Reminder - Microsoft Responds to the Evolution of Community

What is Happening?
This message is to inform you that Microsoft will soon begin discontinuing
newsgroups and transitioning users to Microsoft forums.

Why?
As you may know, newsgroups have existed for many years now; however, the
traffic in the Microsoft newsgroups has been steadily decreasing for the
past several years while customers and participants are increasingly finding
solutions in the forums on Microsoft properties and third party sites. This
move will unify the customer experience, centralize content, make it easier
for active contributors to retain their influence, mitigate redundancies and
make the content easier to find by customers and search engines through
improved indexing. Additionally, forums offer a better user and spam
management platform that will improve customer satisfaction by encouraging a
healthy discussion in a clean community space. To this end, Microsoft will
begin to progressively shift available resources to the forums technology
and discontinue support for newsgroups.

In addition to offering a compelling online browser experience, for those
users who prefer to use an NNTP (newsgroup) reader to participate in the
newsgroups community, we have developed a solution called the NNTP Bridge
which allows a user to connect a variety of supported NNTP readers to the
forums they would like to participate in and continue having the NTTP reader
functionality. You can find instructions on how to download and set up the
NNTP Bridge he http://connect.microsoft.com/MicrosoftForums/

Which Newsgroups Are Affected by this Shutdown?
All public newsgroups will eventually be closed between June 1, 2010 and
October 1, 2010. Microsoft will be closing newsgroups in a phased approach,
starting with the least active newsgroups and moving eventually to more
active ones throughout the course of the next six months.


Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup is scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to invite you to participate at http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...WindowsAnswers forum(s). An exact date will be posted in advance as plans are finalized.

Should you want to visit the other Microsoft Forums, please go to
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...s/default.mspx

Who Should I Contact with any Questions?
Send any questions about the process, recommended forums and timing to

On Wed, 19 May 2010 15:48:06 -0700, put finger to
keyboard and composed:

Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup is scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to invite you to participate at http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...WindowsAnswers forum(s).

That gives me a choice of Win7, Vista, or XP. How does that "enhance
and improve" my Win 98 "experience"?

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

Franc Zabkar wrote:
On Wed, 19 May 2010 15:48:06 -0700, put finger to
keyboard and composed:

Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup is
scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to invite
you to participate at
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...WindowsAnswers
forum(s).

That gives me a choice of Win7, Vista, or XP. How does that "enhance
and improve" my Win 98 "experience"?

Did you CC your reply to ?

"Franc Zabkar" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 19 May 2010 15:48:06 -0700, put finger to
keyboard and composed:

Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup is
scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to
invite you to participate at
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...WindowsAnswers
forum(s).

That gives me a choice of Win7, Vista, or XP. How does that "enhance
and improve" my Win 98 "experience"?

They don't care about your Win 98 "experience", Franc....if it's not on
their list of "currently supported" operating systems, I don't think
they're interested. It's a pattern that started years ago....KB
articles and downloads for Win3.x, the Win95, and more recently, many
for Win98 and ME, have disappeared. Copies were long available on the
MS FTP sites, and then suddenly they were removed. It certainly wasn't
a need for space, considering how cheap storage has become. Some MVPs
pressed and lobbied for quite some time to keep the downloads and
articles available, but were in the long run, ignored.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009
A+
http://dts-l.net/

On May 19, 11:03*pm, "glee" wrote:
....snip...

They don't care about your Win 98 "experience", Franc....if it's not on
their list of "currently supported" operating systems, I don't think
they're interested. *It's a pattern that started years ago....KB
articles and downloads for Win3.x, the Win95, and more recently, many
for Win98 and ME, have disappeared. *Copies were long available on the
MS FTP sites, and then suddenly they were removed. *It certainly wasn't
a need for space, considering how cheap storage has become. *Some MVPs
pressed and lobbied for quite some time to keep the downloads and
articles available, but were in the long run, ignored.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP *Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009
A+http://dts-l.net/

Win98 == no registration
WinXP == registration, and control

That last item is going to be the death of MS as people move towards
freedom.

My most recent experiences with Google [surprisingly free everytime I
explore a new service] were what I expect if I had paid for them. The
system actually did what I meant, not what I asked for! Like a mind
reader. Plus, Google's documentation is incredibly easy to
understand. I actually started at the beginning of the document and
read to the end, never got lost, nor fell asleep, and still picture it
in my mind. As opposed to reading the last page first on most MS
documentation, constantly being introduced to unrecognizable terms,
and zzzzz.., followed by a complete lack of retention for what I had
just waded through.

