smartusainsider.com opens to the public

[rawlus®]

the blogging feature is interesting as are some of the other features, but the forum/discussion board functionality/design is not very conducive to a very large and active community - it's style over substance. there is no way 5,000 users could use that topic/post function on the site now without enduring unbearable pain. IMHO anyway.

[Luckysmart]

I don't think that Smart Insider is any good... smartcarofamerica, ours is better. There is really NO insider news or anythings... I am glad to be here..., back here :P

[SMART]

If there is a desire for blogs here... just let me know and I will have it taken care of!

[kwagar]

I believe people will test the new site believing it will have some direct involvement from smart USA and therefore various questions may get answered by smart that haven't been answered here. This could be a big deal and is the reason I encouraged Schembri months ago to get directly involved in SCOA.

The fact of the matter is they are also NOT going to be directly involved in their own site either so any benefit is very questionable.

I also agree with earlier posts, the layout is not condusive to thousands of members and hundreds or thousands of posts as far as I can see. I find it much more difficult to navigate than is SCOA.

[Dunerunner]

smartUSA, PAG, David Schembri, nor anyone else is not interested in what buyers think or say about the smart within these online communities. They do care about what the media and general public perceives about the smartcar! This is why they will not be directly involved in their web forum nor will they look to it to provide them any guidance in design and development. It (the forum) is being provided to give folks waiting 18 months for their cars the illusion that smartUSA hears their requests or complaints and feels their pain!!!

[wdw412]

Originally Posted by SMART

I will admit that I'm bitter but all I can do is ask why? Why is it the same as 451 smart fortwo What was missing in the internet world for the smart that we are not providing? ETC.

I won't join smartusainsider for a couple of reasons.
1. I am sure there will not be any additional information there and probably not as accurate or as much as available on smartcarofamerica.com

2. One good forum is all I need and don't have time to search and read other forums.

I am very happy with everything about smartcarofamerica.com!

Bill

[SnakeFarm]

I kind of feel like Bill. I'll only join if I see a chance to cause trouble.

[wahi]

This here forum is family to me, even as I blog hop from one smart site to another..

[ifishcat]

Originally Posted by SMART

I will admit that I'm bitter but all I can do is ask why? Why is it the same as 451 smart fortwo What was missing in the internet world for the smart that we are not providing? ETC.

this here site (smartcarofamerica) has had/gotten a rather nice head start on pooling information. further, with constantant monitoring along with the reflecting adjustments on how that pool of information is framed, creates a value not easily duplicated!

when i want 'real', 'usable', and searchable/findable information on 'our' current 451, this is the place!

the contrast at this juncture, is stricking (a good thing) on this sites storehouse.

this place is 'the' hub, a number of other sights have been pointed to from here, without any dilution. I must keeping coming back, simply. ;)

here's to the continued growth of scoa <~~a toast

-jay

[Smart Car Geek]

Originally Posted by rawlus®

the forum/discussion board functionality/design is not very conducive to a very large and active community - it's style over substance.

I agree! It looks like they are 'trying' to have a system similar to Apples forum, but they are failing. They would have been miles ahead if they would have simply bought a vB/Invision license and used that for their forum like most companies do. With all of the mods available they could have fixed it up any way that they wanted. Whomever is in charge didn't do their homework. Maybe a site like that would have been nice 5-6 years ago, but today they are way behind the curve. I suspect people will use the site to voice their anger at the long wait, and to ask general questions about repairing the Smart, but the majority of Smart owners will be at sites like this one that offer professional forum software which has more features and is much easier to use.