but seriously, when it comes to the point where I can't click on the topic because a flash animated fly gets in the way, that's really overdoing it.

but nonetheless, I understand that web-hosting is not free and these ads pay for our use of lowyat.net

as it is, I really don't like the fact the the Lineage 2 banner below slows down scrolling on the front page. It also takes up a good 40% - 50% more space than it actually appears to. The 'invisible area' goes quite far up, making me click the link unintentionally and thus irritating me because I wanted to read the headlines news in detail, not about an MMORPG.

I apologize if it sounds like I'm whining. Ads is what keeps Lowyat.net running, but I believe that there must be some control and regulation, otherwise the overall feel of the front page is just deteriorated.

It only expands once every session, and you don't see it again till you close your browser. There is also a close button at the bottom to close the window.

I'm sorry if you feel you can't bear with it. Advertisers are no longer interested in static normal ads anymore. Without advertising revenue, we're going to have to just shutdown the site.

We're trying very very hard to keep this site as a free site. Having to wait 5 seconds isn't that big a deal.

can we add a "CLOSE" button for the hp swat fly thingy too?

There is a close button, just that its overlapping with the text. It will be made more visible tomorrow.

se7en, again I apologise for complaining about this

I just thought you would like some feedback about it.

Nonetheless, I honestly understand the need for ads and the demanding criterias advertisers ask for. Thus, I consider it a 'necessary evil' and will learn to deal with it.

coincidentally, I met a Michelle Ding today, who works for an online advertising firm, who claims to have met you se7en.

I honestly didn't like her views on online advertising. She had a very narrow view on online marketing and kept on emphasizing on pop-ups and fancy flash ads.

As a result, advertisers are only aware of these 'irritating' ads and not other alternatives, which may or may not be more effective.

Well, i did accept your feedback as a constructive one.

We are actually extremely strict with the ads we accept. You can ask around most of the advertising agencies around Malaysia and they'll tell you why they think ten times before proposing their clients to advertise on Lowyat.NET.

Do people complain about ads on other large sites, yes, but none allow these comments to be published. We do. That alone should be enough to show that we value the opinion of the members and don't blindly accept ads no matter how much money is on the table.

I'm stuck with the same scenario in my day job, so i can tell you that advertisers are no longer satisfied with standard box-constrained ads. They have been exposed and been tempted with excessively fancy bouncing and jumping flash ads, and they believe that these ads are much much more appealing compared to normal ads. I don't think so, maybe you don't think so too, but its just extremely hard to convince them that the average web user just can't stand these fancy intrusive ads. The fad might pass, it might be replaced by something better, or worse, but while the transition takes place, we've got to adopt and try to accommodate some of these requests. Otherwise, the only way to keep the site afloat would be to charge the members - an alternative i do not wish to contemplate.

oo....so issit better we click on d adv whenever we r free? willl do that if it keeps d site free

no, that would not be necessary.

only click if you want to find out more about the products/services advertised.

if i have some money can i donate to LYN?

yes i agree with malayneum.

Would it be possible that the Lowyat.NET implements a simple feature to accept donations or some sort? Like a small donation link on top of the page.

I'm thinking something similar to head-fi's donation system.

Would like to donate too if the donations is useful for LYN(improvise)

Edit Typo

This post has been edited by temptation1314: Sep 24 2007, 09:20 AM

yupp.. maybe donation will work.. on per project basis

put a target goal for donation for a particular project. and public can see the progress of the collections. once reach target, the project can be closed and later report will be put online for people to see.

etc etc... anyone?

solution: dont close your browser

Alternatively, you could opt for Firefox with the Adblock extension installed.

Voila! No more ads. xD

how much does it cost to run lowyat forum?

normal la. their doing marketing, they only know about getting the message through.

it's people like us who are focused on usability issues.

anyway, DONATION does not seem like a right word to use. I would use CONTRIBUTION. it brings a better meaning. one sounds like BEGGING, the other sounds likE COME JOIN THE FUN.

i tot events like the t shirt competition also contributes to the forum's fund?not?
well, i guess these types of events is a good way of raising fund for the forum...

imagine this:

- purchase new mid end server for database every 6 months
- 10GB of bandwidth per day (not sure if 10gb / day is even enough)

the scripts, codes, indices, backups are all done by the admins for free - if it's charged professionally, that'd be tremendous

1. More like once a year.

2. I don't have exact figures right now but I think your estimate is off by at least a factor of 10

3. Haha yes, i can agree with this (if only to affirm my market value )

Gah.. When are these kids gonna finish using the swimming pool..

holy... are u real? do we suck THAT MUCH bandwidth a day?


accept it - yours is just about RM 1.50 per hour

contribution sounds good. i don't mind contribute a few bucks to keep this cool site running.

about the ads, i found the fly to be interesting when i saw it first time but when i have to see the fly every morning i wake up and at least for another 10 times through the day and another one before i sleep, they fly does make an annoying appearance.

my suggestion :

1) keep the fly flying as it keeps LYN running but try to figure a way to let the user able to click in the links while it is flying

2) since the lower part banner ads is more of a static ads, cant we just make it a gif format or a non popping up flash so browser don't lags while scrolling?

