New Chat Box

[DaveS]

A new totally integrated chat box has been installed on the Forum home page.
Click on the Honda Trail Bike Forum link in the top left.

It refreshes every 10 seconds so there is a delay, but this is deliberate to reduce server processing.

I'm not sure if it's staying yet, or whether if it does it will stay there.

So let's have a poll.

[DaveS]

It refreshes every 10 seconds so there is a delay, but this is deliberate to reduce server processing.

Reports of the rest of the site running slow so I've reduced the refresh to 15 seconds.
I'll keep an eye on it as I don't really want the whole site slowing down.

[phil w]

Is this the reason it seems to be taking ages to post replies

[Whealie]

Is this the reason it seems to be taking ages to post replies

Yep. Me thinks it a bad idea.

[Palmer]

Dave would an external 1 effect the speed of the forum?

[DaveS]

Dave would an external 1 effect the speed of the forum?

Depends where it's hosted. If by external then you mean not hosted by us then no it wouldn't affect the speed, but you wouldn't get it integrated quite as well which has always been the problem.


Anyway turned off for now until we get the performance sorted.

[doglegdon]

If it does slow the site, wouldn't just be easier to use MSN or Yahoo Messengers?

[stageonesimmo]

I voted 'NO' but must admit to doing that only beacuse it was cluttering the place up - and with all of the stickies and 'child' boards it was a bridge too far on an already cluttered page.

I didnt notice any slowing down when it was up and my posts took the normal time to do etc so it just an aesthetics thing for me. Plus, I'm not a 'chat' type person - I dont even speak to folk when I'm face to face with them so typing stuff in a box appeals even less.

[anti-social mode: ON]

[DaveS]

If it does slow the site, wouldn't just be easier to use MSN or Yahoo Messengers?

You can't use those in a group mode embedded in a forum like this.
We will get this solved but just not at the moment.

[DaveS]

I voted 'NO' but must admit to doing that only beacuse it was cluttering the place up - and with all of the stickies and 'child' boards it was a bridge too far on an already cluttered page.

I didnt notice any slowing down when it was up and my posts took the normal time to do etc so it just an aesthetics thing for me. Plus, I'm not a 'chat' type person - I dont even speak to folk when I'm face to face with them so typing stuff in a box appeals even less.

[anti-social mode: ON]

Good feedback thanks.
You can actually collapse the chat box, there's was a button on the top right of it. But I did wonder if it was going to be too obtrusive. Its gone for the time being anyway due to the load on the server, but will certainly bear your comments in mind.