Stupid Ad on AO home page.

Ponder this for a moment or two folks. What would we be using right now if Bill Gates/Microsoft had never existed? UNIX existed before windows, and still exists now. In fact MSDOS was based on UNIX, and it eventually evolved into Windows. I honestly believe that we would be using something very similar to windows. We all know that there has to be something that the elderly, or other "digitally challenged" individuals could use to surf the net, and get e-mail on. I have a linux (Slackware) box and a Win2K box. I use the Slackware box for surfing the net , thats it. My windows box is my main computer that I use every day for everything. I am not really sure why I continue to use my linux box (probably just so I can say I have one :D ) I have not ever been to Best Buy, or Circuit City, or any other software supplier that has any applications, games or otherwise, exclusively for linux. For that matter, I have never played any game that was actually worth a sh*t, except for Unreal Tournament, that will even install on a linux box. I really do wish that all of the *NIX programmers and experts that continue to boast here in these forums and around the world, would actually develop some new and exciting applications and games to back up their views. If these things were available to the world market, like windows, and the games and applications that are now available, I would be the first one in line to purchase them.

As for the Ads being displayed here on AO.... They are our sponsors and AO could not exist without them. If you don't agree with the content of the ads then take it up with the firm that owns the ad... not AO. :cool:

What do you mean AO could not exist without the ads, AO did exist with the ads for a very long time.

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Originally posted here by Ennis
What do you mean AO could not exist without the ads, AO did exist with the ads for a very long time.

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Maybe I should re-phrase that. AO did exist quite well without the ads before Jupiter Media bought it. And still could. But... it is now owned by a much larger orginization that needs the ads to generate at least enough funds to pay for the equipment, bandwidth, maintainence, etc. of this site. Without these ads Jupiter Media would see no reason to continue this site as their Board of Directors would most likely vote to shut it down. This is JMHO as I am not affiliated with Jupiter Media in any way other than being a member of these forums. I do understand the costs involved in hosting a site such as AO, and I wouldn't keep it up if it couldn't pay for itself. So this is what I mean by AO could not exist without those "Stupid Ads" :D

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Originally posted here by Ennis
What do you mean AO could not exist without the ads, AO did exist with the ads for a very long time.

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Indeed it did, but times have changed. AO is now run as a business, not some geek's hobby. It has to have some form of revenue stream and that source of income has to be more than the costs of hosting the site.

Technically AO could exist without ads, but then JM would need some other way of raising the money to cover the costs of running the site which could mean anything from asking for donations to charging a fee for membership. Personally I'm quite happy to view a couple of non-instrusive ads in exchange for AO to continue.

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Originally posted here by Cybr1d
what if linux and unix came preinstalled ;).

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Compared with the number of machines that come with Windows pre-installed, that is a VERY small percentage. I once asked for a laptop to be shipped without XP (initially I asked for no OS, but I said I'd be happy with 2000 instead) and I was told that the distributer "couldn't legally do that".

ive had boxes shipped without an os.. generally the only reason they won't is if its a manufactered machine, instead of a custom build.

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Originally posted here by aeallison
Maybe I should re-phrase that. AO did exist quite well without the ads before Jupiter Media bought it. And still could. But... it is now owned by a much larger orginization that needs the ads to generate at least enough funds to pay for the equipment, bandwidth, maintainence, etc. of this site. Without these ads Jupiter Media would see no reason to continue this site as their Board of Directors would most likely vote to shut it down. This is JMHO as I am not affiliated with Jupiter Media in any way other than being a member of these forums. I do understand the costs involved in hosting a site such as AO, and I wouldn't keep it up if it couldn't pay for itself. So this is what I mean by AO could not exist without those "Stupid Ads" :D

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sorry for the double post, but this needs to be separate.

aeallison >> i can assure you that jupmedia gets a profit, if not a substantial one, from this site. Not because of the ads, but because of their own. They own internet.com for christ's sake. We generate another 100,000 + hits a day for them or so. That really, really helps their business. I don't know for sure anymore if they need the ads to be honest. i think they just buy out any site that gets loads of hits and get people like M$ to buy ads. Its a very good idea.

Consider this:

I'm jupmedia, and have 500 websites, all registering at least 50,000 hits a day. hrm... hrm...

lets put an ad from a rich profiteering company on each one, and make them pay say.. couple hundred bucks a week for it. each.


500x300 a week... x say 10 different companies..15,000 x 10... yeah they are making a killing :)

( i don't actually know any of this, its just a guess. ) (I doubt they have 500 sites. )

er0k,

You make an extremely valid point that is likely not very far from the facts. But, I have been a corporate exec in the past, and a member of their Board of Directors. I and the other members of the Board usually voted to maximize the income potential of our corporate ventures. It is simply good business practice. On the other hand if we were actually losing, we would either try a new approach (like ads) or shut it down to channel our efforts into something that will turn a profit. If the venture was simply breaking even, we most generally would put more of an effort into expanding it and drawing more business (like sponsor ads). It all boils down to the power of the mighty dollar... either we pay for AO with cash or with click-throughs, I will opt for the clicks myself, not a problem, but if I had to pay a fee to be a member I would have to opt out right now. I simply cannot afford any more payments on anything right now. I would say that that is the general trend for a lot of our members right now, and I am quite sure Jupitor Media's upper level anylists are aware of this. I suppose that if they were actually losing money, globally in their corp. they may be able to claim a loss on certain ventures to offset some of their taxes. I doubt this is the case though.

I'd rather bump this one up then start a new one, it's the same topic !

Well ! Microsoft has been ordered to change their add that Linux is worse than Windows !

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he United Kingdom's advertising watchdog group, the Advertising Standards Association, has found that complaints lodged against a MicrosoftRelevant Products/Services from Microsoft magazine ad that stated that Linux was more expensive than Windows were valid.

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It is not news that Microsoft has felt increasingly threatened by Linux. However, Linux is not the pervasive market force -- not yet, at least -- that might justify Microsoft's apparent nerves.

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http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtm...story_id=26575

maybe they won't lie as much now !