If you give a mouse a cookie…
I'd say no - there isn't a separate forum for Windows forensics so why does Mac require one. Plus there are already 13 forums, adding more for each OS flavour would complicate affairs and reduce the chance that you'd stumble across something interesting that you you otherwise wouldn't.
I would say yes, it is a great idea… Mac's aren't just a different OS, until recent times it was a different architecture too…
There are plenty of subjects with the ipod's, iphones and macs out there.
I think moving forward, given the wealth of information and the diversity of the forensics field, separate forums would be a worthwhile endeavor.
It seems currently we have Categories X, Y, and Z. And within these we fit easily some times topics of interest/concern, but almost equally we are forced to fit other topics because there is not a defined category. And then you have folks who ask the same or very similar questions in more than one existing category as this forum currently exists!
When you go to search the forum for something it sometimes can take you all over the place. By moving to well-defined categories searching and mining becomes much simpler - provided participants correctly input their posts into the right category.
Operating systems are easily defined categories
Windows 9x
Windows XP
Windows Vista
ETC.
Linux
BSD
Solaris
ETC.
Macintosh
ETC.
You get the idea - for the major operating systems there would be a category under which all posts pertaining to that OS environment would exist.
Topics that spill into multiple operating system environments, such as Internet history analysis could be put into a different category.
You don't have to define 50 categories, but the major operating systems would be a good starting point. Then a mobile device category (or further defined into Mobile Telephones, GPS Units, etc.), a hardware category (hard drives, thumb drives), etc.
Just some brain droppings for this morning. Enjoy!
Cheers!
farmerdude
Operating systems are easily defined categories
Windows 9x
Windows XP
Windows Vista
ETC.
Linux
BSD
Solaris
ETC.
Macintosh
ETC.
No so easy though - MacOS X is BSD derived, where does that leave it ? -P
Pros and cons for both arguments here I think … I'd have to say that, much as the topic interests me, and I'd like the ease of reading posts more easily selected from the whole that (1) I don't think that there is enough traffic to justify _at this point in time_ and (2) given how hard people find it to put things in the right forum that adding choice is a _bad thing_ 😉
I'm going to chip in with a couple of comments.
Firstly, thanks for all the input so far. I'm going to let the poll and topic run for 30 days and see where we are by that stage.
Speaking from a webmaster's point of view, I think one of the most common mistakes people make when setting up forums is to create too many categories, the result of which is that most of the forums look very empty (and people are less keen to post new messages, imagining they won't get a response).
I think the wisest strategy is usually to create new forums only if there's a huge interest in a particular subject (interest which may be crowding out other discussion in an existing forum) or if the subject matter is fundamentally different from whatever else is being discussed. There are other reasons, of course, but I think those are the most relevant here and I'm not sure starting a new Mac forum, or indeed other forums per OS, fits either category.
I *will* keep an open mind, though, and continue to follow the discussion.
Jamie
Greetings everyone!
To aid in your Macintosh Forensics, I have a website, MacOSXForensics.com, that is dedicated to imaging and analysis of Macintoshes as well as using a Macintosh as your forensic platform. The website also has forums for discussion as well as tools for downloads.
I support discussion on this site as well! The Mac has taken approximately 10% of the market now which means all forensic examiners should remain prepared.
Ryan
I voted 'No' because I would not like to contribute to the Mac v's others divide!
I like reading posts dealing with subjects that I have little knowledge of and like Jonathan, I am less likely to see the post header if I do not visit the dedicated area.
A compromise may be an Archive/Resource area that contains commented links to posts dealing with specific areas like Mac forensics or a Top 10 posts/discussions!
It would be nice to have them , MAC, Windows, Linux seperated. But I would like to have them inside this forum.
Odd Arve