AnandTech Suggestion Box ***you have 1 new message***

[911paramedic]

I would like to suggest something. I don't know the effort it would take to implement but it would pay off in the long run for everybody, I am sure.

Forum subscriber trial. You could let non-subscribers try the speed of a subscription accout for, say, 7 days. After that they would either purchase the account or be reverted back to the non-subscriber speed.

I say this because I have a hard time wanting to purchase an account (even though I hear how fast it is) when I see the performance now. I would not buy a car that drove poorly after a test drive. (the non-subscriber speed/advertisements) Now if that test drive went well (subscriber speed/no advertisements) then I would be much more likely to purchase it.

The "test drive" does not need to include the extra PM space, just the speed and no advertisements.

Just a thought and I am sure you would greatly benefit from this. We would too, because we could see how nice it is with the forum faster and without advertisements, and end up subscribing.

 

[Azraele]

Not a bad idea, but what would prevent people from signing up for the "free trial" over and over again?

 

[minendo]

911paramedic have you seen the comparison videos by Viper GTS?

 

[olds]

Link?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Azraele
Not a bad idea, but what would prevent people from signing up for the "free trial" over and over again?

The Mods currently can control the attitude of NEFs and Spammers by username and/or IP.

The same can be done for a trial.

 

[Viper GTS]

Subscriber forums
Non-subscriber forums

Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50.

Viper GTS

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Subscriber forums
Non-subscriber forums

Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50.

Viper GTS

That was cool. How did you make that video?

 

[zayened]

i don't quite get it. you are told and even SHOWN in a video the speeds and advantages of subscribing. why should you be given a free trial? you either DO want it or you DON'T.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Subscriber forums
Non-subscriber forums

Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50.

Viper GTS

That was cool. How did you make that video?

A free program off the web.

Unfortunately I lost the link when my work box crashed hard last week. I may have the link somewhere at home, & I know I've posted it here before.

Viper GTS

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Subscriber forums
Non-subscriber forums

Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50.

Viper GTS

That was cool. How did you make that video?

A free program off the web.

Unfortunately I lost the link when my work box crashed hard last week. I may have the link somewhere at home, & I know I've posted it here before.

Viper GTS

Please PM it to me if you find it. I could email step by step video tech support to my Mom.

 

[Insomniac]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Subscriber forums
Non-subscriber forums

Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50.

Viper GTS

That was cool. How did you make that video?

A free program off the web.

Unfortunately I lost the link when my work box crashed hard last week. I may have the link somewhere at home, & I know I've posted it here before.

Viper GTS

Do you remember the program's name? Also, you should've used Netscape. It teels you how long the page took to load.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Insomniac

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Viper GTS Subscriber forums Non-subscriber forums Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50. Viper GTS

That was cool. How did you make that video?

A free program off the web. Unfortunately I lost the link when my work box crashed hard last week. I may have the link somewhere at home, & I know I've posted it here before. Viper GTS

Do you remember the program's name? Also, you should've used Netscape. It teels you how long the page took to load.

First of all, Nutscrape sucks and shouldn't be installed just for that option. Secondly, if he remembered the program name, he would have looked it up and you'd have a link to the program.

nik

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt

Originally posted by: Insomniac

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Viper GTS Subscriber forums Non-subscriber forums Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50. Viper GTS

That was cool. How did you make that video?

A free program off the web. Unfortunately I lost the link when my work box crashed hard last week. I may have the link somewhere at home, & I know I've posted it here before. Viper GTS

Do you remember the program's name? Also, you should've used Netscape. It teels you how long the page took to load.

First of all, Nutscrape sucks and shouldn't be installed just for that option. Secondly, if he remembered the program name, he would have looked it up and you'd have a link to the program.

nik

Now, now, nik. Play nice.

 

[Insomniac]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt

Originally posted by: Insomniac

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Viper GTS Subscriber forums Non-subscriber forums Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50. Viper GTS

That was cool. How did you make that video?

A free program off the web. Unfortunately I lost the link when my work box crashed hard last week. I may have the link somewhere at home, & I know I've posted it here before. Viper GTS

Do you remember the program's name? Also, you should've used Netscape. It teels you how long the page took to load.

First of all, Nutscrape sucks and shouldn't be installed just for that option. Secondly, if he remembered the program name, he would have looked it up and you'd have a link to the program.

nik

If you want to use IE, that's fine. But I can say without a doubt that Netscape is far from suck. When was the last time you used it and what version?

I thought maybe even a partial name...

 

[kendogg]

Originally posted by: zayened
i don't quite get it. you are told and even SHOWN in a video the speeds and advantages of subscribing. why should you be given a free trial? you either DO want it or you DON'T.

I think it has to do with the analness within us. Esp when it comes down to spending money. I want the best for my money and im sure you guys do also. I like to experience/test things out personally. I would like a free trial =]

 

[mastertech01]

I believe you can purchase 3 months at a time.. thats near free.

 

[gogeeta13]

Originally posted by: minendo
911paramedic have you seen the comparison videos by Viper GTS?

That may be true for his connection, but in my case, no matter how good the server, my connection to ATs host is poor, so i wont see an improvemtn very much.

as for multiple trials, in a database it is now hard to implement a limit..

 

[DRGrim]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50.

Correct me if I?m wrong, but isn?t that an option in customize? You could have 100 posts if you wanted to regardless of your subscription status.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: DRGrim

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Note that the subscriber link loads the first 100 posts, while the non-subscriber only loads 50.

Correct me if I?m wrong, but isn?t that an option in customize? You could have 100 posts if you wanted to regardless of your subscription status.

Yes, but to do that I would have to register a new account & login under that account.

If I try to log in under my account to the non-subscriber forums it logs me in automatically to the subscriber forums.

So the non-subscriber video is as a anonymous visitor.

Viper GTS

 

[Instagib]

Originally posted by: mastertech01
I believe you can purchase 3 months at a time.. thats near free.

Yep thats what I did and I've already gotten paid back by FS/FT. (Testimonial)

 

[FelixDeCat]

Here is that lost mystery link. My computer has been through hell and back for the last month as Im going through a format change: different mobos, processors, operating systems. Thankfully for you people I ghost EVERYTHING.

 

[mastertech01]

Originally posted by: Instagib

Originally posted by: mastertech01
I believe you can purchase 3 months at a time.. thats near free.

Yep thats what I did and I've already gotten paid back by FS/FT. (Testimonial)

Precisely. If Anandtechers use the avaliable resources here they would realize they get more than their money's worth in subscription. Some us MANY TIMES over.

 

[olds]

FelixDeKat
Thank you.

 

[Crimson]

I still love the crack whore business model.. Give it to them for free, then take it away and force them to pay for it. The speed alone just isn't worth it for me.. even though I would love the forums to load faster, its just not enough to make me want to pay. Eventually I may get fustrated enough and pay.. or maybe I will just stop coming. Its cheap enough, I just have a hard time justifying paying for a "chat room" so to speak.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Crimson
I still love the crack whore business model.. Give it to them for free, then take it away and force them to pay for it. The speed alone just isn't worth it for me.. even though I would love the forums to load faster, its just not enough to make me want to pay. Eventually I may get fustrated enough and pay.. or maybe I will just stop coming. Its cheap enough, I just have a hard time justifying paying for a "chat room" so to speak.

Let us know what you choose to do. If you leave I am sure everyone will want to give you a going away party.