Every time I try try visit JavaRanch to look at forums, it directs me to the mobile-site. When I scroll to the bottom of the page, there's a link that says "Or visit our non-mobile (full) site." When I click on the link, things work okay for maybe two or three page views, then I'm back on the mobile site. My PC has a pretty big screen and I would strongly prefer to see questions and answers and code not formatted for a smaller screen. Has JavaRanch given up support for anything but small mobile devices?
Anyway, my real question is, is there any way to set preferences so I get the non-mobile site by default? Or does the fact that I don't try to access JavaRanch with a mobile device mean I'm not welcome here?
The non-mobile site should indeed be the default. You may be having a problem with your session or your cookies, so I'd try, in order:
1) Log out, then log back in, and see if that works; if not, then
2) Use your browser's control panel to delete all the cookies associated with coderanch.com, and then try again.
In addition to what Ernest suggested, please check you are using the URL coderanch.com/forums. (as opposed to one that has mobile in the URL.) I've never had it default to mobile on my computer or iPad.
One other thing: what OS/browser are you using? I'm wondering if we are auto-sniffing it as mobile.
The main URL for the Ranch Office forums is https://coderanch.com/forums/f-10/Ranch-Office. I'm running Internet Explorer 8 under Windows XP. Unfortunately, this is at work where I'm not allowed to delete cookies or temporary Internet files. We're very restricted in what settings we can manipulate on these computers. I may have to give up trying to use JavaRanch from work.
Can you try again? I tried to forcibly delete your session on the server to see if that resets things for you. IE 8 and Windows XP is pretty standard. That wouldn't sniff as mobile.