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The 9 megabit problem (please read)

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The 9 megabit problem (please read)

from WinCustomize Forums
Since we moved to the subscription system we've been able to directly see how much bandwidth is used by subscribers/customers versus non-customers/non-subscribers.

Specifically:
Anyone who has purchased Object Desktop or any Stardock product or a WinCustomize subscription or is an apprentice or higher goes to a different high speed server than those who have not.

The problem is, the people who have not bought anything at all are now consuming about 9 megabits per second.

That's 6 T1's being used by people who are essentially non-contributing bandwidth consumers.

That's why the "Server is busy" message is coming up more and more often for these guys.

As you can imagine, 6 T1's of bandwidth is expensive. Especially when, not to use too fine a point, being used largely by free-loaders.

I'm not sure what the solution is. If we cap it, the site becomes unbearably slow and we don't want to punish people who are just trying out this stuff (i.e. legitimately seeing what this is all about versus people who just want to leech off the bandwidth).

Any suggestions?
36,189 views 162 replies
Reply #151 from WinCustomize Forums Top
sig101...but only if there's a groovy lens-flare effect included...
Reply #152 from WinCustomize Forums Top
But then they will probably not read it and apply it immediately as a wallpaper calling and showing all their friends what a cool wallpapers wincustomize has... j/k

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Reply #153 from WinCustomize Forums Top
moshi: "Ryan, if you don´t want ActiveDesktop but JPEG wallpapers try one of the wallpaper changing programs.?

That wasn't my point.

I have a wallpaper, I like it, and I don't plan on changing it any time soon.

I was saying that if Windows can be extended to accept JPGs instead of BMPs without active desktop turned on, then why didn't Microsoft program Windows to use JPGs anyway?

Reply #154 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ryan8024 - I was saying that if Windows can be extended to accept JPGs instead of BMPs without active desktop turned on, then why didn't Microsoft program Windows to use JPGs anyway?

i am not sure that windows can, not directly anyway.

i am under the impression that any wallpaper program converts the jpg to a bmp, so that windows can use it.

at least, that is how netscape always used to do it
Reply #155 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, coming in at the tail end of a long thread, I have a few suggestions:

1. Reduce the quality and size of screenshots. Yes, it's great to see full resolution detail, but those things add up...I reduced a set of graphics on a BBS I run from 900K total down to 175K, and it saved me almost 5 Gigs a month in bandwidth. My site is like 1/1000th the size of this one, so imagine what you could save by trimming the little things here and there.

2. Require registration for *everything* on the site, even the first download. Bar Hotmail and Yahoo Mail accounts, and you'll find that half your freeloaders will vanish. Anyone serious about the scene will use a real email, or be smart enough to find a free one that isn't one of the Big Two.

3. Cap downloads by count, if possible. You don't have to try 25 skins to know if you want to buy WindowBlinds...5 or 10 is plenty to give you all the information you need to buy the software. I would cap each major, Dx, WB, etc. at say, ten downloads for free. Small stuff, Sysmetrix, coolplayer, etc. I would leave. Wallpapers are a HUGE part of the draw, so I would not touch them. HOWEVER...I might institute a JPG ONLY requirement. A barely-compressed JPG will not destroy the beauty of a wall, but it may cut the file size by 2/3rds! That's good for everyone...faster downloads, less bandwidth.

4. Allow members to "sponsor" someone. I know that I would pay 5 or 10 dollars for a friend to download as though he were a member for say, 7 days. Since I *know* he would get hooked and buy a membership, everybody wins.

Just some ideas...
Reply #156 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have an idea, I know we are all against seeing adds on the site, but why not try it, just for the non-subscribers, make them see pop ups, and the ones who really want to be here will pay to get the skin browser, where they don't have to see them, or they will leave and go somewhere else, just to find that everyone else has adds for people who don't pay anyways, the basic idea is that if they aren't gonna pay for the band width they use, let someone else do it...

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Reply #157 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm not sure what popup ads would accomplish. They issue here is not one of revenue, but of bandwidth. And I don't think the use of popup ads will garner any signficant money that could be used to pay for additional bandwidth.

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Reply #159 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Barring Yahoo or Hotmail accounts on the basis that those who use them are "freeloaders" is not a valid argument and a fairly insulting one! I use web based mail exclusively, because I can check it when I am away from home and I have been an OD subscriber for two years.
Reply #160 from WinCustomize Forums Top
One thing I am in favour of is only allowing subscribers to upload. Having to provide something positive such as credit card details may put off potential rippers and those seeking to upload via a false ID.

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Reply #161 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Echoing Shakey, I have 3 Hotmail accounts which I check daily, I've had one of them since 1994. I'd be real pissed if I was blocked because I use Hotmail for my non-business email.

I am all over the place every day and like the ability to check my email over the web no matter where I am. Yes, I know there are other free options, but quite frankly, the vast majority seriously suck!

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Reply #162 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Fuzzy...the only way credit card details would deter rippers would be if we debited their card each time we found one...