about where files are downloaded from...

webaliser · Dec 27, 2005

Hi there.

I hope you don´t consider my question offensive.
Basically i love your site and i love to test software, advice people about what software best meets their needs etc etc..
I plan to open a site like major geeks but for my country, in pt language. Actually it will not be like major geeks, it will be more commercial, but i plan to offer only good software, not crappy one just to make a sale.
However i have a doubt that i would like someone to clarify: in major geeks the files can be downloaded for a wide variety of servers....these servers all belong to major geeks? Also, how do you keep the files updated?

I hope you can help me out.
Thx
Web

AbbySue · Dec 27, 2005

Leaving this one for the owners of MajorGeeks to respond...

Major Attitude · Dec 27, 2005

Easy. Hard work. We pay for all of the servers monthly, they are dedicated and expensive. We monitor thousands of websites for updated software and upload when new releases come out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no shortcuts, so you might want to consider what your getting into.

Novice · Dec 27, 2005

@AbbySue,

Nice to see you back on the board, have you got your computer up and running yet?

AbbySue · Dec 27, 2005

Thanks Novice. I pop in here and there when I can via Chris's puter..my puter is still down but I'm making progress. I picked up a real purty 520w PSU at a midnight madness sale last week and a 250gig HD. Will get the MB this week and possibly the RAM or CPU 'if' they have at least one of them in stock..they didn't have either last week. The last item I will get next week if all goes as planned so it shouldn't be much longer! Yeah!!! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/star17abby/jump.gif

webaliser · Dec 27, 2005

Hi Major Attitude.
Thx for your answer, i really appreciatte that...i was a little bit afraid you might consider my question offensive. (althought i dont consider it).
Basically you solved me a problem, and got me a new one
Actaully i was wondering if i needed some real complicated agreements with software industries in order to achive my goal.
But basically all i need is hard work

So hard work will be...i guess that if i like to do it, it will look easier..i hope.

I am just wondering....and in case you don´t mind continuing this topic tucows must have a diferent approach right? Maybe in their case the owners of the software do the update of the files themselves?

I know that if i register myself as an affiliate for regnow for example, i will not need to have the files...but not all the software i want is in regnow off course.
So, if you at major geeks want to promote a software that is promoted by an affiliate center like regnow, you don´t do it right? You prefer to host the file yourself and then if your users like it, they can go to the owners of the software and buy it there right?

Thx again and if im beeing to "intrusive" please let me know. ( im only asking this here cos i really dont know anyone in the "business", im all alone in this adventure

Major Attitude · Dec 27, 2005

I think Tucows uses free servers, some other sites do that too, I prefer our method because it is timely. Its a lot more work, but when a file is released, we have it, not 3 days later, when all our mirrors get it.

We dont host RegNow versions (those are cookies built in for credit if a sale is completed) simply because its a downloader of the program, and not the whole program. Often times, we dont do things like that, at the cost of losing money, so that the end user experience is better.

I dont mind nswering a few questions. I know of about a half dozen sites that have copied MajorGeeks, in a lame way, by just posting the popular stuff and trying to get traffic. So, there will be more with or without my help. I obviously would not give away anything huge, but dont mind offering a few tips as well as allowing our readers here to see how and why we do some things. We have been very lucky and have a very loyal userbase who appreciates what we do. Odds are we could do it differently and still attract a large audience, but not of the quality that we have here.

Only time you might have offended me was this line:

" Actually it will not be like major geeks, it will be more commercial, but i plan to offer only good software, not crappy one just to make a sale."

I assumed you did not mean that in a bad way. It would be hard to be MORE commercial then we are while only offering good software, so I ignored that

webaliser · Dec 27, 2005

Hi. Regarding the last line, maybe i did not explained myself in a good way. Also please dont forget english is not my main language.
Actually i meant that it will bemore commercial than major geeks because although i want to offer good software reviews, my major objective will be the profit.
And i said more commercial because you offer download versions without earning commissions. I intend to earn commissions in every software i can except if i really like the software and the onwer does not have any affiliate scheme, or when software is free.
Hope I was clear now.

