APUG.ORG to PHOTRIO.COM Migration, Final Details.

[faberryman]

I thought the hybrid platform was intended to grow membership and viewership so that Sean can better monetize through advertising. More eyes on the site, more ad dollars flowing in.

It depends on whether the advertising is based on a per click or per view rate, or a flat rate. I don't know how Sean handles it. My guess would be it is flat rate now. I think Sean is probably hoping to get more (flat rate) digital related advertisers.

 

[Julie McLeod]

Either way, ultimately the goal is to maintain (or grow) the cash inflow. My point was simply that if the platform move works as intended, this should address cash concerns without having to resort to implementing some of the suggestions made here.

Yes, I think that's right or at least that what I thought Sean announced.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

whoosh ...

Which is surprising - your watermark/DPUG remark was flying low enough for the pilot to get a "terrain" warning in the cockpit.

 

[Julie McLeod]

It depends on whether the advertising is based on a per click or per view rate, or a flat rate. I don't know how Sean handles it. My guess would be it is flat rate now. I think Sean is probably hoping to get more (flat rate) digital related advertisers.

Ah, I see what you're saying. Thanks for explaining.

 

[NedL]

whoosh ...

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

I did mention altruism.

'Altruism', or at least a reasonable sense of fairness AKA honesty/integrity, is increasingly rare every day. It seems that most folks want to take and never return.

 

[Wallendo]

I have no issues with the current subscription model. I visit many sites. There are two that I financially support (APUG and a College Football board), another I would support if they had a way to accept money, one supported by Amazon links, and a few that I visit intermittently. I support boards I use a lot, but do not wish to pay to access every single site that shows up in google searches.

I personally feel that $25/year is reasonable. Especially for people who are paying for film, chemicals, papers, and internet access (which for many of us is $50 or more a month). On the other hand, for casual visitors who come to the site from a google search link, a paywall is a nuisance.

I don't sell items online or post in the galleries (although I probably should), but I pay my annual subscription to keep the site afloat both for my benefit as well as those who visit less often, or my be of lesser means. I understand that for some people, $25 is a lot of money.

My only concern with the new site is how well the analog only and hybrid thread divisions will be maintained. I shoot all three formats, analog only with slide film (although I do scan them for other purposes), hybrid with B&W and C-41, and digital (although I shoot a lot less digital than a few years ago). I almost never visit DPUG or HybridPhoto - digital fora generally degenerate into Nikon v Canon or people lusting over the latest minor updated camera, and hybrid fora degenerate into "which scanner is the best". I visit APUG daily, because film choice, development technics, old camera equipment tips, etc. are common ground between analog and hybrid photographers. It will be challenging for the moderators to deal with threads which eventually diverge into hybrid territory. Threads on film developing and troubleshooting of processing will be rare on a hybrid forum, and hybrid users may forget which section they are following and bring in scanning and PhotoShop.

I have bought darkroom equipment to create a totally analog flow. Aging parents, and a temporary health issue, have prevented me from actually setting up the equipment, but I hope to get that done by year-end.

 

[Photo Engineer]

If we don't pay, then how does Sean pay for and operate this thing?

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Most folks are too selfish to be fair with others. I realize this is my personal negative outlook on the world (and our society) but the truth is most folks will take and take and take and take but will never fairly reciprocate unless forced to... so they can have what they want.

I'm not referencing those who truly can't afford the fee. There are times I must wait for funds too. It can be damned difficult to make the small sacrifice. I live on an extremely meager disability income so I do feel the burn too. But APUG is WORTH EVERY PENNY.

The above stated, we all know that most folks on most forums are 'users' who rely on others to pay their way. I realize that's a harsh statement but the truth often hurts.

Folks, Sean is not our daddy and we're all adults (most of us). Sorry but if I was the papa and my grown kids (some in their 40's, 50's, 60+) you'd be paying or out of my house.

 

[teejay]

I'm more than happy to subscribe - and I've found that I now visit the site a number of times daily and really, really enjoy it (and trying to get more actively involved) - tbh I'd be prepared to pay more.

 

[Svenedin]

I hope it works out. I have zero interest in digital and no intention of using such equipment. I would be very sad indeed if the film community is disadvantaged by this "merger". It is a shame that it has come to this; perhaps it would not have happened if there had been a much higher percentage of users who put their hands in their pockets and subscribed.

