08-13-2005, 12:15 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Pocket PC Thoughts Template Updates
Astute observers will notice that we've made some changes to our site template - on the left hand-column, below the skyscraper banner, we've added a small zone for text links. Text links allow us to offer a new type of advertising to sponsors, and since sponsors pay the bills that keep the site running, this is a good thing. We've taken the left-hand column and replicated it in the forums, partially extending the look of our front page into the forums.
While I don't pretend that anyone will welcome more advertising ;-), I do hope everyone understands it's a step we needed to take in order to remain viable as a Web site. I continue to refuse pop-up/pop-under ads, full page "eyeblaster" ads, and all other ads I consider to be intrusive - but by the same token I need to continue to work with our site sponsors to keep the bills paid. Thanks for your support in this!
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08-13-2005, 12:27 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,124
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I understand you gotta do what you gotta do to stay in business, but this is really intrusive! I really hate the forums being all squashed by the left side column. I was even going to subscribe so I could turn off the ads(when I was subscribed before, I left the ads on because I wanted to support the site a little more) but even with the ads off the column is still there in the forums! Can that at least be fixed?
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08-13-2005, 12:28 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 241
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lets see . . if you have 27,000 regular visitors, and half of them subscribe at 30$ a year, that like - 400 million dollars!
Nah, I don't mind the advertising. Some of them are humourous, some of them useful (resulting in sales) some just sit in the background doing nothing. Only one brand ever gets to me - absolutly sick of vonage. they advertise everywhere. but i usually dont notice the ads that annoy, the eye tends to drift past them without registering thier presence.
Good luck with the funds!
ps, my subscription is about to end, so you can expect another drop of cash from me soon. 8)
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08-13-2005, 12:34 AM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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The ads look ok, but I think everyone would agree a layout like http://www.partytentcity.com/ would be more appealing. 8O
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08-13-2005, 12:34 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by PetiteFlower
...but even with the ads off the column is still there in the forums! Can that at least be fixed?
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Fabrizio is working on this right now. It should be fixed shortly.
As for the rest of your comments, people hate change and I'm prepared to weather the complaints and am not surprised the first was a "Fine, but..." comment. ;-)
From my point of view, it's only 125 or so pixels being taken by ads, so I don't see the forums as being "squished", but everyone is entitled to their opinion on this. I prefer fixed width sites myself, ones where text doesn't run 100% of the screen width, but I know not everyone does.
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08-13-2005, 12:37 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 65
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I've learned to ignore pop-ups and ads all together. As long as you keep given us the good news (er... I mean Pocket PC news) then I'll be here listening. You could throw in some Good News if you wanted as well.
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08-13-2005, 12:39 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,124
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Yes it looks like it's fixed now, thanks 
I didn't mind the ads before either, they didn't interfere with my viewing area and they sometimes had interesting stuff. But for me at least, all that brightly colored flashy stuff right next to where I was trying to read was just way too distracting. If you gave the option of just turning off some of the ads but leaving like, the top banners, I would do that.
125 pixels though? On my screen the left column was almost as wide as the avatar column.
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08-13-2005, 12:43 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by foebea
lets see . . if you have 27,000 regular visitors, and half of them subscribe at 30$ a year, that like - 400 million dollars!
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Don't I wish!  The reality is that a very small percentage of people subscribe, but it certainly helps pay some of the bills.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by foebea
ps, my subscription is about to end, so you can expect another drop of cash from me soon. 8)
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Thanks for your support! We're going to be kicking off a new series of giveaways, including some that will happen every single month, all for subscribers. :mrgreen:
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08-13-2005, 12:45 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
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You TOTALLY just ruined the launch of Party Tent Thoughts. :cry:  ops: :lol:
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08-13-2005, 12:47 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by PetiteFlower
If you gave the option of just turning off some of the ads but leaving like, the top banners, I would do that.
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We'll think about that - maybe three options: full ads, minimalist ads, no ads.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by PetiteFlower
125 pixels though? On my screen the left column was almost as wide as the avatar column.
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The top button is 125 pixels wide, we've just now added a bit of white space because it was a bit too squished, but that's it - maybe 135 pixels in total.
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Linear Mode