MS is to Google as HP calculators are to TI calculators. They both
get you there, but for me, just like the TI calculator, google is more
intuitive.

On 05/20/2010 02:03 AM, glee wrote:
"Franc Zabkar" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 19 May 2010 15:48:06 -0700, put finger to
keyboard and composed:

Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup
is scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to
invite you to participate at
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...WindowsAnswers
forum(s).

That gives me a choice of Win7, Vista, or XP. How does that "enhance
and improve" my Win 98 "experience"?

They don't care about your Win 98 "experience", Franc....if it's not on
their list of "currently supported" operating systems, I don't think
they're interested. It's a pattern that started years ago....KB
articles and downloads for Win3.x, the Win95, and more recently, many
for Win98 and ME, have disappeared. Copies were long available on the
MS FTP sites, and then suddenly they were removed. It certainly wasn't
a need for space, considering how cheap storage has become. Some MVPs
pressed and lobbied for quite some time to keep the downloads and
articles available, but were in the long run, ignored.

Of course others have attempted to keep those as well, we even had a
short "campaign" here in this group. Others also likely contacted [best
they can] Microsoft concerning these removals, so all should be given
due credit for the attempts.
I, personally, addressed these matters in this group as I noted
segments occurring, even to the point of argument with Gary and others,
relating to these removals [supposedly Microsoft was ONLY removing
superseded files and articles] of which I knew better.

We still don't know for sure when this particular group will be closed
as it hasn't received its official closing date, which also includes the
supposed "replacement or not" within the notice.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

"glee" wrote:

"Franc Zabkar" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 19 May 2010 15:48:06 -0700, put finger to
keyboard and composed:

Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup is
scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to
invite you to participate at
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...WindowsAnswers
forum(s).

That gives me a choice of Win7, Vista, or XP. How does that "enhance
and improve" my Win 98 "experience"?

They don't care about your Win 98 "experience", Franc....if it's not on
their list of "currently supported" operating systems, I don't think
they're interested. It's a pattern that started years ago....KB
articles and downloads for Win3.x, the Win95, and more recently, many
for Win98 and ME, have disappeared. Copies were long available on the
MS FTP sites, and then suddenly they were removed. It certainly wasn't
a need for space, considering how cheap storage has become. Some MVPs
pressed and lobbied for quite some time to keep the downloads and
articles available, but were in the long run, ignored.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009
A+
http://dts-l.net/

.


Exactly, there is care for customers of current software but legacy users
are up a creek without a paddle. Anyway, I have sent my appeal to Microsoft
and first response was to follow up in this newsgroup which is due to be
annihilated. LOL!! I just wonder about these things sometimes. I followed
up with their email response to me as well.

"Robert Macy" wrote:

On May 19, 11:03 pm, "glee" wrote:
....snip...

They don't care about your Win 98 "experience", Franc....if it's not on
their list of "currently supported" operating systems, I don't think
they're interested. It's a pattern that started years ago....KB
articles and downloads for Win3.x, the Win95, and more recently, many
for Win98 and ME, have disappeared. Copies were long available on the
MS FTP sites, and then suddenly they were removed. It certainly wasn't
a need for space, considering how cheap storage has become. Some MVPs
pressed and lobbied for quite some time to keep the downloads and
articles available, but were in the long run, ignored.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009
A+http://dts-l.net/

Win98 == no registration
WinXP == registration, and control

That last item is going to be the death of MS as people move towards
freedom.

My most recent experiences with Google [surprisingly free everytime I
explore a new service] were what I expect if I had paid for them. The
system actually did what I meant, not what I asked for! Like a mind
reader. Plus, Google's documentation is incredibly easy to
understand. I actually started at the beginning of the document and
read to the end, never got lost, nor fell asleep, and still picture it
in my mind. As opposed to reading the last page first on most MS
documentation, constantly being introduced to unrecognizable terms,
and zzzzz.., followed by a complete lack of retention for what I had
just waded through.

MS is to Google as HP calculators are to TI calculators. They both
get you there, but for me, just like the TI calculator, google is more
intuitive.
.


Google has gotten into some hot water over privacy of user's information
recently. However, I like their solution to the video codec dilemma going on
currently.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/bu.../15google.html

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05..._announcement/

(Links were clean when I went to them but as always use caution when opening
web-links)

wrote:
What is Happening?
This message is to inform you that Microsoft will soon begin
discontinuing
newsgroups and transitioning users to Microsoft forums.