 

[Sean]

Hi All,

Just a quick update. We are 100% on track and everything is scheduled. Very exciting albeit nerve wracking

We'll likely see DPUG down in the next couple hours, and APUG in 'migration' mode around 6-8hrs from now. This means for a few days APUG will be open and readable, but all activity will be restricted to a single "migration" discussion forum and the chatroom. I'll post updates in the APUG migration forum during the move. The reason for this is I don't intend to sync any further data once the move begins. What is posted in the single discussion forum during migration, may or may not end up on the new site but it will give members a place to hang out.

Thanks again for all the incredible support and feedback

Sean

 

[Sirius Glass]

We will all be killed! We will all be killed!

 

[Sean]

We will all be killed! We will all be killed!

Some say it's going to be worse than Y2K

 

[greg zinselmeier]

it is like this, if people do not pay ( like me), then they shouldn't be able to view the information or write or participate!!!! if you do not want non payers to see . .. .. . don't let them see. . . .. dont bitch if I can see without paying.

there was a girl like this in high school.. . . . she gave it away to everybody. . .. . then bitched because she got no respect... well!!!! dont give it away for free!!!

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

I can't write what I want to at this moment without being uncivil... other than to call out the selfish USERS.

Okay, that's definitely uncivil... but true.

 

[Richard Man]

I haven't slogged through the 10 pages of comments yet, but I like what Sean said on first post. I like the focus on analog photography. Heck, I shoot 300+ sheets of 4x5 and on track for over 200 rolls of 120 this year. OTOH, the fact that I cannot even HELP other people with scanning or other "non-analog" questions and being made fun of, is just ridiculous.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

it is like this, if people do not pay ( like me), then they shouldn't be able to view the information or write or participate!!!! if you do not want non payers to see . .. .. . don't let them see. . . .. dont bitch if I can see without paying.

there was a girl like this in high school.. . . . she gave it away to everybody. . .. . then bitched because she got no respect... well!!!! dont give it away for free!!!

So... this girl would have been better 'respected' if she had charged for her intimacy?

Forget that. Sean is not a horny young lady. He's a businessman providing a valuable service.

 

[MattKing]

It is funny, and sad, that so few of the points in this thread make direct reference to whether the impending change will make the website experience BETTER for those who are either using it now, or will use it in the future.
Including for Sean, for whom I will be forever grateful.
My outlook on this is that I THINK it will make things better, because it will make it possible to more fully involve those who use "hybrid" methods. If it does that, and also maintains the value to those who wish to discuss the non-hybrid world, and continues to provide a healthy, vibrant internet community to us who came here for the joy of a community that values the world of film and other non-digital things, it will be both an "artistic" success, and I expect a financial one.
I get great joy in helping those who are essentially new to film. It isn't the least troublesome to me that they might not be printing optically. I just want to be able to both value what I like to do, and discuss it with those who also value it, and are comfortable with rules that keep them on topic while they are where they are.

 

[MattKing]

Sean is not a horny young lady.

I'm sure that Sean appreciates the comment, but other than those few of us APUGers who have met him/her, how do you know??

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

I'm sure that Sean appreciates the comment, but other than those few of us APUGers who have met him/her, how do you know??

Hmm... that's a good point. So Sean... are you a horny young lady... or a savvy businessman... or non-gender profit-neutral?

Forget that. I love analog photography. I love this website. And I love you too... in a 'straight guy' sort of way. This is why I pay you for your 'services'.

 

[Wayne]

I love it when people start telling other people what they can afford and how they can afford it, without knowing a single thing about that person or their bills or their finances other than the fact they exist.

Well surely if you use APUG, you can afford x-y-z dollars per year/month/week and here is how you can do it...

 

[Wayne]

Regarding my previous post here, I attended a GEM workshop as a guest today and asked the class members if they knew of APUG or if they were members. Only one knew of and was a member. I don't know how active he was or his screen name, due to the flow of the class, but this highlights what I was alluding to earlier. APUG is not widely known.

PE

We need an APUG.COM bumper sticker

 

[Photo Engineer]

I'm sure that Sean appreciates the comment, but other than those few of us APUGers who have met him/her, how do you know??

I've talked to Sean on the phone. Does that count? He is NOT a young lady by any means.

PE

 

[Sean]

And the rollout it begins Nothing exciting for a while, just moving a lot of data around at first. I guess I should be in a garage in Silicon Valley, but a kitchen table in New Zealand will have to do.