Comments on: Please Excuse Our Dust http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:45:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-28558 Julie Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:32:39 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-28558 Tony: Yes, user accounts are gone. Anyone can post just by entering their email address and a name - like you just did. But, if you posted before the switch to word press, your comments are all still there. Tony:
Yes, user accounts are gone. Anyone can post just by entering their email address and a name – like you just did. But, if you posted before the switch to word press, your comments are all still there.

]]> By: Tony C http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-28555 Tony C Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:02:27 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-28555 I like the new design too -- makes it easier to read and very clean without being too stark. Are the commenter accounts gone? I like the new design too — makes it easier to read and very clean without being too stark. Are the commenter accounts gone?

]]> By: Jim Travis http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-28302 Jim Travis Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:53:32 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-28302 Julie: Redesigned site looks nice, and is easy to read - a nice combination. Congratulations, and looking forward to the enhancements you mentioned. Happy Holidays Julie:

Redesigned site looks nice, and is easy to read – a nice combination. Congratulations, and looking forward to the enhancements you mentioned.

Happy Holidays

]]> By: Mark http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27962 Mark Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:14:35 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27962 You've got all the time you want. :) Heck, my own website is a bit stale. You’ve got all the time you want. :) Heck, my own website is a bit stale.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27951 Julie Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:29:37 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27951 Mark: I'm going to change your mind about the update. Just give me a little time :) Mark:
I’m going to change your mind about the update. Just give me a little time :)

]]> By: Mark http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27950 Mark Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:12:19 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27950 I know, I'm just being an old grump. I was taken by surprise. :) Dang, I have been a fan of the site since it began...ain't gonna stop now! I know, I’m just being an old grump. I was taken by surprise. :) Dang, I have been a fan of the site since it began…ain’t gonna stop now!

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27911 Julie Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:56:25 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27911 Mark: I think you're judging this book by its cover. :) Nothing has changed with this site except that right now the left side bar moved to the right side and we're missing the logo banner, color and the review summary boxes. It's still the exact same reviews written in the same style. The stuff that is missing is going to come back ASAP :) Mark:
I think you’re judging this book by its cover. :) Nothing has changed with this site except that right now the left side bar moved to the right side and we’re missing the logo banner, color and the review summary boxes. It’s still the exact same reviews written in the same style. The stuff that is missing is going to come back ASAP :)

]]> By: Mark http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27907 Mark Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:30:24 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27907 Captain FuddyDuddy over here loved the design of the old site. Adored it, welcomed it lovingly first thing every morning like an old friend. I'd get my daily dose of Gadgeteer, then go over to the much less enticing site design of Engadget and Gizmodo. This blog style of tech site does not appeal to me at all. My friend Ross and I are considering putting together a site called "24 Hour Reviews", specializing in gadget reviews from a pure usability standpoint, after 24 hours of using it. Kind of how I do my bag and gadget reviews for you. If we do, it will not be done in a blog-style manner. Please, do whatever you need to with this site, but allow me to mourn the passing of an old, old, OLD friend. :) Captain FuddyDuddy over here loved the design of the old site. Adored it, welcomed it lovingly first thing every morning like an old friend. I’d get my daily dose of Gadgeteer, then go over to the much less enticing site design of Engadget and Gizmodo. This blog style of tech site does not appeal to me at all. My friend Ross and I are considering putting together a site called “24 Hour Reviews”, specializing in gadget reviews from a pure usability standpoint, after 24 hours of using it. Kind of how I do my bag and gadget reviews for you. If we do, it will not be done in a blog-style manner. Please, do whatever you need to with this site, but allow me to mourn the passing of an old, old, OLD friend. :)

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27863 Julie Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:32:22 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27863 Mark: What exactly don't you like? The lack of a graphical design, Wordpress? Or everything? :) Mark:
What exactly don’t you like? The lack of a graphical design, Wordpress? Or everything? :)

]]> By: Mark http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27862 Mark Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:25:34 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27862 Actually...I don't like it, but that's probably the shock speaking. Also the encroaching fuddy-duddy stage where changes frighten me. Actually…I don’t like it, but that’s probably the shock speaking. Also the encroaching fuddy-duddy stage where changes frighten me.

]]> By: Helen http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27854 Helen Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:55:16 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27854 I usually check Gadgeteer everyday, but I missed a couple. And lo and behold, a surprise! I love, love, love the new site. I use WordPress on two sites, and I'm very happy with it. Congratulations on the new look! I usually check Gadgeteer everyday, but I missed a couple. And lo and behold, a surprise!

I love, love, love the new site. I use WordPress on two sites, and I’m very happy with it.

Congratulations on the new look!

]]> By: Rob http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27433 Rob Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:57:56 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27433 Yes, I wrote some Ruby which ran in the context of the previous site (which was running a custom Rails-based CMS) and transferred the stuff in its databases into an empty WordPress DB, including pulling old forum posts out of VBBS (for those posts that had a forum link, anyway) and saving all of our special Gadgeteer metadata (pricing, manufacturer, pros/cons, etc.) as WordPress custom fields so that stuff isn't lost (it will show up here again soon). The only things that were left behind were the links Julie mentioned, and user accounts. This is actually not the first time I've done this -- a couple of years ago when I started the Rails app, I had to migrate all the old stuff from the previous incarnation of The Gadgeteer, which was hand-built PHP with a database that had grown somewhat organically, and review text stored in static files. This time, it was easier :) Yes, I wrote some Ruby which ran in the context of the previous site (which was running a custom Rails-based CMS) and transferred the stuff in its databases into an empty WordPress DB, including pulling old forum posts out of VBBS (for those posts that had a forum link, anyway) and saving all of our special Gadgeteer metadata (pricing, manufacturer, pros/cons, etc.) as WordPress custom fields so that stuff isn’t lost (it will show up here again soon). The only things that were left behind were the links Julie mentioned, and user accounts.

