Too many Premium Articles

I normally check Thurrot site 2-3 times in a day. Previously I would get some good stuff to read. But past few weeks/months, specially after Mehndi has come on board, I see very little Open/Free articles.

I am afraid that a long time Thurrot/Supersite reader, I may completely stop coming to this site if this site does not balance out Free/Premium articles. Not everything on the site can be Premium, c’mon.

And I’ve realized most of Mehedi’s posts are more of what is happening around in the Tech than Analysis and good lengthy articles.

All I want to tell Paul and team, please look into balancing out Premium/Free articles, or as I said above, a Fan like myself and couple of my other friends who regularly come to this site may eventually just flee away onto other tech sites.

Conversation 23 comments

  • pecosbob04

    15 January, 2018 - 9:40 am

    <p>Ya gotta stick the flounce!</p>

  • PincasX

    15 January, 2018 - 10:12 am

    <p>What is worse than the number of premium articles is the number of forum threads complaining about premium articles. </p><p><br></p><p>This is really easy, advertising doesn't pay squat so non-premium members, like you and I, don't contribute in a meaningful way to the income generated by this site. Paul and team have to make a living and expecting them to give up revenue because you don't want to pay is ridiculous. The reality is that you, myself and every other free member could stop showing up and it would likely make no difference to their revenue stream.</p><p><br></p><p>Rather than complain about not getting things for free, ask yourself why you won't pay for the premium content. It really isn't terribly expensive. I would presume that knowing what would turn you into a premium user would be far more constructive feedback for the people that run the site than stomping your feet and threatening to take your toys and go home. </p><p><br></p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      15 January, 2018 - 10:53 am

      <blockquote><a href="#237881"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a></blockquote><p>Exactly. </p>

    • lwetzel

      Premium Member
      15 January, 2018 - 11:14 am

      <blockquote><a href="#237881"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a></blockquote><p>Good Reply! </p>

    • irfaanwahid

      15 January, 2018 - 2:01 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#237881"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a></blockquote><p>Ok, you said it well. </p><p>I’ll put down what I did like from the site to make me pay without thinking twice:</p><p><br></p><p>1: Exclusive Interviews with Microsoft employees </p><p>2: Podcasts with MS &amp; other industry expert guests weekly/monthly whatever best works out.</p><p>3: Video reviews, but Brad has started this. Thumps up!</p><p>4: In depth analysis: articles</p>

    • anchovylover

      15 January, 2018 - 8:34 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#237881"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a></blockquote><p>Excellent points PincasX. ?</p><p><br></p><p>I'm getting the impression that there must be several members who are paying an online subscription for the first time. As a result their expectations are too high and the idea of paying for quality journalism is foreign to them.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

      • irfaanwahid

        16 January, 2018 - 12:24 am

        <blockquote><a href="#238072"><em>In reply to anchovylover:</em></a></blockquote><p>It's not about paying online is foreign, it is a concern by someone who pays for Apple Music, Netflix, Amazon Video, O365 Home and WWE Network. </p><p>It's about where and when to subscribe for a service which should be value for money.</p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2018 - 11:54 am

    <p>It’s what? $7 a month? That’s not a lot. </p>

    • hrlngrv

      Premium Member
      15 January, 2018 - 5:52 pm

      <p><a href="#237914"><em>In reply to jimchamplin:</em></a></p><blockquote>It’s what? $7 a month? . . .</blockquote><p>The state of education!</p><p>The annual cost is US$64.</p>

      • maethorechannen

        Premium Member
        16 January, 2018 - 5:22 am

        <blockquote><a href="#238040"><em>In reply to hrlngrv:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The annual cost is US$64.</span></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Less if you get it when it goes on sale. </p>

    • irfaanwahid

      16 January, 2018 - 12:31 am

      <blockquote><a href="#237914"><em>In reply to jimchamplin:</em></a></blockquote><p>Jim, it's not about 1 or $7 a month, and as I replied earlier, I do subscribe to numerous online services so it is absolutely not about $7 a month or about 2-3 coffee cups (cddouglas), that's just wrong way of thinking.</p><p>I haven't yet found value for money yet in the Thurrot Premium.</p>

  • RamblingGeek

    15 January, 2018 - 12:01 pm

    <p>I just think of it as a Magazine subscription, we all used to purchase a Magazine back in the day… paying for it isn't really any different.</p>

