A while back, I became frustrated at work trying to download Quicktime to view a file I was sent by an associate on CD. I had to run a gauntlet to get to the free download and they kept trying to cram Napster down my throat at every turn. I finally got the free software downloaded and installed, but when invoked, I was greeted by yet another ad for Napster Premium.
Now, it seems I am not the only one that is annoyed by aggressive marketing. Real Networks is pushing so hard, they are causing customers to look for alternatives. Many years ago, Real Audio was an extremely cool app. Now more and more people avoid it like the plague. Minnesota Public Radio says enough is enough, they are tired of it and will move on down the road.
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"I think they are shooting themselves in the foot in terms of the registration process," Nielsen said. "You click on 'free' and you see costs. That's a very classic thing called bait and switch. Bait and switch really annoys people." Users also have to provide their e-mail address and password, and must un-check multiple boxes to avoid having Real icons installed all over their computer, Nielsen said. Even with all the boxes unchecked, the company still puts a "Free Rhapsody trial" icon on the desktop. "I don't want to get an account, I just want to play a little video clip," Nielsen said. "It's overstepping the bounds of a utility program. You're in a rush, you're in a hurry, you don't want to mess with this stuff. |
The last
lines in that quote describes exactly the way I felt that day. I was in a
hurry and if weren't for it being work related I would have thrown the CD away without even viewing the content. Take a minute, go over to Wired and read the rest of this story. The
quote above is just the tip of the iceberg they really got hold of some interesting information and comments. How do you feel, is this too much to go through to play a clip? Or, do the companies have a right to make us "earn" that free download? After all, they have to eat too.
Source: Wired