I am not going to copie major geeks because i like to have everything original, but off course, in technical issues i was looking for some advices, and i thnak you for the ones given, because i really tought that there were some automatic schemes regarding the files etc...

I have a last question, hope you can help me out here...i am in the process of chosing the best software to use for my site...i can´t afford to buy a custom made so i will have to look for open source..I have already though about using mambo cms with the repository component, or maybe oscommerce...however those will need some custom programming and maybe they are not the best solution...So today i found this software called Ashop from www.ashopsoftware.com and it seems a good solution...the problem is the price...i will have to see if i can negotiate with them.... in case you don´t mind can you give me an opinion about the software i should use or do you know any good free source software that would fit for this business without many custom programming?

Thx in advance.

G.T. · Dec 27, 2005

I'm not involved with the running of this site, only a long-time forum member, but a couple points on the commercial aspects.

Major Geeks makes their money from the ads that users click on, for which they DO get a small bit of money from the advertisers, plus a little bit I assume from Jinks selling their tee shirts, and from people that use the MG shopping links to buy things in general. But it takes a LOT of those little "sales" to pay for the site.

All freeware and most of the open source software is specifically contracted to be free. You can host if with their permission, or give it away person-to-person, but you can't charge for it. Most commercial software has established distribution networks in place, usually their own these days, and may not want to allow you to sell their software. So earning a living with your site may be more difficult than you think. And getting started is tough. First you must offer something that will attract large numbers of people, consistently. Then you have to attract advertisers, then you have to keep it all going and keep people coming back. It's not easy.

Major Attitude · Dec 27, 2005

I am sorry I can not suggest software. Since we have no shopping carts here, I dont have any experience I can offer you. I do wish you luck, there is money to be made in the business. I started in 1997 and I was a truck driver. I now do this full time as well as some side work. I like your idea if you truly are careful what you list. Once you start selling programs that are not legit, for example spyware removal tools that dont remove or actually install spyware, then your taking advantage of people. Nowadays, word will spread and people will stay away from you.

As GT said, it can be a challenge, but go with your idea and try your best. Here is another reason I like answering these questions. You might be suprised, GT, to find out I dont think we make a dime from t-shirts. Typically money made goes into design and buying the next idea, we are working on the next shirt now. Most profit from t-shirt sales is spent in giving them away to moderators here, software companies, publishers and friends. If there is anything left, we try and give our artist some money for all his work here. Again, there are a lot of ways we could make more money, but I am not interested in it beyond having a decent life. Taking advantage of people for financial gain is not something I would sleep well with. I always made a decent living, so thats all that counts financially. My partner Jim, is the same way. We never expected to be rich guys and really dont think we would want it. Anyone who was here from day 1 remembers we ran 2 popups per day per person when we started, then 1, then none as we started to make a couple bucks, effectively that was losing money. We have always spent a lot of time removing questionable ads and the such. Anyhow, we know it is appreciated because we have so many great readers here who let us know how much they appreciate it.

G.T. · Dec 27, 2005

Major Attitude said:

You might be suprised, GT, to find out I dont think we make a dime from t-shirts. Typically money made goes into design and buying the next idea, we are working on the next shirt now. Most profit from t-shirt sales is spent in giving them away to moderators here, software companies, publishers and friends. If there is anything left, we try and give our artist some money for all his work here.
Click to expand...

That doesn't surprise me. You don't have to give away too many to eat up the sales commissions. Sounds more like advertising expense coupled with a little bit of fun. Heck, you sent me a stack of mousepads a couple years ago that have to be worth more than the 2 tee-shirts I bought.

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about where files are downloaded from...

webaliser Private E-2

AbbySue MajorGeeks Administrator

Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

Novice MajorGeek

AbbySue MajorGeeks Administrator

webaliser Private E-2

Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

webaliser Private E-2

G.T. R.I.P February 4, 2007. You will be missed.

Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

G.T. R.I.P February 4, 2007. You will be missed.