    • jimchamplin

      Premium Member
      15 January, 2018 - 1:46 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#237916"><em>In reply to RamblingGeek:</em></a></blockquote><p>But that was before they all got spoiled on free stuff. And most magazines cost more per month than this site does now. It really is a good deal if you think about it at all.</p>

  • Brad Sams

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2018 - 1:02 pm

    <p>Back in <a href="https://www.thurrott.com/forums/general-discussion/paul/thread/thurrot-premium-is-it-worth&quot; target="_blank">July you told us that you didnt think that there was enough premium content</a>…so we ramped it up, now we are doing it too much?</p><p><br></p><p>I understand there needs to be a balance and we are always working towards achieving that goal; appreciate the feedback.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      15 January, 2018 - 1:06 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#237952"><em>In reply to brad-sams:</em></a></blockquote><p>#golf clap</p>

    • irfaanwahid

      15 January, 2018 - 1:51 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#237952"><em>In reply to brad-sams:</em></a></blockquote><p>Brad/Paul, don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate all the work done here and it is the first site for my news feed in the mornings.</p><p>I did say there were few articles back then.. and yes, now they are too many to balance out. I also said I was seriously considering paying for the site.</p><p>My issue is there are couple of other good sites and writers who do give similar if not same analysis on the current news/annoucements whatever.</p><p><br></p><p>Yes, I did love to read yours/Paul’s view.. but if I’m able to read similar analysis elsewhere that makes me somewhat satisfied with that topic/discussion hence makes me not subscribe to Thurrot Premium.</p><p><br></p><p>I can understand you guys maybe still trying to look at that sweet spot.. my issue was basically simple.. past few days coming to this site was not more than landing and going away. </p>

    • cddouglas

      15 January, 2018 - 3:21 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#237952"><em>In reply to brad-sams:</em></a><em> sometimes people just enjoy complaining I think. No matter how you balance the mix of stories, there will be some who will never be happy or pony up the $7 or so a month. Which is like what, 2-3 cups of coffee? I loved reading the free articles here enough that I decided to join as a premium subscriber and it's well worth it. Thanks for all you guys do.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • reservoirmike

    15 January, 2018 - 4:54 pm

    <p>The biggest complaint I think is access to Paul.&nbsp;Let's face it, 95% of the readers on this site followed Paul from the SuperSite.&nbsp;They are here to read his articles, to hear his voice.&nbsp;Now he is locked behind the paywall, and the increase in what is being touted as Premium articles, often falls short of Premium expectations.&nbsp;That is why you see so many threads complaining about it.&nbsp;I realize paying for Paul is by design, but as Brad has stated previously, most of the readers of this site are non-Premium.&nbsp;If they are here, as I am, to read Paul and don't find the content compelling enough convert to Premium members, that is a problem.</p>

  • Mehedi Hassan

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2018 - 5:30 pm

    <p>It's Mehedi, not Mehndi.</p>

  • scj123

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2018 - 6:49 pm

    <p>I thought I would throw my comments in on this, I have been reading Pauls work since the start of the SuperSite, and this has just improved on what was a brilliant site. I am loving the writing by Paul, Brad and Mehedi and for the effort they put in to keep this going, then yes they deserve to get paid for it, they put in more hours than I do. On the question of premium versus free content, is the balance right, for me I try not to notice and feel like I just pay for the site, all the articles are of the same quality, and I would continue to pay whichever way it goes.</p><p><br></p><p>You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you cant please all of the people all of the time. Just keep doing what your doing.</p><p><br></p>

  • Cdorf

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2018 - 7:41 pm

    <p>I disagree with this post and here's why.</p><p><br></p><p>I too have followed Paul since the early days- when he moved I kept following- when he opened up premium I applied. I felt there wasn't enough premium content in the beginning, shh dont tell Paul but I would have renewed anyways… As they are finding the sweetspot please note that most of the premium articles are for editorials, commentary, and behind the scenes. To me all of that is worth the cost of admission. Team Thurrott is still delivering news items in the free section (I know cause sometimes I am not at a PC with my login and I still check Thurrott.com for the latest news). These guys aren't a big trade publication that can afford to make everything advertising driven. If you just want the news you are just fine without paying and adding Mehedi has helped them churn out even more news. If you want all three of their expert opinions, and analysis you pay. Seems fair to me. </p><p><br></p><p>Keep up the good work guys!</p><p><br></p><p>-Chris</p><p><br></p>

  • Jules Wombat

    16 January, 2018 - 9:05 am

    <p>Which one is Paul?</p>

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