In Voluntary Support

One of my favorite sites MacSurfer has the following note prominently posted today:

FROM: Phil Pearson, Editor-In-Chief TO: 500,000+ Loyal MacSurfer Readers SUBJECT: Subscription Request

A brief intrusion... In order to improve MHN's salaries, add features, and enhance our website interactivity, I'm making a polite request to our dedicated fan base. Preferring not to limit content, I need a strong response from the majority of you to help fund MacSurfer, so think of it as an IPO investment or magazine subscription. (We're exceedingly more useful than MacAddict or Macworld, right?) Amid great personal and financial sacrifice, I think I've presented a helluva news site and fantastic daily resource for near on 8 years. Now it's your turn to reciprocate. To keep matters simple, and avoid net privacy/security issues, all you need to do is send a check payable to "Phil Pearson" for a yearly subscription to:

1 Year MacSurfer subscription: $25
1 Year MacSurfer/TechNN subscription: $35

I have no problem with MacSurfer asking for some support from it's fans since it does provide a site that I like to visit and is very informative. I was a little suprised to not see a similiar request at MacSurfer's sister site TechNN.

I do however feel that there are a few things that MacSurfer could do to increase the value of hte site and better justify the cost of the "Subscription".

• Redesign: Since I first visited MacSurfer about 3 years ago the site has seen only minor changes to its layout and design. I know that this design is functional and simple, but frankly it is also ugly. A site that is functional and simple need not be ugly. There are plenty of examples of compartively simple sights that look very nice (for example Daring Fireball). MacSurfer's audence is very design savvy thanks to the attractive and useful design of the Mac UI. Another large portion of the audience are graphic designers and design professionals.
• No Ads for Subscribers: A few other sites have moved towards this model (notably Slashdot) and I think it is a pretty good trade off. In fact MacSurfer had a similiar system in place until July 2002
• Daily Wrap-up: I would love to see MacSurfer send out a e-mail everyday at 5pm EST with a wrapup of the top Mac related stories of the day.
• Forums: These could either be public or subscriber only, but would likely become a place for MacSurfer users to congregrate and discuss the latest issues and news.

With these improvements MacSurfer would be a site worthy of a $25/year subscription. Until then I think that I will just donate a few dollars to help keep the site running.

Comments

[Carlton Wiens]

MacSurfer wants $25 subscription from 500,000 users, this is outrageous! I would think $5 would be more appropriate. Multiply out $25 x 500,000. Way too much.

[Carola Joy]

Just be surfing around in net. I definitely fpund a very informal place with a lot of good stuff for everybody. I will
certainly visit your site again sometime. Really good work.

[Amie Lee]

Really good work. I found a lot of profound information which can help me to go on. Thanks for all this input.