So, I’ve given Mac OS Ken Day 6 more than the one month I said I would before deciding whether to continue with my subscription.
My conclusion: Day 6 is not worth $10 per month and I’ve canceled my subscription.
Yes, if you like Ken Ray and want to support his endeavor and, more importantly, can afford to give him $120 a year, then that’s fine. However, Day 6 appears to be the same format show as one of his previous podcasts, Technocracy Radio. That show used to be free.
On the first six shows, while there were interesting interviews with tech people, I didn’t feel each show was worth $2.50. For instance, one show was Ken interviewing his friend (and Mac developer) August Trometer. While August did a great job of predicting what Apple would release at Macworld, I didn’t feel it should cost me $2.50, especially as there were so many other podcasters doing predictions for free on their shows.
Ken can try and argue that you are actually paying for six shows each week, but as everyone else gets Monday to Friday shows free, the only extra material you get for your money is one 30-40 minute show each week.
Also, a complaint: while I’ve just canceled my subscription and have already paid my $10 for the second month’s content, my subscription has been canceled immediately, so I cannot get episodes 7 and 8, which I have paid for!
So, has anyone else subscribed (or canceled their subscription) to Day 6?
Ken Ray // 30/01/2008 at 5:52 pm
Mike,
First off, thanks for trying out Mac OS Ken: Day 6. That really means a lot to me.
Now… to your point of $2.50 per show… I do not try to argue that you are actually paying for all six episodes. What I have said repeatedly is, Mac OS Ken: Day 6 is extra content for people who want to subscribe and support Mac OS Ken. If you accept that premise (and I hope you do since… well… that is my intent) it averages out to $0.42 per show.
I made a deal with listeners two years ago this week: I’ll bring you Apple related news, five days a week at no cost to you. I am committed to keeping the daily show free as long as I am able to produce the daily show. At the same time, Mac OS Ken: Day 6 goes a long way to making sure that the daily show can continue. If you want to support that, great. If not, the daily show is still there for you.
Again, thank you for trying it out.
Ken
PetieG // 30/01/2008 at 7:53 pm
Ken is right… you have to look at the aggregate amount of shows. Personally, I’m not sure I want to subscribe either, but I wouldn’t go around blogging about it with the possibility of turning other people off w/ just simple math. it’s not about the math, it’s about the mac aura, ken and his wonderful, idiosyncratic sense of humor/conversation that drives me to listen to him every weekday. He makes me laugh out loud and often has very insight look/take on things. I’m an independent I.T. consultant and I don’t have many techie friends so I consider Ken part of my thought process on all things Mac. Ken, do it man, keep it up, entertain us, incite us to love our Mac ‘atmosphere’ even more because of your style.. That’s right… You rock!
Mike Bradbrook // 31/01/2008 at 2:36 am
The intention of the blog post was to be an comment/personal opinion. I encouraged people to check out Day 6 in an earlier post but I also said I’d get back to people on my thoughts. It’s like someone trying out a Drobo - that person can instantly say for people to go out and try one but those reading are also likely to be interested to know whether that initial person also thinks it’s a good product after a couple of months. The same with things such as MacHeist. I think it is an awful idea - really bad for developers in the long run but others have opinions (and post them) that such deals are the next best thing since sliced bread. We should all be allowed to comment - people are still able to make their own minds up on whether to give Day 6/Drobo/MacHeist, etc a try.
Mactropolis is mainly opinions/editorials rather than rehashing of news stories other websites are able to get published much faster than we could (because they pay people full time to work on their sites). In that way, we are more like Mac360 - http://mac360.com/).
Finally, I’m not saying people shouldn’t try Day 6 or should unsubscribe and if you can afford to support Ken’s daily efforts, that is brilliant.
Joe Ramsey // 24/02/2008 at 5:57 pm
Sad… I’d be embarassed to even post something like that. I’ll take the content for free 5 days a week and then bitch about how much the “extra” show you get per week isn’t worth the money. I spend that much a day on coffee at Starbucks. For 10 bucks a week, you get an extra show and help a great guy out whose willing to provide most of the content free to you while at a cost to him both in time, equipment, etc.. That’s one of the problems with this country anymore - people too often expect handouts, things for free, and then complain about what they receive. Personally I feel a little embarased about the fact that I get all of the great content for free and was happy to have an avenue to contribute at least something back. Go ahead and freeload five days a week and at least be greatful for it and stop wining about the two episodes that aren’t worth anything according to you.