I think it would be good if we could now search or filter the new category icons by type and also add and be able to search other fields.

If every post had a spot to put the price, as a kind of subtitle, and if it could have checkboxes for things like after coupon, after rebate, etc, then it could improve the overall utility and decrease the amount of newbie bashing for poor thread titling.

I like most of those ideas especially the checkboxes and price field. It would definitely help in finding a deal.

that'd invovle re-programming the vbulletin, it's a lot work man

that'd invovle re-programming the vbulletin, it's a lot work man
I'm sure it could be hacked in somehow. I mean, in the icon slot in the database, you could probably make an array of values including category, checkboxes, etc. Then on the display end, you change the display on the icon so it displays those things. The only trick then is patching it into the search.

every icon could add its own special keyword to the title etc, and the search could do simple text to search for the keywords.

How would you code these two deals so they could be filtered in any meaningful way by someone who wants a router (but might want an adapter too):

1) One Netgear MR814 Router w/ PCI wireless card or USB wireless adapter: $70 - $35 rebate on the router + $15 rebate on the adapter plus $10 online gift card + $6 shipping = $16 net, versus;

2) One Netgear MR814 Router: $30 - MIR $15 - retailer rebate $5 plus local sales tax on $30 (about $2.10) = $12.10.

Without reading the deals, it would be pretty hard to figure out which one was better for an individual. Maybe seeing the deal would remind him that his friend needs an adapter...

If you think this example is farfetched, see this thread (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showpost.php?p=1508477&postcount=1).

How would you code these two deals so they could be filtered in any meaningful way by someone who wants a router (but might want an adapter too):

1) One Netgear MR814 Router w/ PCI wireless card or USB wireless adapter: $70 - $35 rebate on the router + $15 rebate on the adapter plus $10 online gift card + $6 shipping = $16 net, versus;

2) One Netgear MR814 Router: $30 - MIR $15 - retailer rebate $5 plus local sales tax on $30 (about $2.10) = $12.10.

Without reading the deals, it would be pretty hard to figure out which one was better for an individual. Maybe seeing the deal would remind him that his friend needs an adapter...

If you think this example is farfetched, see this thread (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showpost.php?p=1508477&postcount=1).
...All of which is far more granual than the suggestion. That being, to be able to separate by category, final price, and steps involved. The two circumstances you mention are for different (though obviously similar) purchases.

A search limited to tech deals with "MR814" (or "router") in the title and allowing rebates would turn up both of those results, unless they are poorly-titled. Even a filter keeping the price below $20 (which ain't bad) would let both through. Leaving it up to the human being at the screen to read them and make a decision.

I think being able to limit search by category is a great idea, and seems not entirely impossible. The rest would be gravy :D

When items are combined into a package, it's very difficult to calculate the final price of the individual components. Example: Router and adapter combination.

Usually people include descriptive terms, like "router" or "adapter." However, there is some vagueness to some terms, like an adapter may also be called a NIC or a network interface card or a wireless card or...

IMHO, it would be no trivial task to enforce use of categories and to make OPs get them right.

The current search tool works pretty well as it is: Wireless router, wireless adapter, etc., will generally take the visitor to the threads he needs. Then he can decide which ones are real deals to him and which aren't. He may not have a CompUSA near him but he does have a Staples, so he'll still have to read through the titles or posts to pick out deals that apply to him.

When items are combined into a package, it's very difficult to calculate the final price of the individual components. Example: Router and adapter combination.
For which there is typically some sort of "total cost" or "bundle cost" or what have you. Failing that, one could just pick one such price from the available options. This is more or less what people often do now, anyway.

Usually people include descriptive terms, like "router" or "adapter." However, there is some vagueness to some terms, like an adapter may also be called a NIC or a network interface card or a wireless card or...

IMHO, it would be no trivial task to enforce use of categories and to make OPs get them right.
I think most people can figure out that a router is "tech". The real merit comes with items for which the same term may be applied to completely different items. For instance, a mouse might well be a piece of technology or an animal. To the OP it should be obvious which it is. Being able to make the distinction makes a searcher's life easier. If one is searching for computer mice, then living mice are not useful search results. I fail to see how this could be very confusing for the OP.

If you want to argue against categories in general, well, there are already threads for that. They seem more concerned with the aesthetics of the category icons, though.

You can already filter by category now (click on a category icon). This would be an extension of that ability to search.

The current search tool works pretty well as it is
I think so, but not everyone agrees. Providing additional controls that are reasonably easy to operate is generally a plus for users. Being able to filter by category is not much harder for a user to utilize than being able to filter by forum.

Xnarg, think of it this way, you search for "router" in tech stuff and price < $50 and No Rebates.

It helps you find your price point better, and it also lets you sort out which have rebates, because some people just aren't that dedicated.

Xnarg, think of it this way, you search for "router" in tech stuff and price < $50 and No Rebates.

It helps you find your price point better, and it also lets you sort out which have rebates, because some people just aren't that dedicated.I guess I have no problem now searching on "router" and then quickly sorting through the deals that apply. If I want a current deal, I'll limit the search to the last week and in Hot & Slick Deals. The number of deals returned by the search is not that huge - 26 for a search now. IMHO, that's not a bad number to visually scan, and routers are probably one of the hottest items, so others will have fewer hits to look through.

Most people don't utilize the basic features of searching as it is, so adding more search features would not improve the experience for the majority of visitors, and experienced users can pretty much find what they want now....For instance, a mouse might well be a piece of technology or an animal...The frequency of occurrence of such ambiguities is rather small, don't you think? There are no deals on animal mice right now...