Why?
As you may know, newsgroups have existed for many years now; however,
the
traffic in the Microsoft newsgroups has been steadily decreasing for
the
past several years while customers and participants are increasingly
finding
solutions in the forums on Microsoft properties and third party
sites. This
move will unify the customer experience, centralize content, make it
easier
for active contributors to retain their influence, mitigate
redundancies and
make the content easier to find by customers and search engines
through
improved indexing. Additionally, forums offer a better user and spam
management platform that will improve customer satisfaction by
encouraging a
healthy discussion in a clean community space. To this end,
Microsoft will
begin to progressively shift available resources to the forums
technology
and discontinue support for newsgroups.

In addition to offering a compelling online browser experience, for
those
users who prefer to use an NNTP (newsgroup) reader to participate in
the
newsgroups community, we have developed a solution called the NNTP
Bridge
which allows a user to connect a variety of supported NNTP readers to
the
forums they would like to participate in and continue having the NTTP
reader
functionality. You can find instructions on how to download and set
up the
NNTP Bridge he http://connect.microsoft.com/MicrosoftForums/

Which Newsgroups Are Affected by this Shutdown?
All public newsgroups will eventually be closed between June 1, 2010
and
October 1, 2010. Microsoft will be closing newsgroups in a phased
approach,
starting with the least active newsgroups and moving eventually to
more
active ones throughout the course of the next six months.


Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup
is scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to
invite you to participate at
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...WindowsAnswers
forum(s). An exact date will be posted in advance as plans are
finalized.

Should you want to visit the other Microsoft Forums, please go to
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...s/default.mspx

Who Should I Contact with any Questions?
Send any questions about the process, recommended forums and timing to



Hello. Win98 users around the world are made sad each time you post this
announcement! Please reconsider!

1. I confirm -- as Zabcar said -- there appears to be no forum for Win98
at that forum site you posted above. Are you going to add one there when
this NG is eliminated?

2. Will that NNTP Bridge connect us to a Win98 NG/forum?

3. I have just added NNTP.AIOE.ORG as a news server, & it carries this
NG using apparently the exact same name. Will it & other news servers
still be able to carry this NG, & will they be able to synchronize with
each other?

I have cc-ed Mr. NNTP as Bear suggested!

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR

On 05/20/2010 06:45 PM, PCR wrote:
wrote:
What is Happening?
This message is to inform you that Microsoft will soon begin
discontinuing
newsgroups and transitioning users to Microsoft forums.

Why?
As you may know, newsgroups have existed for many years now; however,
the
traffic in the Microsoft newsgroups has been steadily decreasing for
the
past several years while customers and participants are increasingly
finding
solutions in the forums on Microsoft properties and third party
sites. This
move will unify the customer experience, centralize content, make it
easier
for active contributors to retain their influence, mitigate
redundancies and
make the content easier to find by customers and search engines
through
improved indexing. Additionally, forums offer a better user and spam
management platform that will improve customer satisfaction by
encouraging a
healthy discussion in a clean community space. To this end,
Microsoft will
begin to progressively shift available resources to the forums
technology
and discontinue support for newsgroups.

In addition to offering a compelling online browser experience, for
those
users who prefer to use an NNTP (newsgroup) reader to participate in
the
newsgroups community, we have developed a solution called the NNTP
Bridge
which allows a user to connect a variety of supported NNTP readers to
the
forums they would like to participate in and continue having the NTTP
reader
functionality. You can find instructions on how to download and set
up the
NNTP Bridge he http://connect.microsoft.com/MicrosoftForums/

Which Newsgroups Are Affected by this Shutdown?
All public newsgroups will eventually be closed between June 1, 2010
and
October 1, 2010. Microsoft will be closing newsgroups in a phased
approach,
starting with the least active newsgroups and moving eventually to
more
active ones throughout the course of the next six months.


Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup
is scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to
invite you to participate at
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...WindowsAnswers
forum(s). An exact date will be posted in advance as plans are
finalized.

Should you want to visit the other Microsoft Forums, please go to
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...s/default.mspx

Who Should I Contact with any Questions?
Send any questions about the process, recommended forums and timing to



Hello. Win98 users around the world are made sad each time you post this
announcement! Please reconsider!

1. I confirm -- as Zabcar said -- there appears to be no forum for Win98
at that forum site you posted above. Are you going to add one there when
this NG is eliminated?

2. Will that NNTP Bridge connect us to a Win98 NG/forum?

3. I have just added NNTP.AIOE.ORG as a news server, & it carries this
NG using apparently the exact same name. Will it & other news servers
still be able to carry this NG, & will they be able to synchronize with
each other?

I have cc-ed Mr. NNTP as Bear suggested!


Please keep us posted...

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---