This is actually not the first time I’ve done this — a couple of years ago when I started the Rails app, I had to migrate all the old stuff from the previous incarnation of The Gadgeteer, which was hand-built PHP with a database that had grown somewhat organically, and review text stored in static files. This time, it was easier :)

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27377 Julie Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:17:42 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27377 Yes, thanks to Rob, it's all here except for the billions of outgoing links that I let get completely out of hand. I didn't think people were really using those lists anyway, so they are history. Yes, thanks to Rob, it’s all here except for the billions of outgoing links that I let get completely out of hand. I didn’t think people were really using those lists anyway, so they are history.

]]> By: barbarabaker http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27375 barbarabaker Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:11:18 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27375 I think it's pretty nice looking too. Although I know you won't let it stay this way (simple)...it is a nice look. I personally like it, but then again, I'm always up for change. :) Barb I think it’s pretty nice looking too. Although I know you won’t let it stay this way (simple)…it is a nice look.

I personally like it, but then again, I’m always up for change.
:) Barb

]]> By: Geoff http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27373 Geoff Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:19:51 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27373 Black on white boring? Nawwww... I am impressed that you have seemingly migrated most (all?) of the old content into WordPress. Did Rob write a custom tool for that? Geeky minds want to know. Black on white boring? Nawwww…

I am impressed that you have seemingly migrated most (all?) of the old content into WordPress. Did Rob write a custom tool for that? Geeky minds want to know.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27370 Julie Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:22:35 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27370 It will remain easy on the eyes, but it's not going to remain this ... ummmm ... boring :) It will remain easy on the eyes, but it’s not going to remain this … ummmm … boring :)

]]> By: otto28 http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27369 otto28 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:14:02 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27369 i like the new look, clean and easy on the eyes! i like the new look, clean and easy on the eyes!

]]> By: Jake http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27368 Jake Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:47:16 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27368 i agree and sometimes it's really hard to find stuff i agree and sometimes it’s really hard to find stuff

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27357 Julie Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:48:48 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27357 I want to give a huge thank you to Rob for pulling off this switch! He's a genius and I humbly bow before him... I can't wait till the new layout / graphical design gets implemented. Mike Stamm (the same person that brought us the previous layout), has been hard at work on a new one. I think you'll all like it. :D If you run into any huge probs, please be sure to let us know... I want to give a huge thank you to Rob for pulling off this switch! He’s a genius and I humbly bow before him…

I can’t wait till the new layout / graphical design gets implemented. Mike Stamm (the same person that brought us the previous layout), has been hard at work on a new one. I think you’ll all like it. :D

If you run into any huge probs, please be sure to let us know…

]]> By: Meredyth http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27355 Meredyth Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:09:07 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27355 Change is good :) Change is good :)

]]> By: rob http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27354 rob Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:56:13 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27354 Well, it's not <i>completed</i>, especially in terms of design, but it's good enough to make the switch :) Both of us have been using WordPress for personal blogs for a while, so it's not completely new, and I'll soon be engaged writing some custom plugins to bring back some of the old Gadgeteer functionality like all the extra info on reviews. Yes, all that's saved from the old site too, it's just not visible in our theme right now. And speaking of themes, I should probably plug the one we're using: <a href="http://diythemes.com/" rel="nofollow">Thesis</a>, which is a commercial theme framework designed for extreme versatility and customization... it starts off fairly minimal like you see it now, but has lots of hooks and a good structure for CSS customization, so we'll probably have a new design at some point too. Well, it’s not completed, especially in terms of design, but it’s good enough to make the switch :) Both of us have been using WordPress for personal blogs for a while, so it’s not completely new, and I’ll soon be engaged writing some custom plugins to bring back some of the old Gadgeteer functionality like all the extra info on reviews. Yes, all that’s saved from the old site too, it’s just not visible in our theme right now.

And speaking of themes, I should probably plug the one we’re using: Thesis, which is a commercial theme framework designed for extreme versatility and customization… it starts off fairly minimal like you see it now, but has lots of hooks and a good structure for CSS customization, so we’ll probably have a new design at some point too.

]]> By: Shan Gee http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27351 Shan Gee Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:40:09 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27351 The new website looks good. Congrats on switching to WordPress, you'll love it! The new website looks good. Congrats on switching to WordPress, you’ll love it!

]]> By: Tyler Puckett http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/12/14/please-excuse-our-dust/comment-page-1/#comment-27348 Tyler Puckett Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:18:21 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=8412#comment-27348 Excellent! Glad to see the site moving on along. I'm excited to see the new site in it's completed form. Excellent! Glad to see the site moving on along. I’m excited to see the new site in it’s completed form.

]]>