Site too slow? Help is on the way...
Monday, August 5, 2002 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
We're adding an additional machine to the site this week to help speed things up and will be ordering an additional mega server to speed things up further. This won't alleviate bandwidth but much of the slowness is actually due to server load.
In the meantime, we have begun to ration site resources. So search features, daily screenshot, and other things will not necessarily always be available if there more users than the server can handle.
Don't thank us for the new server, thank the users who have been purchasing WinCustomize subscriptions these past couple of months. And as a way to thank them, we have made sure that subscribers (and Stardock customers) get first dibs on site resources when things get tight. So if you want consistent access to the features of the site, please consider becoming a subscriber (it's the equivalent of like 80 cents per month!).
To subscribe go here: https://store.stardock.com/addproduct.asp?PRODUCT_ID=ESD-SDS-W052
In the meantime, we have begun to ration site resources. So search features, daily screenshot, and other things will not necessarily always be available if there more users than the server can handle.
Don't thank us for the new server, thank the users who have been purchasing WinCustomize subscriptions these past couple of months. And as a way to thank them, we have made sure that subscribers (and Stardock customers) get first dibs on site resources when things get tight. So if you want consistent access to the features of the site, please consider becoming a subscriber (it's the equivalent of like 80 cents per month!).
To subscribe go here: https://store.stardock.com/addproduct.asp?PRODUCT_ID=ESD-SDS-W052
UBoB
Reply #2 Monday, August 5, 2002 11:06 PM
Reply #2 Monday, August 5, 2002 11:06 PM
This is great news Frogboy. Should help out a lot.
Though I still think that some other initiatives might bring about more revenue and therefore more bandwidth, bigger, better servers, etc.
Now I'm just thinking out loud but here's one idea. Why not create a new level(s) of membership. I don't mean like different user levels as is the case now, but membership level(s). Call it something like SkinBrowser Platinum and include some extras that the regular Skinbrowser doesn't offer. Maybe even allocate a certain amount of bandwidth exclusively to these SkinBrowser Platinum Members, (if that is even technically possible.) Perhaps create a price structure so that for every couple of Megs of bandwidth you need to purchase for new Platinum Members, you are also able to purchase a few Megs for the regular subscribers. That way everyone benefits. (eeeks, I hope I'm not sounding too socialist!!)
I know I would have no problem paying a couple of hundred bucks a year (or whatever) for such a service. Afterall, I pay $500.00 a year for cable tv, $800.00 a year for a 3Meg. DSL line, and some ungodly amount for my cell phone, not to mention a couple hundred for my Amex Platinum, etc. etc...
So why not pay for this service, especially if it offers something a little extra. And with a creative pricing structure the entire site in general could benefit.
I don't know, maybe I'm way off base here, but it's an idea, and ideas lead to other ideas, and so on.....
Though I still think that some other initiatives might bring about more revenue and therefore more bandwidth, bigger, better servers, etc.
Now I'm just thinking out loud but here's one idea. Why not create a new level(s) of membership. I don't mean like different user levels as is the case now, but membership level(s). Call it something like SkinBrowser Platinum and include some extras that the regular Skinbrowser doesn't offer. Maybe even allocate a certain amount of bandwidth exclusively to these SkinBrowser Platinum Members, (if that is even technically possible.) Perhaps create a price structure so that for every couple of Megs of bandwidth you need to purchase for new Platinum Members, you are also able to purchase a few Megs for the regular subscribers. That way everyone benefits. (eeeks, I hope I'm not sounding too socialist!!)
I know I would have no problem paying a couple of hundred bucks a year (or whatever) for such a service. Afterall, I pay $500.00 a year for cable tv, $800.00 a year for a 3Meg. DSL line, and some ungodly amount for my cell phone, not to mention a couple hundred for my Amex Platinum, etc. etc...
So why not pay for this service, especially if it offers something a little extra. And with a creative pricing structure the entire site in general could benefit.
I don't know, maybe I'm way off base here, but it's an idea, and ideas lead to other ideas, and so on.....
feline
Reply #3 Tuesday, August 6, 2002 9:39 AM
Reply #3 Tuesday, August 6, 2002 9:39 AM
feline thinks motion has to much money 
as for the new server
one question, will the bandwidth limiting effect the front page for loging in? if so, how can i log in so that you will know i am me, and have a subscription?
feline isnt paranoid, they really are out to get me
as for the new server
one question, will the bandwidth limiting effect the front page for loging in? if so, how can i log in so that you will know i am me, and have a subscription?
feline isnt paranoid, they really are out to get me
Frogboy
Reply #5 Tuesday, August 6, 2002 4:36 PM
Reply #5 Tuesday, August 6, 2002 4:36 PM
I'd love to have a system where we can reserve bandwidth but our stuff is just too primitive for that presently.
Gendal
Reply #6 Wednesday, August 7, 2002 6:19 AM
Reply #6 Wednesday, August 7, 2002 6:19 AM
I just attached my stardock account to the wincustomize account and now the site is a helluva lot faster. I take it this is intentional as you seem to indicate or is it just a fluke?
If it is intentional I think you need to stress that if you have a stardock account or want to subscribe it makes the site a lot faster, this should encourage people to pay, rather than paying for a site that looks slow now and will still be slow after you pay.
If it is intentional I think you need to stress that if you have a stardock account or want to subscribe it makes the site a lot faster, this should encourage people to pay, rather than paying for a site that looks slow now and will still be slow after you pay.
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Reply #1 Monday, August 5, 2002 10:40 PM