at all. It would be nice if I didn't have to click the 'down' symbol, then "advanced search" then actually enter my search terms. Direct access to advanced search would be a plus, in my opinion.

Come on, 13% of people use URL hacking to switch forums? I thought only I would be so addicted. :p

I use a bookmark folder and open the included entries in tabs. ;)

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I start off by reading the RSS entries and open ones I'm interested in (or Topic Reply Notification mails). From there, I just surf on the "Latest Forum Activity" wave. One feature I'd love to have is to filter out items from (sub)forums that I'm not interested in -and/or- have a short category tag prefixed to the title. (Eg: [Mac], [XP] etc)

I never look at the main forum index though. It's way too cluttered. Last I looked at the index was like last year or something..

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Main page to read the news. If I see anything in the latest forum posts I middle click (new tab).

Then while reading the threads if I see anything in the recent activity bit on the forum I middle click.

Once I've finished with the threads I go back to the main page.

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Just for the record, I don't think ANYBODY uses the IPB search function for main browsing as it's almost completely useless.

But I use neowin for the Digital Camera and Mac forums daily. Then I'll pop into the Poll station, neobhan, personal media, and neobay weekly.

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I start at the Linux Client forum which I have bookmarked. Then I use the search to find my own posts to find people who have responded to my posts. Then I use the new posts button. I sometimes then go to the index and look through other forums that interest me. Sometimes I look at the front page but not much of that news interests me.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I been lately using more and more google to find posts I want to come back and see their status because with browser remembering the term of search and google speed and updating (google really updates fasts now) it is much faster than anything I can get when starting with neowin main page.

Maybe neowin should consider adding google search (or live search for that matter) instead of the IPB search, it will lower load on the server and add some revenue.

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Google search would not be able to sort threads as nicely by date. Nor, I don't believe, would it be able to distinguish thread start/first post content from additional posts. Or show hits by post vs. threads.

If it could do all that the built-in search did, I would not have a problem with it, though.

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The main forum index is one of the tabs which are automatically loaded whenever I start Firefox. It's one of the tabs which remain open at all times too.

I rely on both 'Latest Forum Activity' and refreshing the main index to find threads which may interest me.

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