~Toughbooktalk~

Rob, while I cannot speak for the rest of the crowd on this site, I have a couple of thoughts on any upgrades you may wish to do that would make things better for all.

As one of those who have been around from the start (and a carryover from NBR), I have come to see this sight as more than just a place to get Toughbook info. Many of the conversations, most public but several private, go into far more serious subjects than just how to add GPS or swap a hard drive (no offense Teo!). For lack of a better term, this has become a long distance "Cheers" for me, a place to come where "everyone knows your name". I consider many of the members on this forum my friends (even though we have never met...but would like to) and trust their judgement on more than just Toughbook knowledge (and hopefully I have been able to contribute in the same way at times).

The bottom line here is that I would be happy to help in some way with any future expenses (at least as much as I can afford), and we could do it in many different ways. A one time donation, a monthly donation or even an account set up for us to be able to do a transfer of funds. Rob, you could even do a "fire sale" or other promotion using some of your TB's or even set up another raffle with a TB as a prize. There are so many things that could be done to help (and not just the core group, this is something that should be open to all members).

Oh well, just a few thoughts and I now relenquish the microphone to the next speaker....

BTW Rob, if you feel these thoughts would be better served in another thread, please feel free to copy or cut as needed.

I think I will move this to another area... No problemo there.

I have never asked anyone here for money. I do have the donation button that is set up that goes towards site operations (as you know), which is all I've done thus far. It's hard for me to charge people to use the site because as you've said: It's a place to peacefully socialize and make friends. I do feel the same way. I always look forward to coming on every day and do spend 65+ hours a week on this site.

If we want to set up a thing where people pay in to this site that's fine, but I would NEVER ask ANY one for money. My heart can't do this. I do own a website hosting company (as you know) - Giganet Hosting Inc. I channel all the money through those accounts so that this is all separate from personal (has to be that way!).

I will move these posts over to a new thread soon. I am meeting a friend for lunch at the moment and don't wanna be on my computer.

It really makes me feel good inside that we have made such a great site where everyone feels this way! This truly is a dream come true!

I have PLENTY of room (for now lol) for these images, so depending on the input from everyone else on here (and there are a LOT of you on here), we may go this route for everything? As of now I have 127GB left on the server (out of 279 total gigs), so we're good to go.

I MIGHT upgrade the internet line to double the speed on the upload... I'll have to analyze the logs from the last 2 years and see what that entails. It'll be $85/month more for the internet if I do that, and at this point, don't have any idea where that money will come from. I''m just barely breaking even right now between the electric bill and internet bill + the cost of maintenance on the generators and networking equipment it's self.

For now, we are more than good though

Thanks again!