> . . . Now for the gripes . . . there are ALWAYS gripes in letters to the
> editor, aren't there? The constant intrusion of advertising really bugged
> me. It was kind of like watching a show where they always cut to a commercial
> at a good part. Talk about frustrating! They have got to go! In a
> traditional paper magazine, if I want to look for an ad for something,
> that's what I look for, otherwise I page by them. Perhaps you could have a
> menu item solely for a listing of ads and advertisers. At least you don't
> have those nasty little cards falling out all over the place like the paper
> magazines.
>
> D.H.
> dxva63a@prodigy.com
> suprdav86@aol.com
>
> . . . First, on the issue of advertisements. I agree that the ideal
> solution would be to dispose of them, but I understand completely your use
> of them, even the fact that you must take control out of the user's hands to
> present them. However, you call IE "interactive television," so by way of
> comparison perhaps I would like to point out an aspect of television
> advertising. In programs made for television (as opposed to theatrical films
> later shown on television), there are logical "break" points where
> commercials are to be inserted. The placement of ads in IE seems to be a
> random event. This is particularly distracting in the middle of a preview or
> review, where the ad completely disrupts the presentation. Perhaps the
> programming for the ads could be changed to present them at the beginning or
> end of a presentation, not bisecting one.
>
> M.H.
> Cincinnati, OH
>
> . . . Ads: You made a good attempt with episode 2, but the ads were boring.
> If you can't use video clips in the ads, have several interesting
> screenshots fade in and out, like in the reviews. Or, better yet, fade in,
> in sequence, four shots that each fill a quarter of the screen, and then
> wipe the screen and put in four more. Just don't put in the same static logo
> screen, please.
>
> S.M.
> Westerville, OH

Okay, so you don't like the ads. We knew that. That's why we stopped running those bogus ads after episode 2. There also haven't been any ads at all for the last three episodes. However, don't get your hopes up; we do need to sell ads to be profitable, and we need to be profitable to continue to put this thing out. The good news is, we have finally hired someone to do ad sales, and he will be starting soon. Don't worry, we'll take into account all the things you've been complaining about. If we can't get video, for instance, we'll try to make sure that they are at least interesting; we have also talked about having them pop up only between articles.

T.K.