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The Icon Bar: News and features: Drobe "closes"
 

Drobe "closes"

Posted by John Hoare on 21:06, 20/9/2009 | , ,
 
And so farewell to another part of RISC OS; as noted in our forum, longtime RISC OS news and articles website Drobe has closed... or, rather, entered "archive mode". (Note to all other websites: please do this, rather than just disappear, taking your content with you.)
 
A full announcement is to follow, but it's been clear for a while now that the time to run the website just hasn't been there. Many thanks to Chris Williams, original founder Peter Price, and everyone else involved in Drobe over the years; for all the occasional controversy, Drobe did a fantastic job at covering RISC OS online, comprehensively and intelligently. And that's a harder and more time-consuming job than it looks.
 
UPDATE @ 22:40: And here is that announcement. Whilst the main news and articles service is ceasing, the plan is to build the site up as a RISC OS resource site; anybody interested in helping with this is encouraged to get in contact. User webspace will also continue, and a new message board is planned. Any future updates to the site will be announced on their new Twitter feed.
 
  Drobe "closes"
  This is a long thread. Click here to view the threaded list.
 
Michael Drake Message #111406, posted by tlsa at 21:32, 20/9/2009

Posts: 1097
Thanks, Chris, for all the years of effort you put into Drobe. I think it was easily the best RISC OS web site ever. And thanks for keeping the site up in this form. smile
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Andrew Poole Message #111409, posted by andypoole at 22:05, 20/9/2009, in reply to message #111406
andypoole
Mouse enthusiast
Web
Twitter

Posts: 5558
Such a shame to see it go. Chris has done a fantastic job to keep it going all these years.

Andy.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Paul Stewart Message #111410, posted by sa110_mk at 22:12, 20/9/2009, in reply to message #111409
Member
Posts: 144
I used to check Drobe everyday for up-to-date news and comment in the little part of the world that RISC OS occupies. Very sad indeed to see this site close to new news/articles.

Chris, thanks for proving the service to us all over the past decade. Good luck for the future.

Paul
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Chris Message #111411, posted by Chris at 22:19, 20/9/2009, in reply to message #111410
Member
Posts: 283
Real shame to see it go. Chris - it was an amazing site. Thanks for all the hard work.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
van Engelen Thomas Message #111414, posted by highlandcattle at 22:40, 20/9/2009, in reply to message #111411
Member
Posts: 78
Now what?
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Eric Rucker Message #111419, posted by bhtooefr at 23:01, 20/9/2009, in reply to message #111414
Member
Posts: 337
Well, there's still TIB and the Usenet groups...

This is... surprising, but at the same time, what was there for Drobe to report, really?
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Herbert zur Nedden Message #111420, posted by hzn at 08:43, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111419
Member
Posts: 11
... what was there for Drobe to report, really?
Indeed there is not much to write about but there is more happening than you seen on the portals...
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Jason Togneri Message #111421, posted by filecore at 09:37, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111420

Posts: 3868
Ironically, the top of the "Related posts" links at the side of this was to "Maybe you should read drobe.co.uk instead".
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Andrew Rawnsley Message #111422, posted by arawnsley at 10:57, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111410
R-Comp chap
Posts: 598
This was quite a shock - I check drobe and iconbar several times each day (usually), and it came as quite a shock this morning. Not what I was hoping for two weeks before the show unhappy
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Steffen Huber Message #111423, posted by hubersn at 11:07, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111419
Member
Posts: 91
This is... surprising, but at the same time, what was there for Drobe to report, really?
How about the news about the forthcoming PostScript 3 printer driver?

See http://www.mw-software.com/software/ps3/ps3.html for details.

Overall, "not much news" is IMHO not a good reason to close a news portal - as long as there IS news once in a while.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Simon Challands Message #111424, posted by SimonC at 11:17, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111423
Elite
Right on, Commander!

Posts: 398
"Not much news" is a good enough reason IMO when you're maintaining the site yourself - what's the point in putting the effort in when there's little to report?

This is a sad but understandable decision.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Chris Williams Message #111425, posted by diodesign at 12:01, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111423
diodesign
The Opposition

Posts: 269
Overall, "not much news" is IMHO not a good reason to close a news portal
In the case of Drobe, it wasn't.

Thanks for all the comments.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Stephen Scott Message #111427, posted by sa_scott at 12:35, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111425
Member
Posts: 73
Chris, I'm sorry you've decided to call it a day. Drobe was always one of my top visits over the years, both here and abroad. Even though news has been more sporadic over the past year, myself and others still visited in case anything new was going on. That was a sure sign that you were doing something right!

