** Malcolm Cornelius <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [2006-03-01 03:03]: > > I do wonder whether this move is actually decimating the list membership > > - or is it weeding out those that just can't be bothered to unsubscribe? > > What it is doing, to my mind, is diluting the LEM identity since the > > lists are being lost in the mass of other Google Groups, including other > > Mac ones. > > Won't peeps find out about them the same way - via LEM as they did before - > is the fact it is hosted by google any different from it being hosted by > maclaunch ? > > Apart from the fact it might be more reliable and with daft filtering rules > ?
They will indeed, but whereas the signup process for the Maclaunch lists was largely transparent as to who the list service provider was, with Google it isn't. When I first signed up I wasn't really aware that the lists weren't run by LEM direct, then wasn't specifically sure that Maclaunch and LEM weren't directly related. Google on the other hand clearly provides services from one person signing up an idea for a list and getting no subscribers upwards. Just takes away from the professional integrated image I originally had of LEM - not that the information or discussion is necessarily any different! > > On the technical side of things, I have already got a Gmail account and > > so signing up was relatively easy. Once done I found problems with the > > Gmail filtering and bounced several emails around with the Google > > support until I explained to them how to fix the problem and suggested > > > I have yet to > > work out how to route my Group emails to a non-Gmail account without > > either forwarding them (thus messing with the headers in a manner I'd > > rather avoid) or setting up a second Gmail account specifically for the > > Groups (which seems a PITA, I'd rather not have yet another account). > > I just signed my normal email address up without issue on google - what's > gmail got to do with it ? When I tried to sign up I had to create an account or login to one. Being Google that meant my Google account which covers Gmail, Google Talk, etc.. I spent a while following through various pages to work out how to get the mail to head to a different email account, but haven't gone back to it yet. The obvious option is to create a filter for each list that then forwards on to my normal account, but that seems like a kludge fix. > > Alternatives involve abandoning LEM and that involves the possibility of > > splitting the list membership. Setting up a new list elsewhere is the > > easy bit (it's just technical, and taking this list in isolation, it is > > a fairly low volume entity to work with). Deciding whether that is the > > best way to keep the majority of subscribers to a list (I'm being > > generic here!) is the tricky bit - especially when that involves > > splitting away from the 'parent', even if that 'parent' is also moving. > > Er if the people who are already signed up aren't moving to a new LEM > supported list why would they move to a new non-LEM list ? Most likely anyone with a preference not to use Google, and others wishing to keep up with any discussions on there. Some would stick to one or other and others would go for both. It all depends on personal opinion. > I don't want to appear as an apologist for either LEM or google, but I keep > saying, where is there a problem ? Well my email was more intended to point out that there were issues with switching to Google (as there would be to any service that doesn't allow the administrators to manage the migration themselves and relies on subscribers to re-subscribe), and that doing something else as more a matter of the weight of opinion for the subscribers should they be significantly dissatisfied rather than a technical issue. > If it's moving and TPTB have decided it is, sign up and give it a go - as > yet I see no difference on the lists I'm on that have moved apart from > people posting test messages ... Well if Dan's posts to some of the lists are representative there has been a significant membership drop (although whether those dropping off were actively reading and/or posting I have no idea), but this will happen with any change that requires end user action! There have been a number of complaints on some of the lists about browser compatibility and difficulty signing up and changing subscription modes (but then those with problems are the ones that will shout loudest!). For my part I wasn't actually complaining - the jury is still out. The transition hasn't been that smooth, and I have yet to get things working in the same way as they were, but time will tell. Things do seem to have gone quite quiet on the lists, although it is picking up a bit - the G-List and iMac list are mere shadows of their former selves at the moment. I may have to try subscribing using an email, but having done it through the web whilst signed into my Gmail account I didn't get any options, so I can either access the mail through the Groups, or through my Gmail webmail - which is almost the same as a group being browser based, but does give me a slightly better interface! ** end quote [Malcolm Cornelius] -- Paul Tansom | Aptanet Ltd. | http://www.aptanet.com -- Mac UK is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... 123Inkjets.com <http://lowendmac.com/ad/123inkjets.html> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Mac UK list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/mac-uk.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:mac-uk@mail.maclaunch.com> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-uk%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com
