This site should be renamed "Computer Hardware Recommendations for Computer Techs That Require Validation"
And no, I am being very serious here and in no way should you take that as a flippant remark.
Why?
Seriously, in all of the SE forums that I participate on, none have the restrictive and unwelcoming tenor this one does. After a little bit of research, we find that:
It's no wonder that your number of questions per day is a paltry 3.8 due to the excessive number that are put on hold or deleted through excessive down votes.
Hold Everything!
Out of the only 20 questions over the last 7 days that have been posted, 8 have been put on hold.
That's 40% that are stopped in their tracks waiting for the OP to fix the question which rarely happens.
Many are put "On Hold" for reasons that are not congruent with generally accepted terminology (DDR4 memory for HP ZBook Studio)
"Technical Support" is defined on Wikipedia as:
In general, technical support services attempt to help the user solve specific problems with a product rather than providing training, customization, or other support services.
The key to a question being classified as "Technical Support" is that the question is directed at solving a problem.
Asking a question if "something will work" is not "technical support." It's called having a tech question. In the above referenced question, the person asked if the product would work, not that it doesn't work and how to fix.
I also hate to break it to everyone here, but most of the time people are searching for Hardware, is because they have run into a problem they need to solve.
Do Your Research!
This one is key to my suggestion to renaming the forum. A good example of the confusion caused by what the fourm is called and what you are expecting your users can be summed up by the question https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/questions/2457/better-cpu-for-encoding
A quick read of the OP's question tells you that it is in relation to video encoding. It tells you what he has currently, what his specs are and what he would like to get.
This is a very answerable question.
His responses?
From two moderators, he is told to go do more "research" and/or to provide "more details"
Two other comments from users answer his question. Sometimes the answer is there is no answer.
My point here is that this particular user knows he needs something that will increase his productivity when it comes to encoding video. He doesn't understand system building and shouldn't have to. If your expectation is that he become proficient enough to understand the technologies behind CPUs and their architecture, then what would he be doing here other than seeking validation?
Pouring Concrete
I have never seen answers to questions deleted with such frequency as they have here on "HR". Even my comments are deleted
Many times, I have been told by ArtOfCode that there needs to be a single "concrete" recommendation like in (deleted) Network controlled HDMI switch This is utter nonsense. One of the reasons cited is "not to recommend a manufacturer.
Really? Why? Because the manufacturer might no longer be in business and the post might become obsolete? What then, do you do when products are EOL'd?
As a side note, the product referenced was a link to their exact product.
Pièce de Résistance
I don't think you guys truly understand what "Hardware" is. From your definition:
Hardware is any primarily electronic item that can perform more than one task, designed to interface with, connect to, or be, a primary computing platform in day-to-day operation.
A primary computing platform is any primarily electronic item that can perform meaningful tasks on its own with minimal external support, and designed to be operated by a user, consumer or professional.
Given that, how do you justify putting the question https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/questions/2493/can-i-change-the-hdd-pcb-with-one-for-a-different-size "On Hold?"
Explain how that question falls outside the scope of being a hardware recommendation.
But it all comes down to this statement buried deep within the answer of a question posted on Meta....
The purpose of this site (as I see it) is to help folks in making purchase decisions, whether it is in finding the right product given a definitive set of requirements, or (updated) to ask what you should consider to help assure your purchase will work for you. Fair enough?
If your "help" of making a purchasing decision to expect a user to learn all about the technology to adequately articulate his requirements in terms specifically idiomatic to you then you need to clearly articulate this requirement. It should be..
Large, bold, and very conspicious that the user should have a certain level of computer knowledge to ask questions here.
Please understand, I am not saying you are right or wrong; you are free to run this forum how you like. am saying that the connotation of "Hardware Recommendations" is too broad and should be rewritten to specifically target the audience you want to attract....
Computer Hardware Recommendations for Computer Techs Who Require Validation.