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SmokyTheBandit
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Joined: 19 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Tue 03/23/2004 4:00am [Post #1] |
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I was thinking would anybody look approving a IRC chat programm.
I just had visited a few site and thought about what could make this site better, so iwas at http://community.smoothwall.org/irc/ and took a closer look at there Java IRC chat module and thought maybe this could be incorporated into the support page for online tech support if both parties willing and online. ?
any thoughts
P.S Sorry if me posted this wrong area thought this was the right area dont know how long have to be a member here to post so sorry if anyone offended.. |
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Mich
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Joined: 01 Jan 2003
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Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue 03/23/2004 7:03am [Post #2] |
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Chat is always a good idea on a pc help site 
IRC chat though IMO isn't that secure. On top of that, you actually have to purchase a package for java irc chat. This is a free site and all the helpers are volunteers meaning that people would have to donate more time if they were to assist people in real time instead of posting on a forum. I'm not saying that people wouldn't volunteer though this place has a bunch of amazing people that give a lot of time assisting others. Thats what makes this a great place to be
As for posting this idea here, this is the place to do it and it is a good suggestion. No specific membership time needed. Osc is always taking suggestions from people and implementing the ones he agrees with 
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Canuck
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Joined: 22 May 2003
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| Posted: Tue 03/23/2004 9:09am [Post #3] |
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And some he doesn't agree with either ... donations to name just one!!  |
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SmokyTheBandit
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| Posted: Tue 03/23/2004 10:16am [Post #4] |
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Ill get in contact with a friend of mine ill PM OSC I think hes written his own code for a HTTPS: Java IRC if your interested. Its free as long as no one is charged hes one of those Open Source People. Not that theres anything wrong with that.
If your interested |
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PartieHonteuse
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| Posted: Tue 03/23/2004 4:20pm [Post #5] |
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Or he could just install the free PhpMyChat module for this phpnuke enabled site.. The refresh is awesome and if anyone get's out of hand there are kick/ban features alos. |
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SmokyTheBandit
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| Posted: Tue 03/23/2004 11:20pm [Post #6] |
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Yeah i didnt know much on PHP in regaurds to chat but have recently looked at there site and downloaded the manual so to speak for PHP let me have some time ill go through see what its like to set up one. |
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PartieHonteuse
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| Posted: Wed 03/24/2004 2:22am [Post #7] |
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It's actually pretty easy..upload it, run the install script...and you're done.
Partie™ |
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Osc
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Joined: 01 Jan 1999
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Location: Washington, DC
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| Posted: Wed 03/24/2004 11:42am [Post #8] |
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Well, I've always kept the idea of a chat room in the back of my mind, but I have yet to see a chat room on a help site that was actually useful.
A lot of times, people wandered in and asked a question, then would get annoyed when they did not get an immediate response. Or sometimes, they would get lost in all the different conversations going on.
If you separate the chats into lots of different rooms, it would get even more confusing to the newbie.
I love cool new tech, but sometimes the tried and true old technology gets the job done better. I don't know -- I'm curious as to what other people's experiences have been.
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Oscar Sodani
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Shinobi
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| Posted: Wed 03/24/2004 11:56am [Post #9] |
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One thing that would bother me about chat is that you are always going to have problems with "hostile chatters" You go into any chat room in the world and see how much time passes without a hostile comment....not very long unfortunately. I think this would somewhat distract from the friendly atmosphere on this site....just my two cents! |
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Basementgeek
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| Posted: Wed 03/24/2004 1:23pm [Post #10] |
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I have to agree with Sinobi, unless its open to Members only, no guests.
One way to give one on one help is using "Skype" Canuck, Al and I use it.
Down side its only one to one, 2 people only. Voice chat is so much easier than typing.
Another way if using XP is to remotely controlling someone else's PC, which I think Canuck and I are going to try tonight.
Another down side for chat help is only those folks on line at that time can help/learn anything. One of the primary ideas behind this site is to learn and well as received assistance.
