OK, this is going too far (Ad Placement)

[Confused]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: GrumpyMan
I subscribed for a year the first time the servers mysteriously slowed down.

This is the exact reason I have never subscribed. Had they come clean and said the bandwidth cost too much money and they would have to cap it for those who didn't subscribe, I would have.

Instead, they slowed the forums down, pretended nothing happened, and then said, hey, if you subscribe, you'll get more bandwidth!

Actually, they did say right from the start that they were putting a bandwidth cap on the non-subscriber forums, because they were losing too much money from all the bandwidth used. So your arguement holds no water at all, because they always said right from the start that it was because of too high bandwidth costs.

Sometime late last year they increased the cap, so the non-subscriber forums aren't quite as slow as they were, but they're still a little slow compared to the subscriber forums, even browsing from a 56k modem.


Anyway, back on topic, I still think that if they really, really have to be on the left, at least move them up to in line with the Anandtech logo and PM/Forum poll links, and make the posts that are under the ad bar wrap, then it will be much better, and will be bearable.


Confused

 

[titanmiller]

wow, that is bad. I hope they rethink the placement.

 

[jmagg]

The forum renders perfectly on my 19in at 1152x864. Also, load times are the fastest they have ever been. This layout doesnt bother me at all.

 

[loup garou]

How come all the people complaining about "whiners" haven't made any comments about my posts?

 

[krackato]

I really want to know. Exactly how much have subscriptions surged since this banner got placed?

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: Confused

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: GrumpyMan
I subscribed for a year the first time the servers mysteriously slowed down.

This is the exact reason I have never subscribed. Had they come clean and said the bandwidth cost too much money and they would have to cap it for those who didn't subscribe, I would have.

Instead, they slowed the forums down, pretended nothing happened, and then said, hey, if you subscribe, you'll get more bandwidth!

Actually, they did say right from the start that they were putting a bandwidth cap on the non-subscriber forums, because they were losing too much money from all the bandwidth used. So your arguement holds no water at all, because they always said right from the start that it was because of too high bandwidth costs.

Nooooo, they didn't. For at least a week, there were tons of posts in Forum Issues about the slowdown. People were posting traceroute and pings of the site thinking there was a problem and trying to help with a solution. Then, the idea of of subscribing was leaked out. After a week or so, Anand posted, admitting that they had capped the bandwidth ahead of time.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ads on the left suck ... But hey .. I dont pay a dime to visit these forums ...So I'm not gonna Complain ... Thought i am a bit more tempted to subscribe

 

[AT]

PLEASE move the ad to the right side.

 

[Booster]

The wrost thing is that it reduces the useful area of the screen. I got only a 1024*768 capable monitor, and there just isn't enough space for the posts. It's like a small window. I fully expect this useful window to shrink with time...

 

[Confused]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Confused

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: GrumpyMan
I subscribed for a year the first time the servers mysteriously slowed down.

This is the exact reason I have never subscribed. Had they come clean and said the bandwidth cost too much money and they would have to cap it for those who didn't subscribe, I would have.

Instead, they slowed the forums down, pretended nothing happened, and then said, hey, if you subscribe, you'll get more bandwidth!

Actually, they did say right from the start that they were putting a bandwidth cap on the non-subscriber forums, because they were losing too much money from all the bandwidth used. So your arguement holds no water at all, because they always said right from the start that it was because of too high bandwidth costs.

Nooooo, they didn't. For at least a week, there were tons of posts in Forum Issues about the slowdown. People were posting traceroute and pings of the site thinking there was a problem and trying to help with a solution. Then, the idea of of subscribing was leaked out. After a week or so, Anand posted, admitting that they had capped the bandwidth ahead of time.

Ahh, i stand corrected then I don't really remember exactly, but I do know that I remember them saying they'd capped the bandwidth, but I don't remember! I admit i got it wrong


Confused

 

[vss1980]

If we have to have the ads, fair enough, but placing them on the left hand-side of the page is just..... annoying. Not because they are adverts, but because it just causes a gap at the natural start of the page.
If they were shifted over to the right-hand side I think people would be happier, but at the bottom was good (probably for the reasons they were moved) because they were out of the way.

 

[stultus]

Originally posted by: amnesiac

In other words, Anandtech is offering YOU, the user, a great service. For those of you complaining, what are YOU giving in return other than a bunch of slobbery-mouthed whining? Nothing.

We're providing expertise for all the lurkers and new people who wander in and search the hardware forums. At least, I am. (I don't know about all the rest of you with 1000+ posts, but 95% of mine are from hardware forums.) All these lurkers and new users asking questions means more ad views. If all of the hardware people are scared off, then it's a lose-lose situation.

 

[adlep]

Doh!
Do something with the add.....

 

[MrYogi]

Originally posted by: geckojohn
Yeah, this is terrible. This is the first time i'm complaining... i don't want to be mean, but this looks really unprofessional.

yeah. ads are not cool.

:disgust::frown:

 

[deerslayer]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
This is going to far but I'm just glad that I'm a subscriber, otherwise I'd be really pissed off.

Same here!

 

[Tom]

Hey, if it helps keep Anandtech operating I don't mind these new ads. It isn't a big deal.

 

[Argo]

This is horrible. This place went downhill lately. I'm outa here.

 

[TheTechnique]

This totally sucks... I am sticking with toms hardware and fw until these banners are gone... and even then, who knows...

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Argo
This is horrible. This place went downhill lately. I'm outa here.

Bye. Beggars can't be choosers. I see no ads but that's probably because I subscribe. If you use the forums, support them.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
If you use the forums, support them.

I support them by clicking ads, but not ones on the left.

 

[GoatHerderEd]

I?ve clicked on many ads, but they always seem to give me 404 errors. And ya, it?s kind of silly to put them there. If they are going to put them there, they should at least make use of the rest of the space below them.

As for the need to keep up the servers. I recall Anand and peeps were pretty well off. But they may have changed sicne the .com bubble burst.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: sonyboy851
As for the need to keep up the servers. I recall Anand and peeps were pretty well off. But they may have changed sicne the .com bubble burst.

Even if that's true, he shouldn't have to subsidize the forums. I think we all are accepting of ads, we want this place to survive. But the placement is ridiculous.

 

[labgeek]

Man if AT could bottle up the whine here they could compete with France. (Pun intended)

I for 1 have no problem with the ads. Even saw 2 that I wound up clicking on.

 

[BigSmooth]

As I've said, I don't mind having ads... in fact, I don't even mind them on the left in the topic view.

But the readability of the forums in the thread view is compromised by having the ads along with tons of white space on the left. If there is any way to move the ads anywhere else but the left-hand side in the thread view, please consider doing so. I would prefer pop-ups to the current setup.

 

[Cable God]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: Argo
This is horrible. This place went downhill lately. I'm outa here.

Bye. Beggars can't be choosers. I see no ads but that's probably because I subscribe. If you use the forums, support them.

I, among others support this place by providing subject matter experience, NOT by clicking on ads. I will NEVER subscribe NOR will I click those ridiciulous ads, just to "support" the forum. Not to mention that people PAID for the subscription and never got what they were told they would get. That's just not the way to do business. I won't be subscribing just for this. Matter of fact, this makes me even more resistant to subscribe.