Personally, I think ads is way better than seeking donations because:-

1) The 'cost' gets burdened on everyone, not just the generous.
2) Nobody can expect 'better' service just because he/she donated.
3) Revenue is constant.
4) Administrative reasons - its easier to handle a couple of advertisement money than it is to handle 500 RM5 donations.

Hi mod,

Just wanna report, the 'Fly' had block us to click on the tittles.

lolz.. there is a tiny winny small close word at traffic rank..
go find it..

don't take the members here for granted...

should this 'fly' continuously interupt the main objective of this site, i believe most ppl will just go to other sites....

its been more than a week, and seems admin don't bother listening to the comment...

perhaps money more important now?

By continuously improving the site (buying expensive new servers, increasing activity on the front page with more articles, improving the forums every time, coding in new functions and features etc etc), I think we have proven to our members that we do NOT take members for granted, and we listen to suggestions.

Perhaps you would like to contribute a few thousand a month so we don't need to put advertisements, izudeen?

I still remember your very wise suggestions here and my offer to you here. I note you still haven't accepted it.

not to interrupt but all the 'fly' ad you guys have been talking, i don see them...is it on the forum's main page or on lowyat's main page...

se7en, if it's possible can you bring these guidelines up to the agency for future ads:

1) Expanding ads must clearly show a "close" button. Very very important.
2) 250ms pause before expanding, to prevent accidental activation. Important.
3) Remember the "mute" setting.
4) In a similar fashion to the "mute" button, have another to perma-disable the expansion. And remember the setting too.

I listed them in order of increasing resistance. #1 and #2 are easy enough, but #3 and #4 may not be received as easily if at all as they might like the reinforcement that comes with it.

With these changes, I believe that the ads can still deliver their message across, while allowing a user to liberate himself from seeing it expand again and again, obstructing* access to the site.

* - I use the word obstructing because this particular flavor of ads have a history in blocking important bits of the page whether it be the "new topic" button or the "latest topics" links. We seriously need the agency's cooperation for at least #1 to be implemented so that the next round of ads don't leave us with a bad taste again.

if you read the whole thread you will notice that ppl ask for you/admin to consider certain rules for ads.

simplicity is to have a 'close' function. even multi national web pages have this function as they know they will get more revenue by giving flexibility to user. and not blindly blocking ppl's click.

if you really need a front page for the advertisement, might as well implement as what www.cnet.com does. Again, it gives the user flexibility to skip the ad.

That is what ppl here are asking for!

do you think LYN admin should just void the agreement with advertising party and take out the ads, compromising its credibility.

just be patient and wait, it is not like the ads will be there for as long as human will live / LYN exist. Like as admin has explained before, let the period for that ads, expired and they will review all coming ads.

I dont see problem with other members expressing their concern. But I am obviously unhappy with the way of you asking.

iZuDeeN, your tone is uncalled for and you unless you have consent, do not speak on behalf of the "members".

As to your comment, there is actually a close button on the ad itself, just that it has been badly implemented. We can only set the guidelines, and if the ad agency doesn't comply, we have no choice as we have to accept the campaign before the creative is even designed. Its next to impossible for the creatives to be designed before the campaign has been accepted, and its also not credible for us to block a campaign once the creative is done.

We have to the best of our part informed the agency of the "flaws" in the ad, and they have not corrected it. We cannot cancel the campaign, and either way, the duration is only for a week ending today.

We can only learn and improve on future campaigns by the agency. We can't alienate clients just because their ads are a little obtrusive or because we have picky members who can't spare 10 seconds of their time to use a site for free.

Finally, please remember that this is a free to use community site, and nobody is forcing you to be here. If you can't spare a bit of inconvenience to help keep the site free for the entire community, or spare a bit of your time to look up some free to use ad blocking solutions, then maybe like you said you should be the first to lead the mass-exodus of members to "other sites".

ACtually its been a long time i didnt visit www.lowyat.net, because of the very slow ads. I will normally go into forum.lowyat.net instead of typing the www page. The first page is very information where i could get to know the latest new, but too much ads will discourage ppl to go into that page, and causing this ads is not so effective anymore.

IMHO, I don't mind the ads. I don't even think much about that 'fly' ad that seemed to cause so much grievances. My only request is that LYN never ever go for ads with loud sound bits. That is gonna be tough to explain in the office. Hehe

Just a question here.. will LYN still get paid if no one clicks on the ads? Cause some ads need people to click on it.. if LYN still get paid when we didn't click on the ads.. we can actually use Ads-blocker like 'AdBlock Plus' for Firefox add-ons.

I don`t really mind about the ads.. This site is free anyway and ppl like Se7en, wKKay and others are working REALLY HARD to maintain it.. and most of you guys just know how to whine and complain.. come on ! Cut them some slack ok ...

=)

As long as this site is free, Ads are fine with me.

Use Firefox + AdBlock Plus -- > No ads.

Why the big fuss? I agree with the mods somehow, if you don't like ads, AND you are very generous, Donate your money to support your cause.

If not, make do with what you have.

既来之，则安之。

Cheers!

hmm.... clicking close = pop out new window

ad blocker here i come

maxis advertisment da best though
simple...with simple flash attract ppl attention.

bottom lineage2 ads kinda..pissed me off sometimes..

about the flying ads...i cant see it at all...