MagicJack users wiki

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:44 pm

I created a Wikibook covering commonly-discussed MagicJack background and support issues:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/MagicJack

This isn't my wiki. The way Wikibooks works, it belongs to anyone who has an interest and would like to contribute.

I simply tried to bootstrap it by dumping a lot of info I have (and always cut and paste into forum replies).

Even anonymous users can contribute. But, I encourage anyone who's interested to create a Wikibooks account, and use the "watch" feature to be alerted to changes, and discussions (which occur via the "discussions" tab at the top of each page.). Wikibooks is based upon consensus. So, it would really help if people help to monitor changes, and any discussions that arise (proposals, questions, disputes).

If you want to contribute but don't know how to use a wiki, I created a "contribute" link from the main page with links for beginners. You can also contact me from there. Or, start a discussion on any page (using the "discussion" tab at the top).

My goal with the book was just to have a primary source to refer people to for common topics. I really get tired of copy/pasting the same stuff into replies. And, there's a lot of good info in the online forums that rolls off into oblivion. The wiki is the perfect solution for centralization, collaboration and continued evolution. Conversations just don't cut it. We need a way to capture things.

Mark

stroths · Post by **stroths** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:39 pm

Nicely done.

ke7doy · Post by **ke7doy** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:50 pm

Nice Job!

emiliomcol · Post by **emiliomcol** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 1:52 am

thank a lot, good to have all posible info

t4feb · Post by **t4feb** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:41 am

Looks great thanks

Boondocs · Post by **Boondocs** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:44 am

Nice job man

hsweiss · Post by **hsweiss** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:10 am

Nice job! Thanks!

One NIT - in "History" you say "Packed in plastic foam within a cardboard sleeve. Limited to online sales beginning May 2008, thus associated exclusively with the newer Gen 2. But, that's no longer true."

I ordered mine on-line back in Feb 2008 and received the foam-in-cardboard packaging.

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:23 am

hsweiss wrote:One NIT - in "History" you say "Packed in plastic foam within a cardboard sleeve. Limited to online sales beginning May 2008, thus associated exclusively with the newer Gen 2. But, that's no longer true."

I ordered mine on-line back in Feb 2008 and received the foam-in-cardboard packaging.

Thanks. I'll update it. But... you can update it too.

Even without a Wikibooks ID.

I appreciate all the replies. I hope people will get a Wikbook ID, "watch" the pages (or any they have particular interest in), fix problems, add information.

I've already received feedback from a Wikibooks admin questioning whether this is too specific to one purpose (a data store of support info), suggesting that the book should contain more information about how it compares to other services. He also recommended that it should have an "instruction manual." And, thought it was too much marketing (I guess he didn't read the "Criticisms" page.

).

I'm going to reply to him that the "instruction manual" is just "plug it in, dial the phone, talk as long as you want." Therefore, the Support Resources is basically the rest of the instruction manual.

However, it's always possible a Wikibooks admin could flag the book with negative connotations. So, if MJ users "watch" the pages, they can help oppose anything like that. And also act upon suggestions to add other content (like comparison to other services). If there are more voices that contribute to any "Discussion" that may occur on any page, it will help substantiate that the book serves a purpose, and reflects many views.

Mark

hsweiss · Post by **hsweiss** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:46 am

Duh - of course its a Wiki!! I just fixed it. Thanks again for taking the time to put it together.

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:31 pm

I added an image to the cover/landing page. If anyone has a better image, feel free.

I might rename the "benefits/criticisms" page to "Pros and Cons." A wikibooks admin doesn't like this section as it is. He thinks the "benefits" part is too much personal opinion, like sales hype.

I was also thinking of calling it "Common user sentiment." And then "Pros," and "Cons" beneath it. I want to be balanced, giving both sides fair representation. But, I think the admin feels the term "benefits" doesn't convey that it's a summary of personal opinion commonly expressed in reviews, debates, etc. I think he'd rather see "benefits" as part of the introduction, which would include a comparison (reference to) other services. He'd like to see fairness that way.

I struggled with this. I initially called it "praise and criticism." But, I was worried the people who focus on the positives would feel "praise" minimized the credibility of their opinion (like, we should call criticism "whining."). Maybe the suggestion above would be a better way to handle it.

It's not a big deal. But, if you see some changes in this regard, that's what I'm trying to accomplish. If anyone else wants to tackle it, it's fine with me. I just got the ball rolling.

At some point I suspect the FAQ will become too long. We'll have to consider how to group things into related categories.

I see magichack and robatino have done some edits. Thanks!

Mark

Post by **MagicHack** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:03 pm

Awesome job on the wiki! (I actually did one minor edit, to fix an external URL.)

How easy is it to revert changes? (I'm asking because, I bet it is only a matter of time before magicJack themselves remove some of the criticism...)

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:13 pm

MagicHack wrote:How easy is it to revert changes? (I'm asking because, I bet it is only a matter of time before magicJack themselves remove some of the criticism...)

It's not hard. Just go to the "History" tab. There's an "undo" option. This page describes the history page:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Help:Page_history

That's how "edit wars" start. Hopefully MJ users who differ in opinion will talk about it on a "discussion" page and find ways to accommodate each other.

If it gets out of hand, that could be a reason for the admin here to install mediaWiki, and host a wiki here with more control over who can edit it. It's nice to leave it open, for anyone to "be bold." But, it could have it's downside.

Mark

neo1 · Post by **neo1** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:36 pm

Hi Mark

Thanks so much!

neo

neo1 · Post by **neo1** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 7:15 pm

hey Mark

I just finnished reading your book. I am used to wikipedia but have never been to wikibooks before. With wikipedia one can scroll down and read the entire article without clicking on sections. Is this possible with wikibooks? It would be nice.

I am not sure which of the forums it was on but just a few days ago I was reading a thread about the two versions of the dongle and there was some confusion. I asked if there was a third version. It was nice to see you included this up-to-date info with a link to images. Turns out I have version 3.

neo

az2008 · Post by **az2008** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 7:25 pm

neo1 wrote:With wikipedia one can scroll down and read the entire article without clicking on sections. Is this possible with wikibooks?

Both Wikipedia and Wikibooks use mediaWiki (the wiki software). Whatever is possible at one is possible at the other.

Wikibooks is a little different because it topical, not encyclopedic. So, it tends to be structured as a cover page, sub-chapter(s) and pages. Maybe that's what you're referring to? (A completely flat, single page for all information about MagicJack would be difficult to deal with.)

Mark