My opinion is to keep Help2Go pretty much as it is. If some one would like to set up a "Chat Room" just for BS'ing, like Yahoo Voice chat, go for it. I will be glad to join a private site, not a public one.
Cheers |
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Al
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| Posted: Wed 03/24/2004 1:54pm [Post #11] |
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I agree w/Shinobi & Basemt....
Basemt, just went to the Skype site to the faq section and it reads as follows:
"Can I use Skype to make 3-way or conference calls?
Yes you can! Starting with version 0.96.0.51 - Skype allows you to speak with up to 4 other people at the same time! "
We should try this out...guess I will update my version first. |
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PartieHonteuse
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| Posted: Wed 03/24/2004 1:57pm [Post #12] |
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OSC, if you'd really like to "test the waters" about the PhpMyChat thing, I'd be more than happy to set it up on my server for you so you don't have to worry about doing anything with it. I was going to install it anways. Just put a link somewhere to the chat room maybe in this topic or somewhere kind of inconspicuous so it can get a test run. The only problem with it would be everyone would have to register to it since I obviously don't have access to your user DB.
As for basement..
| Quote: |
Another way if using XP is to remotely controlling someone else's PC, which I think Canuck and I are going to try tonight. |
I actually have that on my site right now. It's called the Request A Tech™ service. It uses a different version of VNC called Ultr@VNC and it's a batch file that gets all the user information and even does a hardware scan. It uploads that info to my FTP server and gives it a distinct .txt filename. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to test it out but as far as I can tell it works and it's also run entirely in batch files...altho compressed to .com and .exe files they might not work totally on 9x machines. Only problem with this service and any other that uses Remote Admin is that it only works for people that have a direct connection to the internet (i.e. no firewalls or routers) or only work for people that know what they are doing so it kind of defeats the purpose. The only reason why I'm doing it is because I get bored lol.
Back to the chat room idea.
When I started building the site for an MSN Chat group I added the chat option into the site but, there weren't a lot of users there since our main "site" was a chat room. Not a website so it really didn't get that much attention. I think the most users ever on the chat room that I had installed were 8 and the unfortunate thing is, the people that were there to help never actually joined the chat since they were already in another chat room. Although this site has many more users and more people it seems are willing to help I think you should maybe give it a trial run, see how it goes and if all doesn't work...take it off.
Yep, just my 2 cents.
Partie™
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PartieHonteuse
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| Posted: Wed 03/24/2004 2:14pm [Post #13] |
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Sorry, just have to add something else...
| Quote: | | Another down side for chat help is only those folks on line at that time can help/learn anything. One of the primary ideas behind this site is to learn and well as received assistance. |
Well said...maybe another idea is so that everyone can learn is to maybe create another "Articles" section that says something like "Chat Room Learning" or something like that...and if something gets solved in the chat room then have the person who solved it write a small article on it to describe the situation and then write about the steps taken to solve the problem? Of course..that is if they want to write an article about 
yep, now that I'm thinking about it, seems more of a hassle than anything else, but i'll leave this up here to see if anyone wants to improve on it. |
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Osc
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Joined: 01 Jan 1999
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| Posted: Wed 03/24/2004 2:22pm [Post #14] |
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Hey guys -- about the Remote Control via XP -- I would seriously consider using a VNC based product rather than Microsoft's own. The VNC ones are open source, easy to install, and *easy to disable*. I actually disable all the services having to do with Windows Remote Control on every XP machine I lay my hands on -- too many backdoor programs can infiltrate using Microsoft's methods.
I've used RealVNC and TightVNC -- both are excellent.
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Oscar Sodani
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SmokyTheBandit
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| Posted: Thu 03/25/2004 3:21am [Post #15] |
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I like the sound of voice chat also but i agree to Members only.
Iam still abit worried about remote assistance and what some people who know people do that could do to someones PC and could reflect bad on site |
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