Do you know if other companies (ex: Nike, adidas, Gucci..) have a fan site as good as this one?? I was wondering these days if sites like these were usual or is this an Oakley exclusivity?

Oh, I suppose they have some sort of fans out there but I just couldn't see myself typing those words into a search field to find out.

Most of these are purposeful.

There is not a quote button
Personal preference. I don't like forums where every message has a quote of the previous one. I decided on this early on.

pictures are only viewed as attachments which makes for more clicking and going back then I would like,

Add a few more reviews and they'll show up as thumbnails.

the stark black on white is a little harsh on the eyes

white on black is even worse, for me anyway

and the posts jumble together visually.

okay, guilty. I do like the lack of large seperation.

You also have to log in every time you visit,

The login is for more than just the forum. I could make it persistent. Only issue is pulling in all the session variables that are used throughout the site. Most outside the forum.

and if you visit the forum through the homepage, finding the online forum is impossible. The only clue is for existing members that see the LOGIN button.

Agreed, and I like it that way. I could care less if anyone finds the forum. The site's about information and a resource. The chatty part is just for kicks. This keeps out the riff-raff. The real visitors will find it eventually. I'm not a rush to triple the membership by every person that passes by. If you got some of the e-mail from people who apparently didn't find the forum, you'd thank me for diverting the clutter away from here.

As far as organization of Oakley's site, you are crazy if you think it is not well organized. It follows all WC3 guidelines and as for usability and interactivity, it is very easy to find what you want in very few clicks. Not only that, but there is more then one way to access various parts of Oakley's site. The O Review does indeed have a great database, however that does not mean that the design is not much too dated. I love this site, but I'm not biased nor blind.

yes dated I know. I'm only one person, and time is limited now. I'll redesign it at some point. I'm not happy with some of the flow, but just can't give it as much attention as I'd like. Implementing a professional forum package wouldn't help that though.

Among other things, I've chosen to avoid emoticons, the topics are all on one page (although this may change), and I can change anything I like.

I personally don't like the look of vbulletin or UBB, but that's just me. This is really a little site that grew fast and is going against bigger ones. Specific suggestions are always welcome in the Site Suggestions forum, and I'll see what I can do.

Couldn't agree more Dann.....I, personally, feel very priviledged to have found this site when I did and am very proud to be involved in a "grass roots" type of website. I can honestly say this site has changed, or at least effected, pretty much every aspect of my life. I spent 11 hours straight on this site the first day I found it - couldn't even imagine what my "wasted time" stats are....

I would have never bought the "hype" if this was a corporate "BS" site instead of a Fan site....this place is pure and unsponsored - which makes it real. It is fed by passion - not BS.....

I understand how much Dann has on his plate and am generally in awe that this place exists at all.

In fact - the whole damn place should require a sign in and a monthly/yearly fee....if, for nothing else - to help out the guy that made it happen - I would be the first guy in line to pay....

yeah... and i'll be second. hear hear Nik!

i love this site. it's the one i visit several times every single day and spend (waste) most of my time on. through it's ups and downs i still cannot imagine being without it.

i was talking to a couple of O-Review members this afternoon and made me realize how great our community is, i met a member for this first time today and he said to me "it's like i've known you forever." i don't think any other site forms that kind of friendship. and it's not just our love for Oakley either, there's other facets of our lives we share with one anotherand that's what makes our community great.

it's also great that a lot of the members here wouldn't hesitate for a second to help each other out. i'd like to think i've helped members out as much as i'm able to, and that i'm eternally grateful for those who offered me a hand.

cheers guys!

i love the fact that it's an international fan site. not just an american product site.

i think the site is nearly perfect, and by any chance , you have a suggestion , there is a site suggestion thread, where you can unload your wishes.

oakley is a worldwide appreciated product,
www.o-review.com is a worldwide appriciated website

Best. Site. EVAH.

(Ok, I'll stop talking like that now, but it's true.)

As for vbulletin or UBB, I've found those interfaces confusing, believe it or not, and pretty impersonal. Also, since there are a million forums online that look like that, I think people care less about what they spew in the forums - since it looks like 'just another web forum' people who come across it may flame, spam, and troll just like any other web forum. Just a hunch. It's obvious from the get-go that OR is different.

Appreciated. In the end, it is what it is. I do hope to improve the flow of the database, but it takes time, and I have many other things which always get in the way.

Personally, I think this forum looks more polished than the generic ones you find out there. I thank the lack of obnoxious animated gifs, lines of lines of derivative quotes or gaudy images in signatures, etcetera...

ah yes, signatures, another thing I purposely left out. good call