"Members Only" Upload Forum?

[Strawbs]

I was thinking that everyone here sometimes needs a freeware utility or driver that another member already has, but either can't remember where they got it or came from a magazine cover disk or has just been discontinued!

So an upload area for such little gems seems like an idea that might be popular! It could be for Members only and every file would have to be approved by Admin\Mod before it reached the download pages. Every file posted would have to be freeware & be accompanied by a full description of the product's intended capabilities & it's effectiveness at carrying off those capabilities. A file size limit could be agreed upon beforehand (floppy sized or less would be good), A voting\mini-review system could be attached to the description whereby a rating would be displayed with the d\l link and any file would be pulled off the pages if it proves to cause issues for a majority of users. A disclaimer would have to be agreed to in order to access the download area.

I have a ton of freeware utilities that I have had for a number of years & still use many to this day - even in XP. I would like nothing more than to share some of them around. it would have the added benefit of boosting membeship too IMO.

It's just an idea - What do you think?

Vote and if you don't think it will work or think my idea needs modifying - post your reasons or alternatives!

...and Yes Steve - I'm aware this isn't a democracy ... :t

[The Lodge]

Sounds like a good idea but space and bandwidth cost money. I think we would need a larger file size limit than 1.4MB.

[Strawbs]

Originally posted by The Lodge
Sounds like a good idea but space and bandwidth cost money. I think we would need a larger file size limit than 1.4MB. How about having ads displayed while waiting for the d\l to begin - they could be targetted specifically to the type of download being requested.

The "Floppy" limit would mean less space is required to host he files & less bandwidth for up\downloads.

[The Lodge]

I think ads would be a good idea to help pay for the extra space and bandwidth. I can see your point on file size, but I think 4MB would be a good cut off point. There is some handy freeware that weigh in at a couple of megs.

[Strawbs]

I can also see your point of view on bigger files usually having more to them - but where to strike the balance between larger files & resource limits?

[Steve R Jones]

Nice of you think this up. BUT, and there's always a but, there are too many flaws.

1. and every file would have to be approved by Admin\Mod before it reached the download pages -> Who's going to pay for the TEST machine and MY time?

2. Who's going to pay for the extra Liability Insurance for JupiterMedia to cover pc's that get destroyed when one of the programs kill it?


Current method of providing links to something you find interesting is the prefered method. Should be able to click on Help->About for the programs you got a long time ago.

[Strawbs]

1. I can donate a cyrix 166mhz machine for testing since Jupitor have a squeaky wallett, they would have to pay the shipping charge though ( ;) )! As for your time - don't you have a "Delegating" finger? :eek:

2. But that's the whole point of having a disclaimer - Protection!

Ok, Ok, it's a Dodo! oh well, it was worth it just to find out why not. now let us never speak of it again.

pip, pip. :t

edit: I noticed 20% of the poll respondants (so far) are more than a little sceptical of Jupitors commital to it's subscribers. :D

[_Mystical_Night]

why not just use the online storage your isp usually gives you when you sign up with an isp ???

Example : Comcast gives you 25mb? of online storage when you sign up for broadband with them ... I think it has unlimited bandwith too so as many people as you want can download it

That sounds like a more reasonable plan :) , I mean look at all the time it took to get a new forum imagine a whole forum for shareing and uploading files ... their not made of money ;)

[Bigjakkstaffa]

There's also the fact that depending upon the EULA you would have to get the authors permission to host the relevant files, and if you didnt or couldnt, the site would probably be held liable.

I've seen this sort of thing doen before, however it only really works on smaller sites that arent going to attract much attention and have a small and trusted user base

--Jakk:t

[Johnny Fist]

Something like BitTorrent would come in handy in a situation like this. Maybe sysopt could have its own tracker.

[crossedup]

Perhaps just a member only links page or simply members only forum, most of the stuff can still be found somewhere. We be a small perk to actually registering, all other sites have one, perk that is. would help in getting pertinent help to a question that we know ONE particular person could help with.

Sterling and novell as an example, ( sorry sterl, first one I thought of ). :)

it would be nice to have a place to talk about such stuff and perhaps extole its virtues or mention its weaknesses, "it" being any program in question., w/o clogging up the regular channels

As far as a donation, I can come up with that easily ( hardware anyway ).

Dont think it will work so far as hosting the files though. The idea that is.

The Mod section will be mentioned im sure. I was for it, I still check it and post in it.

[Steve R Jones]

JupiterMedia aka Parent Company to SysOpt has a download site:x

http://www.jumbo.com/category/2054-1-n.htm

[Strawbs]

Originally posted by Bigjakkstaffa
There's also the fact that depending upon the EULA you would have to get the authors permission to host the relevant files, and if you didnt or couldnt, the site would probably be held liable.

...
--Jakk:t Freeware files are usually freely distributable as long as the files aren't tampered with in any way and are complete as the author intended ....."Usually" being the key word here.

:t

[Johnny Fist]

Originally posted by Steve R Jones
JupiterMedia aka Parent Company to SysOpt has a download site:x

http://www.jumbo.com/category/2054-1-n.htm

Yeah, but that site looks like bunk.

[Strawbs]

Originally posted by Johnny Fist
Yeah, but that site looks like bunk. I though tso too, but didn't want to upset the applecart. :r