Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems The Quasi-official HH CEDIA 2006 Q&A Session Thread

THey might on the SMR Forums. But that has got to be the most hideous interface known to man.

I used to participate in an SMR Lexicon forum back when I had my DC1. There were a couple of tech support folks from Lexicon who participated on the forum (with Lexicon's blessing). I would say that, overall, the dialogue was more open.

Bob mentioned that he was surprised by a couple of problems/ideas raised in JK's questions. Whilst I recognize that this forum represents a minority of Meridian customers, it probably has a disproportionate number of those that are pushing to explore the limits of product capabilities. There are also more than a few folks with a technological understanding that is likely way beyond the norm of Meridian users. It could be a commercial mistake for Meridian to respond to ideas from this forum with the assumption that this reflects the broader interests of the market. However, it is precisely user groups like this that can ask about capabilities that the typical user doesn't know they need/want (yet).

If I were in Bob's seat, I think that I'd ask one of the tech support, development or market research folks to visit the forum periodically (once every 1-2 weeks?) I would ask of the forum that there be two sticky threads:

1. Techical Questions for Meridian
2. Product Suggestions and Requests for Meridian

The former being a spot to place questions that we don't seem to be able to resolve within the community. I think this could be a good organized source of ideas for improvement.

I'd like to add my thanks to Bob, John and all the posters - this is a very interesting thread.

Cheers, Ian

Great post isb. I'd fully endorse that approach.

Ian:

Bob's the one to thank. Without his sitting down to talk mine doesn't amount to much of anything

Best,

Simple & Brilliant Idea Isb!

John,

I just got around to reading answers you gathered from Meridian. Once again, thank you and Meridian for the pulling it together.

As far as getting Meridian to contribute more to this site. I've requested it for a long time and get positive feedback on the topic but we never seem to get past "Go".

I was on the SMR forums with the DC1 as well and at times I think it was hard for Lexicon, but overall I think it's a very positive thing to do for everyone.

They can certainly pick and choose what they want to answer. Just as they do with John's questions.

My only guess is that they worry a "Technician" may slip something out unintended. And lose track of "problems" by not reporting them through currently "tracked" channels.

Meridian UK seem to be quite active in monitoring these forums. I think that a number of them can be as 'sad' as us by frequenting these forums during their spare time. A number of times I have posted a question overnight on the forum only to ring Meridian the following morning and for them to have the answer ready and waiting for me even before I have even told them what my problem was!

And Meridian have been known to be 'helpful' on a number of occasions, posting anonymously on here (and recently more publicly) or even via direct email, often right from the top.

They obviously don't have my number... (or don't like me)

One would think it's rather hard not to like you ...

Allow me to chime in on BOTH isb's and George's comments -- both of whom, by the way, I remember from my Lexicon days.

As a former Lexicon owner (and SMR Forum particpant) and TAG McLaren owner (and TMA Forum participant) I would say that those forums GREATLY benefited from the contribution by egineers and executives from both companies. The benefits, it should be noted, were bi-directional in that:

-- Company got feedback on issues/problems, requested products, requested product features, software/ergonomics, real word application issues, usage, etc.

-- End users got feedback timely software updates, insights into future product developments, trouble shooting expertise, realtionships with the company, etc.

To highlight one point -- the relationship that I developed with the lads at TMA exist to this day despite my jumping ship to Meridian. This, in my view, is such a significant benefit in and of itself for Meridian to participate...want to talk about creating brand loyalt...TAG McLaren Audio had me as a lifer due to my realtionship (i.e. e-mails, phone calss, etc.) with Udo Zucker (CEO), John Mulcahy (Chief Hardware Engineer) and Steve (Chief Software Engineer)...M really needs to think about this!

Just my $0.02

Perhaps if Herr Doktor Udo had spent less time pontificating on his Forum, and more time running his business, TMA would still be trading.

Mark S

MarkS:

I fully disagree w/i you...the reason for TMA being sold, at least based on what a number of us were able to find out, had nothing to do with TMA's financial performance but rather a shift in direction/focus of its parent, TAG Mclaren, back to its core businesses as TMA was NOT the only subsidiary that was spun off/sold.

If someone has more current information I would welcome learnig about it.