Why I DO use Photo Bucket

[Holm-Made]

I'm very computer illiterate.  It took me about 20 minutes to sign up for Imgur.  After Photo Bucket deleted all my photos on my stock bow page I reloaded and posted them with Imgur.  It took 15 minutes.   It was much faster to upload pictures to Imgur then Photobucket.  With photobucket I sometimes had to wait hours for pictures to upload, Imgur took seconds.

[McDave]

So really, other than temporarily, the only way you can continue to use Photobucket is $39.99/month, which is actually more than $400/year, which is BS.  It would appear that the only long-term way forums such as Trad Gang can protect themselves would be to host their own photos, which I'm sure involves some extra cost.  But any other 3d party photo hosting service could end up doing the same thing as Photobucket down the road, leaving forums with the same problem.  I guess my original thought was right: just post words until this whole thing gets sorted out.

[ozy clint]

^^ yep, as McDave says, the lesson here is that anything can happen. no one expected PB to do what they did which means any other hosting site could do something unexpected too.

[Rob DiStefano]

the cavalry is on the way to save the day.

trad gang is in the process of changing its forum software.  

*IF* we can accomplish this without too much blood loss, it'll take at least a few months.  our short term goal is october of this year.

the new forum software would/will allow you to easily upload images for posting here at trad gang - and SO much more.

the new forum software will function almost exactly as this old software, only with greatly enhanced functionality.  there will be no steep learning curve for posting or adding images right from your own computer, iphone, tablet, etc.    

the images will reside on the trad gang server, and be here for the life of this forum.

this is a very complicated and tricky move to both effect and accomplish, and has been attempted more than a few times over the last decade.  we think we now finally have the resources and smarts to make this happen.

this current conversion task testing started over a month ago and we've been working on it every day since.  it is not an easy row to hoe.  it also requires new hardware we need to purchase that includes a new server, new drives and triple our current system memory.

in the interim, posting images here at trad gang will require hosting your images elsewhere on the internet.  during this transition, please choose your image host vendor carefully and wisely.

[Alexander Traditional]

 

This is great news!

[Bud B.]

[Rob DiStefano]

"remember one great truth about "cloud services" - you will ALWAYS be at their mercy, whether paid or free."

[ozy clint]

removing the counter party risk sounds like the way to go rob. hats off to you for working behind the scenes to make it a possibility.

[Mint]

From what I can see is that the first 10 gigs are free and then for more storage you have to pay? am I correct?

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Mint:
From what I can see is that the first 10 gigs are free and then for more storage you have to pay? am I correct?

if yer talking about the bucket, you really need to directly inquire with them.  there have been a number of different p-bucket pay-to-play scenarios abounding, and some are just false.

[smokin joe]

It sure sounds like Rob and Terry are moving Trad Gang in the right direction-- a direction that is best for the members. The effort and expense of doing so is pretty formidable.

I, for one, thank them for what they are doing for the good of all of the members and for the good  of our sport. The internet is an ever-changing and developing world-wide behemoth, and keeping up with it  is remarkably difficult. The P-bucket fiasco is just one example of a net-hosting service taking advantage by changing the game on customers. It won't be the last.

[SpikeMaster]

I work in IT so I know how difficult of a task it is to switch from one system to another. It's even harder when it's not your full time job. I want to thank Rob, Terry, and everyone else who makes this site the best traditional archery site on the Internet. I'm been flinging arrows for going on 45 years now and have learned more about archery since I've been a member here than in all the years before that. Thanks again and good luck with the conversion.  

[Bladepeek]

OK, got caught with egg on my face again. Sorry Rob, but as a paying member of PB, I had not seen any of the effects you were talking about. It appears my $15/year has bought me hosting privileges for the duration of my membership. At that point, exactly what you described will take place. Shame, because I really enjoyed using them.

My apologies.

Ron

[Rob DiStefano]

no apologies needed or wanted, ron!  i just want everyone to know what the deal is with that outfit and their severe pitfalls to negotiate. what a mess.  it's hurt trad gang big time, and thousands of other web forums and blogs and social media sites.  i'll be SO relieved when (and *IF*!) trad gang can host images for posting in our own threads.  amen.

[SpikeMaster]

What photobucket is doing is extortion. "Give us your money, you don't want nothin bad happening to your photos do ya".

[kevsuperg]

Originally posted by SpikeMaster:
I work in IT so I know how difficult of a task it is to switch from one system to another. It's even harder when it's not your full time job. I want to thank Rob, Terry, and everyone else who makes this site the best traditional archery site on the Internet. I'm been flinging arrows for going on 45 years now and have learned more about archery since I've been a member here than in all the years before that. Thanks again and good luck with the conversion.      

Here here.  Best site going

Originally posted by smokin joe:
It sure sounds like Rob and Terry are moving Trad Gang in the right direction-- a direction that is best for the members. The effort and expense of doing so is formidable.

I, for one, thank them for what they are doing for the good of all of the members and for the good  of our sport.  

Me too!

Think about it.  The dedication is non-stop.  Terry and Rob are both literally glued to this effort, every day...of every week...year after year.        

I'm guessing that the expense of a major transition to new hardware that can support Trad Gang, Black Powder Gang, and have the capability of hosting all of our images and videos will be significant!

[RC]

A few things I hate...Gnats , skeeters , Days over 100 degrees...photobucket. I have probably 300 pics on different sites that now cant be veiwed. I wont be paying them a dime. Thats no way to do business. RC

[Terry Green]

I have to say...I can't even think about it....I'm afraid to even go to some of the annual 'group hunt' threads and see the photos missing....what a shame...a crying shame.  Memories tossed aside by the photo mafia.

[Bowjunkie]

I think I mentioned the in-house photo hosting a couple of months ago when Terry asked for suggestions regarding the upgrade... then this Pukebucket thing happened. What a coincidence. And what a relief. If the Pukebucket debacle helped you guys decide, thank you Pukebucket! lol

I will definitely spend more time here, especially in the Bowyer's Bench, once this becomes available. The 3rd party thing has always been an aggravation.

Thanks fellas.