The thing is, we're right on that line. We're just not sure, if we turn on the PowerBoards for DominoPower, if we'll have a win or not. Only you can tell us. If enough of you tell us you'd like us to turn on the PowerBoards so you can talk to other users, share ideas, get help, and more, then we'll add that service and run with it. If we don't get lots of votes for turning on the PowerBoards, we'll just keep things as they are. If you think you'd use the PowerBoards, send us an email at powerboards@dominopower.com and let us know how you feel.

So, critical mass is the first issue. The second is PowerBoard hosts.

Official PowerBoard hosts
We've discovered that our PowerBoards work best with a few, official, volunteer hosts. These are people who willingly give of their time and expertise to help other users. They check in on the boards every day or so, respond to messages, guide conversations, and spread good cheer. In return, we put their names prominently on the PowerBoards and in the masthead of the magazine, and they get to be known as Official PowerBoard Hosts. For some people, this is a boost to a resume or bio. For others, it's just a lot of fun, a chance to be seen, and a chance to really help.

To make the PowerBoards work on DominoPower, we need volunteer hosts. If you're interested in becoming a host, send a message to hostapply@dominopower.com. We'll send you more details when we get your email.

To recap, the first issue is critical mass. The second issue is PowerBoard hosts. The third is something called WebCrossing.

WebCrossing
Here's the deal. If we run the PowerBoards for DominoPower, we're not going to run them using Notes or Domino. Now, don't get all upset until you read on. As many of you know, we're publishers here at Component with a considerable infrastructure already built prior to the beginning of DominoPower. That's true of the PowerBoards as well.

We use a wonderful discussion board program called WebCrossing, built by Lundeen Associates. We bought it, because, well, Salon and Excite and Time and other very high profile sites were using it successfully. Frankly, for a small company, it cost a mint. It works very well for us and has, for years. Our editors are all trained on it. And we use it across publications.

So, if we introduce PowerBoards to DominoPower, we're going to use WebCrossing. Not for any reason that really involves Domino or Notes, because both make fabulous discussion management tools, but simply because we've got considerable effort invested into WebCrossing and it works fine. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.