All the best in your future journalistic endeavours.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Bryan Hogan Message #111431, posted by helpful at 13:27, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111419
Member
Posts: 253
Well, there's still TIB and the Usenet groups...
We're doomed! big smile

But seriously, I'd like to add my thanks for the excellent job Chris has done over the years. I'm going to have to come up with another site worthy of being my homepage.

what was there for Drobe to report, really?
The RISC OS London Show obviously big smile

http://www.riscoslondonshow.co.uk/
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Peter Howkins Message #111432, posted by flibble at 14:07, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111431
flibble

Posts: 891
what was there for Drobe to report, really?
The RISC OS London Show obviously smile

http://www.riscoslondonshow.co.uk/
I would like to point out that Bryan is contractually obliged to mention the show in every post big grin

I would also like to thank Chris, not least for the significant editing that my articles required wink
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
ninjah Message #111433, posted by ninj at 14:14, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111406
Member
Posts: 288
Thanks from here too, Chris. For many years, Drobe has been my first port of call for RISC OS news. I hope it can become just as essential in its new form.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
keith dunlop Message #111440, posted by epistaxsis at 16:21, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111431
epistaxsis

Posts: 159


what was there for Drobe to report, really?
The RISC OS London Show obviously smile

http://www.riscoslondonshow.co.uk/
I would also like to point out that Bryan is contractually obliged to mention the show in every post tongue

Having said that - come anyway!

Thanks Chris for everything you've done - hopefully we'll see you around (did you know there's a RISC OS show on in london a week on Saturday? wink ) and can have some fun taking the piss big grin
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VV Message #111446, posted by VincentVega at 19:25, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111440
Member
Posts: 7
I've not used an Acorn/RISC OS machine in anger for over 10 years, but I've visited Drobe pretty much every day to keep abreast of any developments. It's sad to see it's no longer going to be maintained it really was a first rate resource for all things RISC OS.

(Whilst on the topic of shows, will there be a Midlands show this year?)
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Andrew Message #111447, posted by andrew at 19:32, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111446
HandbagHandbag Boi
Posts: 3439
Good idea about the message board.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Paul Stewart Message #111449, posted by sa110_mk at 19:46, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111446
Member
Posts: 144
Midlands show is on this year. Same place as last year. Saturday December 5th, 2009. More details can be found here: -

http://www.mug.riscos.org/show09/MUGshow.html

Come along and have a good day out amongs friends.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
van Engelen Thomas Message #111450, posted by highlandcattle at 20:18, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111449
Member
Posts: 78
Guys,
Don't forget riscoscode.com Which is awesome in it's not-conformistic way
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Jason Togneri Message #111451, posted by filecore at 20:49, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111450

Posts: 3868
What, a non-conformist RISC OS site? Shirley knot.
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Peter Howkins Message #111460, posted by flibble at 22:49, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111440
flibble

Posts: 891
And in case anyone hasn't noticed amongst all the (deserved) praise for Chris, there's a RISC OS show in London on Saturday 3rd October big smile

There will be lego....
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Peter Howkins Message #111461, posted by flibble at 23:31, 21/9/2009, in reply to message #111460
flibble

Posts: 891
And in case anyone hasn't noticed amongst all the (deserved) praise for Chris, there's a RISC OS show in London on Saturday 3rd October smile

There will be lego....
... I didn't post that ...
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Paul Stewart Message #111463, posted by sa110_mk at 07:58, 22/9/2009, in reply to message #111460
Member
Posts: 144
Hope you will have spare for us all to play with!
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Bryan Hogan Message #111465, posted by helpful at 13:13, 22/9/2009, in reply to message #111461
Member
Posts: 253
... I didn't post that ...
Maybe you are just *sooooo* excited about the forthcoming London show, that you posted without even realising it big big grin
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Jason Togneri Message #111467, posted by filecore at 15:30, 22/9/2009, in reply to message #111465

Posts: 3868
Sleep-posting. A new night-time horror.
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Peter Howkins Message #111469, posted by flibble at 16:05, 22/9/2009, in reply to message #111465
flibble

Posts: 891
Maybe you are just *sooooo* excited about the forthcoming London show, that you posted without even realising it big grin
Remind me to nuke the cookies off your laptop the next time I see it.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Bryan Hogan Message #111470, posted by helpful at 17:18, 22/9/2009, in reply to message #111469
Member
Posts: 253
Remind me to nuke the cookies off your laptop the next time I see it.
That will probably be at the London Show, which is on the 3rd October, in case you'd forgotten grin
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Blind Moose Message #111471, posted by Acornut at 18:46, 22/9/2009, in reply to message #111463
Acornut No-eye-deer (No Idea)

Posts: 487
Hope you will have spare for us all to play with!
What kind of 'spare' are we talking about? naughty
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
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The Icon Bar: News and features: Drobe "closes"