I just noticed this today. It seems like a pretty good deal. Twenty bucks for all the features the site offers plus an avatar.

Don't forget about the 50% off coupon!

I believe it just went live yesterday. There's also a 50% "holiday" savings code floating around.

Thanks for the info.

Edit: Sorry I didn't see there is already a thread about it.

Since 2002.

So if premium members can create a 20+ option poll, can non-premium members see or not see all 20+ options? Or is this 20+ options poll only available in this mystery magic premium forum I keep hearing about?

OK. I split dogmatica's post from another thread and then merged with an earlier thread to avoid "blurring" the original topic. To address the questions:

1) I believe that there were announcements about the launch of premium membership and hope those threads can be searched for and reviewed.

2) When it comes to any examination of premium/extra features, I think I'll leave it for those regularly using those forums to respond.

What else is there to show you? Your post has avatars next to it and you can visit a Premium Area that, honestly, gets about as much traffic as Book Talk.

And there's contests too, only for Premium members. Your chances of winning those are really good (like, 20 to 1). I won a $30 DVD set in one of them.

at least book talk has a sub-forum. no sub-forum in premium.

The increased PM space may be nice for some.

And is the panic button for everyone, or just premium?

And don't forget the top hat!

Alt+tab is your friend.

I don't use it as a panic button, but as a quick link to the forum list. And keep meaning to change it to a page full of all my common bookmarks. In theory, it should become my favorite feature of DVDtalk. Having that quick link on every post makes it convenient to browse quickly, with a lot less scrolling and clicking.

I forget, is it premium only?

It will be for IB to decide if they wish to promote the premium side of things more heavily. Various other members have managed to determine whether to fork out the $$$s for an enhanced feature set. And I have dedicated this thread as a place where interested parties can ask questions.

I should say that, in spite of your disclaimer, I am worried about the tenor of your post and ask that you take a few deep breaths before coming in "all guns blazing".

"Faceless website"?! This place has a rare sense of community amongst its members, and is probably the best moderated forum on the web. To many of us, it is a "home away from home" on the Internet, so to speak. Being a new member, it's clear that you don't feel that way and may not understand it.

I'd bet that at minimum, 75% of us who are Premies joined as a way of giving back, not because of a concern over our return on investment.

That's the reason I joined. DVDTalkers have saved me a crapload of money since I found this site 3 years ago. It's a good group of folks.

(Sorry to break up the party, and I'll be out of your way in a moment...)

Sure, the ol' DVD Talk Gang & especially the Other Forum Folks are Great (that's a proven fact for me), and I would gladly pay as a way of 'Giving Back' if Geoff was still the Owner & Acting Ring Master when this premium membership thing finally came about. For me, that wanting to give back was based on the foundation of his many years of work and keeping it all together for us (not to mention actually creating this place we call 'DVD Talk') that ever caused me to even think about literally paying for anything 'round here. Please don't get me wrong, pay features are one thing, and they are all fine and good (and even 'I' may consider it someday), but to think paying for them now is in some way 'Giving Back' (to in fact: the new owners that had nothing to do with what made this site the great place it is) just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

-Paul

How long have you been here? Do you even know who Geoff is?

I see your point, but here are two things I considered.

#1, the forum has gotten better since IB took over, imho.

#2, Geoff got his $ from IB, so paying IB is sort of like paying Geoff.

That brings up a possible question. Shouldn't we be a little pissed at Geoff for selling us without any warning or input? Especially if you don't like the new "masters".

I see your point that you see my point too! Glad we can agree on something! Well, I can't tell any significant difference myself (maybe I'm just not paying enough attention) apart from some ads within the posts, avatars, and those 'little top hat things' next to some of the usernames, which are cool, however, I would have chosen 'Crowns' myself. (It's a personal thing, you see.)Now THAT'S FUNNY! First of all, 'I' for one personally don't even know the new 'masters' (as it were), and usually have to know something about someone to either like or not like them. So there's no dislike on my end (...yet. ). Heck, as long as the forum runs smoothly, I have no issue with them, and when it doesn't, I'll usually just post something silly and wait patiently until they fix it.

As for Geoff...

It was his creation to do with as he pleased. I was more sad than angry after some near ten years of membership. I mean, he was a good guy (kinda like Blade or Randy or Bfrank or nemein), so that sadness that usually comes with the loss of someone you like is to be expected. But ya know what? He didn't give me no prenup! He doesn't 'owe' me anything! He's got his own life and decisions to make that are right for him and his family just like we all do. Can't fault him on that any more than I can fault myself when I decide to do something that's right for Treesa & me. Hey, I'm glad he was around for as long as he was. I have nothing but good memories about him (...and even a picture! ). Besides, holding onto something in anger that's unchangeable is pretty much pointless. After a while you've just gotta try and get a tourniquet on it, right?

Life goes on and we must go forward if we are to survive!

'Time...Marches On!'

(...or so they say.)

-Paul 3rd of Other Forum Fame

You obviously aren't all that close to him. His closest friends refer to him simply as "G!"

see, originally it was a DVD disc. then, the administration set up a thread for suggestions for a new symbol, and then the symbols were voted on. Now, had you been a premium member, then you could've suggested a crown.



Even though DVDTalk was bought out by IB, it still, for the most part, runs on it's own, at least from what I can tell.