New ClassicCMP website, current development is at http://dev.classiccmp.org --------------------- Home - blurb about classiccmp organization (need to write this text up) About - blurb about the hobby, how rewarding it is, why do it, all about classiccmp and how it can help (need to write this text up) Services - See list of ClassicCMP services below Member Login: This button takes users to a new page where people can log in and manage their membership to classiccmp.org. I'm thinking that all the sub-services (mailing list, etc.) can be managed from one user database. But more importantly, on this page they would get a list of all the services below, and they could check a selection box by each service as to if they want to be automatically emailed when anything in that section changes. Also offer vanity email addresses in the @classiccmp.org domain which forwards to their real email address. -------services-------------- ClassicCMP Knowledgebase This exists at classiccmp.org/kb but the look & feel needs to be matched to the new website style. Users can suggest categories which are added upon moderator approval. Track popularity (most views, last 5 viewed) of each article. Allow users to add to and rate each article. Users can submit articles which are invisible till moderator approval. ClassicCMP Links Database Organized in categories. Users can add links that are invisible until moderator approval. Users can rate links. Autocheck for dead links. Track clicks/popularity on each link. Users can suggest new link categories, which are added upon moderator approval. ClassicCMP Computer Picture Archive A database of classic computer pictures, organized by vendor by machine, searchable. Must allow a mechanism to show a credit if picture came from elsewhere, separate from showing what user uploaded it. Not just cpu pictures, but peripherals (disks, tapes, etc.). Primarily meant to be a archive for identification, not an extensive multipicture set of each system. Same capabilities/structure as the above, users can submit photos pending moderator approval, photo rating, etc. ClassicCMP Computer Books Database A database of book titles that are of interest to collectors. This could be books on collecting, or books on repair, electronics, or anything germane to the hobby. Include the full text of Kevin Stumpf's collecting guide (already have Kevin's approval). Users submit titles, rate books, perhaps contribute a short review, etc. ClassicCMP File Library Basically a web interface to the tons of files on the ClassicCMP server that no one knows about hardly (PROM database, bitsavers mirror, RT11 files, etc. Fully searchable, include a web based window into the local bitsavers files. Allow users to submit keywords for existing files, or submit new files, rate files, moderator approvals,new category suggestion, etc. NOTE: The knowledgebase, links database, picture archive, books database, and file library are identical except for basic skinning/presentation. One well-written module can handle all of the above "under the hood". For the above sections, members have full access. Non-members can only browse, and not rate items, vote, suggest categories, etc. ClassicCMP newsletter Online or via email or both? What's new with the classiccmp website, upcoming events of interest to the hobby, etc. Ebay picture hosting for members Allow ClassicCMP members to upload a limited number of pictures for linking to ebay auctions. Directory of trusted subject-matter experts Provide a list for members to contact of people who are subject-matter experts in specific areas that are willing to be contacted by those with specific needs (legal research, prior art, user questions, contracting/support work, etc.). ClassicCMP Pricelist "MarketWatch" Autotrack closing price of stuff on ebay and other auction sites and show statistics - hi,lo,avg, std. dev, avg time to sell, etc. I've seen this done for synthesizers. ClassicCMP mailing list Policy changes, combining lists, fixing archives, everyone already knows what this service is. #classiccmp channel on IRC List of guidelines, how to access, etc. Events calender Get a feed from ccn? Maybe just upcoming events in the collector community, hamfests, etc. Perhaps the best way to do this is simply let users put entries on the calendar (subject to moderation). ClassicCMP things to see in real life Just let people add places to a list, sort by state (museums, places to buy vintage computer stuff). Make sure to have a link to Evan's book so people can go to his site and buy it. Maybe let people enter notes on places other people have listed. ClassicCMP store Selling t-shirts, mugs, mousepads, calendars, etc. branded with ClassicCMP logo. Proceeds used to cover bandwidth & hardware upgrades on ClassicCMP server. Arbitration A group of appointed moderators will be available to settle disputes among collectors via binding arbitration (for trades, etc.) if the parties are willing to have a dispute/trade arbitrated. I remember two disputes in the last year that this may have helped with. Disposition of collection upon death Not sure if I'd want the liability of this. But perhaps it might fill a need if people want to have a collection dispensed a certain way after death. If they made a person the executor of the collection, that person may be out of the hobby after years, or personality conflicts, etc. But if they specify classiccmp to hold the documents on what to do, classiccmp (which hopefully goes on after me as an organization) can ensure the collectors wishes are followed. Not sure this is even possible to do, but it may merit investigating if this would be a service people would want (and we could provide). ClassicCMP media conversion services Provide a list of people willing to do media/data conversions for various hardware platforms. Users could submit their name, fees, email address (hidden by the site), a submission form for a quote, etc. ClassicCMP Rescue Squad I want to do something just like Bill Yakowenko's CCRS (classic computer rescue squad), where people can list the systems they are interested in and their location and contact info. So people disposing of systems can find a rescue'er (and rescue'er's could find rescue helpers!) close. Bill doesn't seem to be actively maintaining his, and I've tried to ask him before duplicating the effort but I can't get in touch with him. I'm ready to just do it anyway, so there is a continually maintained source of this good info for collectors. Wanted! I want to put up a "wanted" section. I don't want to compete with ebay or the vintage marketplace, so I don't want to track bids or anything. ONLY a place where people can post "I'm looking for this". Then have one item at a time rotate at the top of the home page? That would keep items in peoples mind that are wanted. Voting site members could vote. This could be for mailing list policies, enhancements to classiccmp.org, selection of the classicCMP logo, etc. Leads! Giving a fair shot at "system available" leads. I probably get two emails a month directly to me from companies or individuals looking to dispose of gear. Most of the time, these leads are only given to me, not the list or other lists - so no one knows about them. Most (but not all) of the time I merely post these opportunities to the list and let everyone go after them. This penalizes people who don't read the list every hour. The people wanting to dispose of the gear may not like being contacted by 1000 people. It's just not as fair a process as it could be. So, I want a spot on the list where people can basically see each opportunity I get sent to dispose of classic gear, and enter into a lottery. This would allow gear I get notice of to be more fairly distributed.