RM Neon Theme

[victory2012]

Hi

 

how do i get rid of the awful rm neon theme making my eyes go all funny!!

[sted]

go down to the bottom of any page and bottom left is a style chooser select v5 blue

[ICTDirect_Dave]

go down to the bottom of any page and bottom left is a style chooser select v5 blue

 

I'd forgotten I could do that! Finally got rid of the awfulness!

[sted]

I'd forgotten I could do that! Finally got rid of the awfulness!

 

for me its more about advertising the competition lol but it was a bit harsh on the eyes

[victory2012]

Lifesaver thank you!!

 

 

still shows up on the homepage though!! can live with that i guess...

[David_Palmer]

I like it:getmecoat:

[Trapper]

Had to turn it off. Was doing weird things to my eyes. Like e-snow blindness!

[FN-GM]

Same here it was burning my corneas!

 

Annoyingly when you change the theme back it doesn't apply to your account only to the computer you are using.

[detjo]

Yeah! .. Who's RM anyway?

[hawc]

Please sort the homepage out. Due to my eyes being funny, it makes the site hard to use.

[Edu-IT]

Will EduGeek allow anyone to takeover the forum if they offer the right £?

[ZeroHour]

Had to turn it off. Was doing weird things to my eyes. Like e-snow blindness!

 

Same here it was burning my corneas!

 

I have to ask but when you pass an orange shop does the logo cause you all to spontaneously combust?

The green is basically mint green which is found on a million things so an aversion to that colour will have issues although you can set it back to blue except the front page.

 

Please sort the homepage out. Due to my eyes being funny, it makes the site hard to use.

 

The homepage is hard locked to that theme sadly but we may be able to improve the colour scheme a bit, only the header area is coloured after you pick something other than blue. Homepage styling only lasts a week though but we do have a possible other company interested in doing it too. We do try to limit run durations and try to avoid back to back campaign although we may not be able to do that this time.

We only have maybe 2 - 4 style changes per year, the BETT one was done by us for us at BETT.

 

Will EduGeek allow anyone to takeover the forum if they offer the right £?

 

No.

 

I like it:getmecoat:

I suspect a few people who just hate the fact its RM rather than the mint green even though RM is no longer much like RM of old since they no longer make pc's and have a had quite a few staff changes. Now they are also owned by Systemax.

Edited February 10, 2014 by ZeroHour

[Dos_Box]

I think Shaun covered all of the points there, but, as happens every few years I feel it is time to lay out a few facts for you about what EduGeek is doing and how we go about it.

 

 

• Where we came from: For those of you old and bold who were here in 2005 when we opened the doors to EduGeek for the first time you will remember (possibly somewhat fondly) that it was started as a small community intended for IT professionals who worked in schools throughout the UK. It was, to all intents and purposes a hobby site created by myself to fill a gap that other online communities seemed not to be filling, and with an anticipation that we'd have a few hundred members tops it still amazes me that we are to hit 70,000 globally in the next week or so. We also made sure that everything we did on EduGeek would be free of charge and at no cost to our members and that we would protect your privacy and identities which we still do to this day.
  
• Looking after you: There is one thing we at EduGeek have always prided ourselves on, and that is the way we have treated our members. As I pointed out above, we take your privacy very seriously. That is why we do not sell or pass on your details to anyone. Ever. So the next time someone suggest that we are not being honest, I suggest you ask the other forums you may be members of if they have signed up with the Information Commissionaires Office and are fully conversant with the Data Protection Act. We guard your personal data.
  We also ensure that you avoid getting in trouble with the law. It's not uncommon for us to receive a letter or email from a legal body representing a corporate entity either demanding a members details or asking for posts to be removed. We usually deal with these in the background with a minimum of fuss and prevent the member getting in deep water. When we tell people what you say on EduGeek goes a long way we are not joking. Almost every major IT company in the world lurks here with a keen ear as to what you have to say. 99% Of this lurking is benevolent and just companies quietly gathering feedback and market research, but some have an axe to grind. We shield you from a lot of potential harm this way. With almost 22.5 million visits per year and a net ranking of about 18,400 what you say here has influence.
  We also ensure that we pump a lot of the money we make back into the community, from hosting our free conferences (which costs us a great deal of money when someone decides they can't be bothered to turn up for the day) to providing food and freebies at BETT we spend very large sums of money each year looking after you. This year we intend to pack in several conferences at various locations meaning we shall spend even more! The other week at BETT we had to spend just short of £4000 in living expenses, travel, lunchtime pizza (there's £300 for the 4 day period!) and freebies alone for members and mods alike. To do all of this, for you, takes money.
  
