While I agree that the current MMD format is serving us well, I think
a privately-run web forum running software like UBB or vBulletin would
offer compelling advantages (enhanced formatting, images, links,
embedded video, private messaging) while still providing the ability
to archive content for future searches.  Such a forum could be made
accessible to dial-up modem users provided that there aren't dozens of
images automatically loading.  (Keep in mind that web forums originated
around 1997, when dial-up was still widely used, not long after the
inception of MMD.)

Two well-run forums I visit that are good examples of what is possible
are  http://www.avsforum.com  and  http://www.film-tech.com  which
focus on home theater and cinema projection, respectively.  However,
forums like these would require considerably more time for moderation
and general upkeep than the current MMD software, and operating costs
would be higher.  I don't think a switch is feasible without getting
more people involved in MMD operations and displaying ads.

Incidentally, this thread has reminded me that I acquired the domain
playerpianoforum.com several years ago and still haven't done anything
with it.  Originally, I had planned to set up a web forum there for the
purpose of bringing owners and technicians of solenoid-based player
systems under one roof, with sub-forums for each manufacturer as well
as some common areas to discuss content, maintenance, etc.  (I realize
that electronic player systems aren't too popular on MMD, but I had
planned to include sub-forums for pneumatic systems, too.)

Unfortunately, I became too busy.  In the meantime, some manufacturers
of solenoid-based systems have moved toward Apple's model of having
all content delivered digitally from central source, locking out
competitors, and implementing measures to prevent interoperability.
This has made it less worthwhile to facilitate cross-system discussion.

I've also become wary of the hazards of hosting unfiltered user-supplied
content and the perception that I would be trying to steal the thunder
of MMD, Piano World, and others, which was never my intention.

Still, maybe someone else could put this domain to good use.  I am
interested in selling playerpianoforum.com for what I have into it,
which is less than USD $500, and I plan to donate a portion of the
proceeds to MMD.

Mark Fontana

 [ In 1997 (ish) I put out a request to have someone help create
 [ an searchable indexed archive of MMD articles.   Bob Fitterman
 [ stepped up and wrote a wonderful program that uses database
 [ technology to organize create and organize the MMD Archives.
 [ With just a little hand-holding, I've managed to keep that
 [ software going for over 15 years.  Bob did a great job and I'm
 [ grateful for his help and friendship.
 [
 [ It may be time to put out a request for some more volunteer time
 [ to write or maintain additional software.  I feel very strongly that
 [ the MMD not be subjected to a "fork-lift upgrade" that would end up
 [ running off many of the current participants.
 [ 
 [ Since Mark's suggest comes with a recommendation on a product
 [ to consider: https://www.ubbcentral.com/ , I will have a look at it.
 [ It looks like it is a supported product and it uses technology that
 [ I am familiar with (PHP and MySQL).  However implementing a
 [ transition that feels like an improvement to our long-time
 [ participants (some have been here 20 years) will be a challenge.
 [
 [ If there are other forum packages that people think should be
 [ looked at, please let me know.  I do not, however, want to
 [ use any "proprietary" hosting service.
 [
 [ If anyone is brave enough to want to write code from scratch or
 [ help migrate the existing Archives code from Visual Basic to PHP,
 [ let me know.   There's a bunch of "thread-based" things that could
 [ happen without changing the format of the Digest at all.  You could
 [ read all the articles by an author by clicking "next".  You could
 [ read all the articles with the same title (true threading) by clicking
 [ next.  This could be easily applied to existing entries in the
 [ Archive.
 [
 [ Any programmers out there with time to help ?   Thanks!  --Jody