How do you

**Chris Ryser** · 10-21-2006, 06:58 AM

How do you rate information received or given on Optiboard compared to other sources.
It would be interesting if as many as possible could put the finger on the button and give a vote.
The Poll will be open for 10 days.

**chip anderson** · 10-21-2006, 08:37 AM

Course, how much weight the information has, depends on who is posting and how much you know him to be adapt at that subject.
Some of us might be excellent at one aspect and ignorant in others.

Chip

**optical24/7** · 10-21-2006, 08:58 AM

Ditto Chip. What's great here is that you can get follow up questions answered. Ya can't do that with a magazine. My only regret is not stumbling in here earlier.

**LKahn** · 10-21-2006, 12:43 PM

Trade shows give you an opportunity to touch, see, learn and meet some great people. Nothing beats networking in person.

Trade Magazines are a vehicle for vendors to show new products and express a particular point. Also, there are some very valuable articles.

Optiboard is a bulletin board / blog which is a great place to exchange information fairly rapidly. It is also a great place to meet some experienced professionals. The problem is I find some of the information posted is not accurate. I must say I do enjoy reading the various threads and is a great source of information about competing vendors.

**Darryl Meister** · 10-21-2006, 12:47 PM

Also, there are some very valuable articles.... The problem is I find some of the information posted is not accurate.

Of course, I routinely see inaccurate information printed in those Trade Mag articles... ;)

**HarryChiling** · 10-21-2006, 02:20 PM

The problem is I find some of the information posted is not accurate

I think thats where the people come in, when something is not accurate then someone else posts the inacuracys and we discuss until the we all know it's not accurate or it's acurate as it's gonna get.

I love Optiboard

**OPTIDONN** · 10-21-2006, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by HarryChiling

I think thats where the people come in, when something is not accurate then someone else posts the inacuracys and we discuss until the we all know it's not accurate or it's acurate as it's gonna get.

I love Optiboard

Thats it HARRY! We need to talk about the accuracy of what you just said!:finger: ....:D

**Ory** · 10-21-2006, 10:27 PM

I think Optiboard is a great way to share what works and what doesn't. In my office I can talk to 5 educated professionals if I have a question. Most of them know the same stuff as I do because they read the same mags, talk to the same vendors, etc.

On Optiboard I can ask a few hundred people the same question. Getting 6 or 8 responses from around North America (and beyond) can be really enlightening.

I can also find out about new products and how well they work. I love new stuff, but it's tough to know what to push and what to ignore. When I read an overall consensus on a product I can decide if it is worth trying out. Much better than the rep who tells me their product is The Best. Period. End of discussion.

Well worth my time. And in case I haven't said it enough, thanks to all of you who contribute!:cheers:

**Chris Ryser** · 10-22-2006, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by Ory

When I read an overall consensus on a product I can decide if it is worth trying out. Much better than the rep who tells me their product is The Best. Period. End of discussion.

All reps will do that, because it is their job and livelihood to twist the truth a bit in their favour to make a sale.

But then you can check it out today on their websites and competing websites to make up your mind which product is best for you. Specially websites that are not just selling a product but explain in details with a good technical backup.

Many time I have been reading articles in magazines were the author had not done enough research to come up with the actual fact. At least on the Optiboard we can give or get an instant rebuke and set the record straight.

**Chris Ryser** · 10-22-2006, 05:27 AM

I will bring this thread back to the top for the next 10 days periodically to get more anttention and more people voting to realize a good result of opinions.
We want you opinions..........................

**Chris Ryser** · 10-23-2006, 04:35 AM

I would like to see....................a lot more opinions

please click the buttons you like

**Mike Fretto** · 10-23-2006, 01:33 PM

I think the information shared on Optiboard is very valuable to us in this business. When I first started back in the early 70's the people I worked with werent willing to share any secrets they may have because they felt threatened, job security and that kinda thing. I can understand not wanting to give trade secrets away to a competitor but here we can share what might make us all a little better at what we do and hopefully not shoot ourselves in the foot in the process.

**FVCCHRIS** · 10-23-2006, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by HarryChiling

I think thats where the people come in, when something is not accurate then someone else posts the inacuracys and we discuss until the we all know it's not accurate or it's acurate as it's gonna get.

I love Optiboard

I couldn't say it any better than that Harry, that reasoning is perfect!:cheers:

**Steve Machol** · 10-23-2006, 02:58 PM

What is 'Instant Optical News'?

**Chris Ryser** · 10-24-2006, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Machol

What is 'Instant Optical News'?

News flashes from the trade, actuality, comes in press releases, stock market announcements and so forth.

Not meaning product news or who hired so and so from another company.

**Chris Ryser** · 10-25-2006, 05:13 AM

I would like to see some more votes on this poll, I you have not put in your 2 cents, please do so.

**Chris Ryser** · 10-26-2006, 04:56 AM

The poll is still on for a few days.

**EyeFitWell** · 10-26-2006, 02:36 PM

I agree it depends on who is posting. I for one, try not to post unless I'm sure I'm correct. If I'm not sure, I'll either keep my imput out or explain that I'm not sure.
The reason I like optiboard is b/c most of the 'articles' in trade mags are advertisements, and therefore biased.

**EyeFitWell** · 10-26-2006, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by Mike Fretto

I think the information shared on Optiboard is very valuable to us in this business. When I first started back in the early 70's the people I worked with werent willing to share any secrets they may have because they felt threatened, job security and that kinda thing. I can understand not wanting to give trade secrets away to a competitor but here we can share what might make us all a little better at what we do and hopefully not shoot ourselves in the foot in the process.

Yes, Yes, Yes!! I'm sure there are some GREAT teachers out there, but in my experience with the apprenticeship program here in NC, my former "trainers" were almost trying to keep me knowing as little as possible. I have always wanted to know as much as possible about this field and how I can do my job better. There were times I felt like shouting, "Teach me, and I will listen!!" Here, I can ask a question and get a genuine response, not some 'you don't need to know that' kind of answer.