What's New? (1999 Archive)

Added a Free-For-All-Links page, labelled Fun Links in the menu. Add links to as many websites as you like, including your own.

Began a holiday experiment of allowing open access to the on-line manual without first having to sign the Guestbook. I still ask for feedback via the Guestbook. We'll see how it works out. If I don't get much feedback, I'll go back to restricted access.

The graphical buttons in the menu bar were too slow loading so went back to a text-based menu but based on the simplified graphical structure.

Re-designed the left-hand framed menu because it was just getting out of hand. Netscape users complained of not being able to read the menu items because the font was too small. Went to a graphical button menu system that should work out better for all users.

Added a link to a page that locates a Mr. Appliance in your area.

Finally found an on-site search that works reasonably well. It's one of the services that comes along with my Mindspring Biz hosting. Check it out.

Added a new article to the Appliantology Archive: Soap on a Rope. This article discusses the false economy of buying cheap detergents for your dishwasher or washer. While you may save a few pennies up front, cheap detergents will cost you more in the long run. How? Read and learn.

Changed servers (again). I moved from the server that comes free with with Mindspring dial-up account to a full-fledged business account server at Mindspring. I'm paying more money each month to keep this site running but I had no choice because I needed the bandwidth. Should result in many improvements in using this website such as faster page access.

Many people commented in the Guestbook that they'd like to see the ability to search this website added. I checked out lots of on-site searchs and didn't like any of them because they would find pages that didn't really correspond to the search query. Instead, I developed a Site Map page that should help explain the different pages.

Changed access procedure for the on-line manual. Many people were not even willing to answer a few critique questions about the website and a few expressed indignation with even having to obtain a password, as though they were simply entitled to access as a surfing right. So now, instead of passwords being sent out automatically, I will review each response before emailing the password.

Changed message board servers for the do-it-yourself appliance repair forum to coolboard.com. Much nicer look and features with this board including: optional email notification when your question has replies, user-selectable expanded or condensed views, users can edit and delete their sent messages and lots more.

Added the "What's New" section to post website changes and to clean up the home page.

Added the "Other Mr. Appliance Websites" section to start linking with other franchisee websites and with corporate.

Added the "Consumer Alerts!" section to give breaking news from manufacturers on product recalls, safety notices, tech memos, etc.

Added two new articles to the "Appliantology Archive" section: How Much is a New One? and Power Quality and Your Appliances.

Added the "Appliantology Archive" section where appliance articles will be posted for reading. The four initial articles posted were Dryers and Fires, The Cold Facts, Dishwasher Mythology, and Home on the Range

Finally got settled in with Mindspring.com and Namesecure.com for website hosting and URL pointing. Glad that's over with!

Got screwed over by our previous host, AIT.com, who we'd been with for over three years. A flurry of activity ensued to find a new host.