This site has run on the vBulletin forum software for years. Probably since the beginning. There was so much integration with the customization for the gallery and other functionality that is not a standard feature of vBulletin. I'm sure that is why they stuck with vBulletin when they did the site redesign. They are talking about moving to PHP 8 which is a different company and a different product. That will require more work than the last redesign. Drummerworld and DFO are on XenForo.

The speed thing is a massive problem and they need to fix that as quickly as possible. That will kill this site quicker than any gripes about the site layout.

These different software packages have different costs. These costs are just one factor. The second cost is the customizations that they will surely want to keep. The third cost is the work to move the site to a different software. There will be other costs if they have to bring in any other people to help with the switchover, to help troubleshoot, ect.

On a daily basis, there is the running of the site. This is Tommy and crew, which aren't getting paid for this. Then there is any outside help they may be paying for to do IT administration.

In addition, there is a monthly cost for hosting the site.

My point is, this is a lot harder than it looks. And a lot more expensive. I know there are things people aren't happy with the new site, and the intermittent slowness is a huge problem, but instead of complaining and threatening to go away, how about asking Tommy, what you can do to help? Maybe kick in a few $$ to help defray all of the costs to run this site.

The old site is never coming back so everyone really needs to get over that. Frankly, I found the old site atrocious because of the limitations of the old version of vBulletin it was running on, so the new version is a huge step up.

Let's try to be part of the solution rather than complaining about everything we don't like. The bottom line is, this is the best site for information on vintage drums out there. Complaining won't fix anything. Offering Tommy and crew help, will.

why the empty space------>over-->there->-------------------------------->

Scroll to the top isn't "New Posts" there with a "Lightning symbol"

whatever it is- I've donated- because of Vintage Drum Guide is so nice to use..

But this- for discussion-- is pretty much disaster area

and------------------------------------------why all that empty space---->

There is not a Lightning symbol with my standard sized window. So I widened my window, and surprisingly, it appears if one widens the window. I surf with a widescreen showing two open pages side by side. That Lightning symbol doesn't show up...unless I widen my window. That's certainly odd. Many users might miss that. Where's the Like button?

Sloooowwww.....this will be my last visit here.

Thanks for years of knowledge, and assistance, and a few lectures from the Leedy collector who apparently knows it all!

I don't blame you at all! VDF is extremely slow and my patience is waning! Also, I clicked on the link from BEC, but I was directed to the beginning of the thread. Going directly to Vintagedrumguide.com is very fast, so I know it's a server issue with VDF.

I'll attempt to check in from time to time, but I'm finding it difficult to deal with the extreme slow response of VDF!

-Mark

Well said!

If you want a like button go to facebook.

If you want a like button go to facebook.[/QUOTE]

I took this as a thread lamenting the demise of a great vintage drum community, possibly looking for ways to draw its members back. This person wants to strangle it!

LOL! You are telling us to go to Facebook, for the Like button, even though FB didn't start the Like button.

So, to acknowledge a great post, one has to reply with a "like" post, but it is too few characters and won't allow its submission. So to show that the post is cool without replying takes extra steps that shouldn't be needed, by having a Like button.

The other drum forum is too commercial for my tastes. I've always favored this place, but it hasn't always been able to "keep up" with the ease-of-use of the other place, in my opinion. If this place was able to automatically resize pictures and had a more "picture-posting-friendly" software program, then I think we'd get more people posting stuff. As far as "ask a question/get an answer"....I can't think of a single question about vintage drums that hasn't been asked/answered a million times, already. Some of the sub-forums, here, hardly ever see any use!

There was a period of time when it was relatively easy to uncover lost vintage drum treasures. But, after years and years of people scraping every barrel out there, it's pretty much all been found. Now, it all got collected, cleaned up and put away in various man caves, she sheds and otherwise dens. What we have left is the group of people who have the stuff to show and tell. It's not a big group, either. Since there's more people at the other place, there is a larger audience to show stuff to. I'm loyal to this place and always have been, so I will go down with the ship if it comes to it. It's been a very fun ride. If I haven't said it before....Thanks, David and Tommy! You guys are great!