Hello Everyone!
As you all know, we ran a thread asking for suggestions about how to improve BeoWorld - both the main site and on the Forums. We of course took all these proposals to Firebrand to see what we could do - and i will now try and highlight what we can do. Whilst we would love to implement each and every suggestion, some are either unworkable due to forum software limitations (we don't write the forum software) or are too costly to implement in relation to the benefits received. However, between Van at Firebrand and the moderating team and myself - i hope we have addressed at least a few key issues.
Please take the time to read through what we intend to do, as there are further questions we would like to put to members. We have always promised to constantly improve BeoWorld for you, and hopefully some of these points will go some way to fulfilling this.
I will now highlight the issues in bold and explain any intended solutions and/or actions after.
* Improved Gallery on Forum with user ability to upload images
This will be made possible when we upgrade to CS2008 Professional - details later in this post. We are considering making this feature available to Silver and Gold Level Members only, as images take up lots of server space - and it's the paying members that pay for this! Unfortunately, servers aren't free - and BeoWorld is getting so big we keep having to upgrade, which costs real money.
* Fast Link directly to the Forum Menu as opposed to Forum Homepage
Done.
* Go to the first unread post on a thread
Not down to us, but down to Telligent, and we have asked them if Community Server 2008 will enable this. Reply to come!
* Name of Thread Originator as opposed to last poster
Hopefully something that will come with CS-Pro 2008, and we are fairly confident this will happen
* Change of Colour Scheme on Forum
This should be possible, and if anyone really dislike the Blue/Gold theme then we are happy to listen to suggestions.
* Forum Main Page 'scattered' - too many forums..
We are looking at 'condensing' some of the forums and their descriptions to lighten it up a little - but does anyone ever take the time to either condense the forums by using the little 'up arrow' to the top right of the word 'posts' ? This will effectively close that forum for the time being. If you wish to permanently close a Forum that you never visit - have you tried the 'Personalise' option (below the word 'Discussions' on the top left of the page).
* BeoWorld Skandinavia
It has been suggested that this forum heading be just in Danish to condense things.. what do our Swedish and Finnish Members think?
* Main Site - When browsing a product, it would be easier to have an option to download the user and/or service manuals from that page rather than seperately having to go into the User & Service Manuals section..
A very good suggestion, and one we hope to implement. This will cost money as we will have to have the program edited by the websites designers - but hopefully this will not cost too much. We should have this function shortly!
* It would be nice to have links to relevant threads from the Product page in the main site..
Again, something we are looking at, and hope to implement shortly if the costs are not too high.
* A 'Product News' section..
We were hoping to have a dedicated product news section below the main 'News' section on the homepage. However, this is looking rather expensive - and we are looking at alternatives..
* Donations
Lots of people visit BeoWorld with one or two particular problems, have them solved by us, then leave - without wishing to become an active member of the community. This, we fully understand - as not everyone has the time to follow the forums, but some people are so grateful they ask to donate a small amount to the running of the site. Up until now, we have always declined - but due to the spiralling costs of such a successful website, we have decided to have a 'Donation' button where people can donate by PayPal if they so wish. Every single solitary penny of this will go towards the running of BeoWorld - nothing else.
* BeoWorld North America
Instead of having it's very own section, would members mind if we changed 'BeoWorld in your own language' to something like 'BeoWorld - Around the World' and incorporated B&O N.A. into it? This is to further the 'cleaning/slicking up' of the forum menu's.. Suggestions please?
* Prize Draw Rules & Regulations
Not clear enough as to how you can enter the monthly draw by post. These have been changed, and hopefully explain things a little better!
* Forum Homepage image outdated (that's my suggestion!)
Image of Avant with BL1's gone, and replaced with BS4 + BL6000 to keep 'up to date' 
* Main Homepage Images need replacing (mine again)
Done - 10 new images, have a look!
* Gift Shop purchases - postage costs can be a high..
All Gift Shop purchases now have FREE postage.
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This leaves the Forum main software, and we have decided the following..
* Upgrade from Community Server Basic to Community Server 2007 Professional Edition
This will give us some seriously enhanced features, and also 'Gold Support' from Telligent - and Van has managed to negotiate a discount plus a free upgrade to Community Server Professional 2008 in 2-3 Months time. This will cost us around $2,000 - but will enhance the forum brilliantly.
* Change Server to increase storage space for the same fees..
Van has looked into this in great depth, and we may have found a reliable server company that can offer much more storage space for the same price we are already paying. As BeoWorld grows at such a rapid rate - we need this! Hopefully, we will be transferring within the next 6-8 weeks.
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Hopefully, this covers the main issues - but if there is anything you would like to add, bring up, or comment on - please, please do so!!!!
Lee