• How we are funded: EduGeek began to get funded almost by accident about 7 years back when one small, yet far sighted, company, who's name escapes me - I think they did something with internet filtering http://staticc2.cdngeek.net/images/smilies/wink.png - asked whether they could perhaps sponsor a forum. So I said yes, which was good because up until then I had been paying for the hosting out of my own pocket and now could cover it through that. Then some more companies asked and we are where we are today. These sponsorship help keep us running and pay the wages yet they do come with conditions. We make every sponsor sign a code of conduct (oh, and they don't get your details either. See a pattern here?) that ensures both they, you and other sponsors do not come to blows, and it works very well indeed, although it did take several years and some mistakes until we got to the point we are now.
  Then there is advertising. Notice the lack of pop-ups, pop-unders and roadblocks? No? We take an enormous amount of care to ensure everything you see on EduGeek is relevant and that the company advertising has a professional and healthy relationship with any potential customers they may gain from their presence here. We could make lots more by adding large amounts of ads and the aforementioned pop-ups-unders etc. if we allowed them with our traffic levels but that would make the experience considerable worse for all.
  But we don't. We carefully vet everyone and there are more than a few companies we do not allow to advertise or sponsor because we do not think they would have your best interests at heart. We also are trying to remove 3rd party ad networks where possible instead hosting the ad's and vetting the files directly for all advertising that appears. Which is why I'm a little miffed at the RM negativity (not directed at those who simply don't like the mint green colour) being displayed today. RM as a company today is not the same one many of you remember from years ago. As Shaun has pointed out. There have been 'changes', and if you want to influence a company I suggest you start talking to them. Nicely, in a freely provided neutral environment. Now where are you going to find somewhere like that?
  
• The work we put in: EduGeek is hard work, unless you have worked closely with us you will not get to see just how many hours Shaun and I put it (Shaun especially at the moment). I went full time in 2009 and Shaun followed me in 2011. There are just the two of us working full time backed up up by the team of moderators who police the site whilst we do all of the web, admin and organisational work, and if you think that is easy think again. We work very long hours, take infrequent holidays and time off and often work weekends. If you have ever helped out at BETT you may notice that both Shaun and I look tired to begin with. This is because we have already done 2 weeks worth of BETT work beforehand. The bit in Excel is like the final straight! And we do this several times a year both in the UK and abroad.
  And we do this for you. All of you, our members. In fact, many of you here on the forums earn more than we do. We could pocket more, but we would have to sell you out first. Would you like that?
  

 

 

So, to summerise:

 

• We are not selling you out
  
• We are not owned or influenced by anyone else
  
• We try to have YOUR best interests at heart and look after you in ways you do not even get to see
  
• We are not raking it in - We are building a company
  
• All our sponsors and advertisers have been carefully vetted first, we don't pile them in just to make a mountain of cash (we could if we didn't care about you)
  
• What you say does go a long way here. Use that power carefully
  
• Lots of the money EduGeek generates goes back into the community
  
• When you complain about something frivolous on the site that you don't like chances are we have put in tens of hours of work into it. See all those posts in BTRD? That's how it makes us feel
  
• Without Advertisers and sponsors EduGeek could not operate, so please realise without them we could do none of the above.
  

 

 

Right, I hope that's cleared that up, so please take all of that on board and enjoy the forums once more in the knowledge that they really are totally free. We pick up the tab for you.

Now, where's the Edu HobNobs?

 

P.S. Thanks again Smoothwall (and all our sponsors) for all the support over the years and a thanks to all you, our members who keep helping others from all over the world.

 

Chris.

Edited February 11, 2014 by Dos_Box

[DPrince]

I suspect a few people who just hate the fact its RM rather than the mint green even though RM is no longer much like RM of old since they no longer make pc's and have a had quite a few staff changes. Now they are also owned by Systemax.

 

RM aren't owned by Sytemax. They merely passed their PC business across to Misco (who are owned by Systemax). And it was only the existing stock, parts and support. They're still discussing whether to sell on tooling rights for the RM machines.

[Edu-IT]

When I asked the question above, I was purely wondering whether EduGeek had formed special agreements with particular companies to do this kind of thing or whether it was just a case of companies coming along and offering £ to do it. I wasn't suggesting at all that EduGeek was just after the £ and would do whatever they could to make a quick pound regardless of its members. I'm sure it goes without saying just how much we do all appreciate EduGeek.

[ZeroHour]

When I asked the question above, I was purely wondering whether EduGeek had formed special agreements with particular companies to do this kind of thing or whether it was just a case of companies coming along and offering £ to do it. I wasn't suggesting at all that EduGeek was just after the £ and would do whatever they could to make a quick pound regardless of its members. I'm sure it goes without saying just how much we do all appreciate EduGeek.

