anat0l
Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2006
- Posts
- 11,669
The main issues with web ads for me is that it's extra bandwidth that I don't need. Sometimes the ads are "prioritised" for loading, which means you have to wait for them to load before you get the content you actually need. This is really annoying when you're on a mobile device, and even more so when on packet data.
Other main issues with web ads - technology. A good deal of web ads use Flash, which slows up things. It's almost like the door to door salesman appearing at your door, telling you, "Give me three minutes whilst I set up my pitch," and you can't shut the door whilst he's doing so.
Web ads may also use cookies and tracking, which may invoke privacy issues. Moreover to that, many companies which you provide information to often sell on some of your info or preferences to other companies for marketing purposes (charities are a big one on this - donate for an environmental activist group, and a few months later you get an email from an animal rights group).
Years ago, before widespread broadband existed (and there was just 56k dialup), most ads were fine. Simple, to the point... the most bandwidth-coughbersome ads were animated GIFs. More people on the web then understood you had to respect the user - not only were they on dialup, but they may not have had a Pentium III with 256MB RAM, or whatever. Now, such "respect" has been thrown right out the window.
Big thing about web ads is that they provide income for many websites (and this site, AFF, is not an exception). The website running costs (at minimum, the web hosting fees) can be heavily subsidised by ads, allowing some sites that would never have the capital (or even opex) to exist.
Ad blockers (as browser plugins) are a big thing for at least hiding ads (often suppressing their loading) so they don't occupy eye time, though they are of course very much despised by marketers.
There could be worse forms of marketing (or maybe not). There's heaps of marketing in the city where random people hand you a leaflet or try to get five minutes of your time, and are quite insistent. I was in Singapore window shopping for technology ("window shopping" is not really understood when you browse technology stores!) in Orchard (yes, I know that was already a mistake) - I was talking to one merchant and I was genuinely walking away when he was still trying to bargain me down... all the way up to three stores away from his! I think I had to start running away before he either forced me into a sale, or killed me.
Other main issues with web ads - technology. A good deal of web ads use Flash, which slows up things. It's almost like the door to door salesman appearing at your door, telling you, "Give me three minutes whilst I set up my pitch," and you can't shut the door whilst he's doing so.
Web ads may also use cookies and tracking, which may invoke privacy issues. Moreover to that, many companies which you provide information to often sell on some of your info or preferences to other companies for marketing purposes (charities are a big one on this - donate for an environmental activist group, and a few months later you get an email from an animal rights group).
Years ago, before widespread broadband existed (and there was just 56k dialup), most ads were fine. Simple, to the point... the most bandwidth-coughbersome ads were animated GIFs. More people on the web then understood you had to respect the user - not only were they on dialup, but they may not have had a Pentium III with 256MB RAM, or whatever. Now, such "respect" has been thrown right out the window.
Big thing about web ads is that they provide income for many websites (and this site, AFF, is not an exception). The website running costs (at minimum, the web hosting fees) can be heavily subsidised by ads, allowing some sites that would never have the capital (or even opex) to exist.
Ad blockers (as browser plugins) are a big thing for at least hiding ads (often suppressing their loading) so they don't occupy eye time, though they are of course very much despised by marketers.
There could be worse forms of marketing (or maybe not). There's heaps of marketing in the city where random people hand you a leaflet or try to get five minutes of your time, and are quite insistent. I was in Singapore window shopping for technology ("window shopping" is not really understood when you browse technology stores!) in Orchard (yes, I know that was already a mistake) - I was talking to one merchant and I was genuinely walking away when he was still trying to bargain me down... all the way up to three stores away from his! I think I had to start running away before he either forced me into a sale, or killed me.
Cost was $12k installed - payback is 3 years. 
I was quoted $20k for a 10KW system. 42 panels if I remember !!!
