<p>Sorry but we have to pay the bills, if you don't want to see the ad please consider subscribing (<a href="https://www.thurrott.com/thurrott-premium" target="_blank">a sale going on now</a>) and those ads will be gone.</p><p><br></p><p>You are being asked to click around an ad to view the content which takes approx 2ms and helps us put food on the table, if we are not worth that 2ms click, then I don't know how to appease what you want and me eating.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#252856"><em>In reply to brad-sams:</em></a></blockquote><p>I am not subscribing to anything.</p><p>Click the x is not the problem. The problem is that it is annoying. It's not just 1 time. It is like ever time I come to this site. Almost every story I click on.</p><p><br></p><p>You created a premium, so you people shouldn't have to to rely on pop up ads.</p><p>Pop up ads are just so annoying.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#252860"><em>In reply to lordbaal1:</em></a></blockquote><p>"You created a premium, so you people shouldn't have to to rely on pop up ads."</p><p><br></p><p>That is not accurate, premium users do not subsidize non-premium users on this site.</p><p><br></p><p>We appreciate the feedback and are trying to improve the experience on our sites but we also have to deal with the realities of keeping the site alive.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#252872"><em>In reply to brad-sams:</em></a></blockquote><p>I don't mind the ads. But it's these popups and splash pages I hate.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#252952"><em>In reply to lordbaal1:</em></a></blockquote><p>All I hear is, "boo-hoo-hoo it's not free enough"……..?</p><p>you get what you pay for.</p><p><br></p><p>Great Site Paul and Brad.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#253033"><em>In reply to paul-thurrott:</em></a></blockquote><p>But yet on Windows Weekly and this site, you yourself complains about ads.</p><p>But you go and do the exact opposite.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#253041"><em>In reply to lordbaal1:</em></a></blockquote><p>Please. Spare me.</p><p>We are a tiny independent company that exists on the web. The traditional monetization method, which consists solely of ads, no longer works. That's why we created the premium program. So we can be paid directly for the work we do and so that readers can enjoy a much less distracting experience that they hopefully find to be of value. Can't afford premium? That's fine. We chose to keep providing an ad-based version of the site too. We didn't have to do that.</p><p>But then, we've explained this a hundred times by now.</p><p>I am tired of apologizing for needing—not "wanting," but needing—to be paid to continue doing this work. And tired of explaining that we do everything we can to make this as non-intrusive as possible, but that the realities of the modern Internet—and of Google, Goddamn them—are making this more and more difficult with every passing day.</p><p>So I'm done. I'm done with the apologies. And I'm especially done with the bitching and moaning. If you don't like it, just leave. Please.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#253053"><em>In reply to paul-thurrott:</em></a></blockquote><p>Here's hoping your ad strategy is working well. I enjoy the site.</p>
<p>Actually I have been on both sides of the fence — free for a number of years and now Premium for 3-months. I personally do not have any problem with the process. These resources outweigh the millisecond inconvenience. Have saved money and research time with these professional and in-depth materials. I'm retired from 30-some years as a Field Service Technician and still subscribe. Excellence is not without some cost.</p>
<p>I am not talking about all ads. I understand about the ads. But it the stupid slash ad.</p><p><br></p><p>You complained for how many months about clicking a red x to not upgrade to windows.</p><p>Now you are saying to click the x.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#253185"><em>In reply to lordbaal1:</em></a></blockquote><p>Why are you still arguing? Paul has already said that's the way it is if you don't like it leave. Those ads you are asking them to cut are probably the most valuable ones.</p>
<p>I don't have a problem with ads, but I'm a subscriber.</p><p>OTOH, as a paying member, there is something that seems missing: either a flag button on all comments to indicate either spam or inappropriate comments, or article pinning in the Forum so that the SPAMMERS! thread begun a few months ago by lwetzel were always around the top of the listing. Obviously better still would be automated screening.</p>
<p>All you people are kissing Paul's and Brad's ass. It's called constructive criticism.</p><p>But not one wants to listen. They thing that they are right about everything.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#253761"><em>In reply to lordbaal1:</em></a></blockquote><p>That is absurd and insulting. </p><p>Perhaps you are just completely off-base.</p>