[rolandogomez]

David,

Thanks for your feedback, I'll try and answer the best I can.

1. On the site being cluttered, not sure if you're referring to the forum, or the entire site, as with your explanation, we didn't remove any tuturiols, the entire site, is still here, the menu system is different, but self-explanatory. The new menu on the top of every page breaks it down into six topics.
(1) Login--that's obvious what it does and know one logged in should have to go here.
(2) Quick Menu--this is where most favorite links are, including "photo tips" if that is the tuturiols you are referring too. Again, everything is pull down to prevent clutter, but all the pull-downs are self-explanatory.
(3) Forums--a quick pull down for the forums, we had hoped everyone would use this, but added menus on the forum itself too as some folks don't like pull downs. This entire menu is for anything forum related.
(4) Portfolios--this menu is for anything portfolio related.
(5) About Us---meant more for the newbies.
(6) Join, again, if you're logged, you will not use this menu unless you want to upgrade.

To edit your control panel options, go to "My Home" and it will be very clear on that page for editing of options, we even put red text between the two main links for these options.

2. On the software not working properly, we are aware of a few issues, most are being worked on, all are being worked on with limited resources because G1, even in the GG days, is more of a boot-strap operation and we can only do so much in so much time--we don't have a payroll or full-time staff. We hope to get there some day.

3. In linear mode, this system works the same as all BB systems, as a post is made, regardless who it's answered to, it goes next in line, that is why you have the "hybrid" and "threaded" mode--so you can see who the reply is too. GG was only threaded, here you have both options plus both in the hybrid mode. Some like threaded, some hybrid, some linear, we give you the chioce. That is personal taste, want to see who is responding to you, then I recommend at least the threaded or hybrid modes--it's obvious in those modes.

4. The model search and for that matter the photographer search. The zip code proximity search is coming soon. For now, you can search by many, many other variables. Because we had to migrate from an older, outdated, no-longer supported, security risked forum, during the migration data fields migrate differently. What we've been asking folks to do, you included, is to login, go to "my home" and fill out the proper information in "edit profile" and "edit options" so then, and only then, you will show up in the searches. If members do not do this, then you get zilch on the searches. The folks coming up in the searches are the new registrations, because they fill everything up during sign-up. To get more from the searches, I need everyone that's been here to fill out their options and profiles and I need everyone to tell everyone to do so.

Model participation is picking up, and like most forums, models don't participate as much as the photographers, here is no different. One way to look at it, we "cleaned-out" inactive models, which clutter many other sites, it's not uncommon for models to come, get a free portfolio and leave--it's like that everywhere. One exception, we delete you from our site for inactivity, we've already deleted over 10,000 members, including models, for inactivity of one year or more. My question there, do you want current active models or model searches with old email addresses and old information you hope works?

To answer your final question, and it's been answered many times on this forum, we had no choice. Our old site was under constant hack attack, which mysteriously started after the new year, the forum was outdated, security prone, and no longer supported. The portfolio system didn't always work properly and we had to make a server package move with a firewall, hard firewall, and by doing so is a huge undertaking and took weeks for a site this big.

Since we had to reinstall software from scratch, we elected to go with the most proven, most maintained, most popular forum software, Vbulletin, that is what you are using. We also had to install a new portfolio system, that is what you're seeing, what we are doing is customizing as we go every day to make it smoother working.

On the name change, we had to go with something simpler, at the same time without any negative connatations which we always experienced with the "garage" in Garage Glamour. While I always loved the concept, and still do, even then, I would have to explain the "garage" in Garage Glamour no different than today. It also made fiscal sense in order to keep maintaining this site as it's growing like crazy and that crazy costs. Potential advertisers always frown on the "garage" part. It's my duty to ensure GG/G1 doesn't go under and we can't stop growth and traffic, but we can prepare for it better and that is what we've done.

I hope that helps, again, we're doing our best, thanks, rg sends!