 

Sorry it could have been read one of 2 ways and my shouty voice was the one in my head

Site skins always involved EduGeek<->company direct communication to make mocks etc but sometimes our ad broker is involved in the middle but we maintain approval/rejection of ideas etc and usually the broker has been contacted because x company was wondering about doing work with us. We do also deal directly with companies as well with skins/sponsorship etc. I personally like the site skins as it does involve a lot more work but I think it has more impact than traditional ad banners while allowing us to try out new colours etc.

Edited February 10, 2014 by ZeroHour

[webman]

I like the colours. Any chance of keeping it as a permanent choice following the current promotion?

 

I'm fully in agreement what Shaun and Chris have said. EduGeek is a fantastic community and resource that costs nothing to be a part of, which is all managed extremely well. If the current colours aren't to your liking, its a minor inconvenience at most

Edited February 10, 2014 by webman

[sparkeh]

I guess not many of us realise the hard work put in by @Dos_Box and @ZeroHour to keep this place running, for free (and I can't think of another resource that's so rich and useful that you don't have to pay for) so it must be a kick in the teeth get some of the negative feedback they do, especially over a skin.

 

Keep up the good work guys, it is appreciated.

 

At risk of incurring my own wrath, just wondering if it's a trivial matter to apply this kind of thing to the app somehow?

[FN-GM]

@ZeroHour personally, i find it hard to view, its not easy on my eye. Yes that colour is used lots, but usually in smaller doses. Sharp contrasting colours can be harsh, thats why books are not printed on brilliant white paper. It wasn't quite burning the corneas but wasn't easy on the eye. Thats all, wasn't having a go, just confirming what other users thought as well.

 

@sparkeh to be honest reviving critical feedback is just a fact of life, especially in business. Im sure the people in the Windows 8 department are used to it

Edited February 10, 2014 by FN-GM

[hardtailstar]

I'm going to add my pennies here... in a nice way

 

I thanked the OP because it hurt my eyes too, I changed the theme back to the standard one but didn't make a fuss as what sponsors the forum has it down to the owners. I have my views on RM and others will do too.

 

Now its the nicer bit....Ive not been on the forum that long possible nearly two years? but anyway I'd like to use this time to just put my vote of thanks to all the mods and admin on what a great forum this is, I have been on a few 'IT' forums and it just seems to be a slanging match over whats better, here just is so much better, more adult.

 

This forum has given me great advice and fun that its got me out of a few holes.

 

so to finish, Thanks all and keep up the good work:cool:

[sparkeh]

@sparkeh to be honest reviving critical feedback is just a fact of life, especially in business. Im sure the people in the Windows 8 department are used to it

Heh indeed.

However there is a slight difference. EG is run by two blokes cramming as many hours in as they can for the benefit of the community. It's personal (I imagine).

The alternative to using well vetted sponsors to fund the site is to either open up donations again or go to a subscription model. Wonder what the complaints would look like then

[X-13]

(not directed at those who simply don't like the mint green colour)

 

TBH that's the only issue I had with it.

 

The black and white looks cool, but the mint is too bright.

 

I don't like RM based on personal experience with them but if partnering up with them, having them as sponsors, having their ads and/or letting them have a theme is what has to happen for Edugeek to stay free then I can live with it.

 

And if it's getting to be too much for you guys, I'm sure there'll be no shortage of people applying for jobs.

[ZeroHour]

At risk of incurring my own wrath, just wondering if it's a trivial matter to apply this kind of thing to the app somehow?

Not easily or practically no so the apps are safe

We did toy with app ads but based on the quality of ad's we decided against keeping them live (we still have disclaimer/notice on descriptions though) for now anyway.

 

@ZeroHour personally, i find it hard to view, its not easy on my eye. Yes that colour is used lots, but usually in smaller doses. Sharp contrasting colours can be harsh, thats why books are not printed on brilliant white paper. It wasn't quite burning the corneas but wasn't easy on the eye. Thats all, wasn't having a go, just confirming what other users thought as well.

 

If we left the mint green to the header area (possibly ticker) then it would be better? this is more notes for future rather than now.

 

And if it's getting to be too much for you guys, I'm sure there'll be no shortage of people applying for jobs.

 

Hehe if only they knew...

 

The feedback is useful for further skins anyway all, we used to have a style changer at the top of the page near "settings" on the left so as a first step I will look to making it easier/more obvious to change skins in the future rather that way those that want to can quickly go back to blue etc. Not sure exactly where/how it will look just yet though.

[Little-Miss]

Proud member since 2007 (whatever colour it is...)

 

Super proud to be trusted enough to represent Edugeek at events like BETT....

 

(....oh and this shiny red 'do not press' button, here.... )

Edited February 11, 2014 by Little-Miss

[rich_tech]

I welcome more colour options for the forum personally and have asked for it previously, the blue one is a bit boring nowadays as its the only safe option, the RM one is hard on my eyes, same for the purple one too I find