MacDailyNews was originally written using MGI and hosted with Mac Dock – a great Mac-based web host that we highly recommend to this day. As the site grew, the site was rewritten with PHP and ran on pMachine. As the site continued to grow, traffic demands highlighted flaws and inefficiencies in MacDailyNews’ code. The decision was made to move the site as it existed, without rewrite, to another web host onto a FreeBSD server of its own. This was the only server available to MDN at the time. Mac Dock later made available to MacDailyNews shared space on an Apple Xserve, so the site was moved back with all of its inefficient code. We at MDN were very happy to be on the Xserve, but as the site continued to grow and grow, MDN, with our code inefficiencies, began impacting other Mac Dock clients on that Xserve. We had to move again.
At a crossroads, and without the necessary funds to purchase our own Xserve, MacDailyNews had enough funds available to pay for a total code rewrite by the fine folks at pMachine Services. Part of the deal was for the MacDailyNews site to be hosted on multiple servers, with a separate server for the MDN database of articles and comments by pMachine Hosting. The site was (and, as you read this, still is being) rewritten to run on pMachine’s ExpressionEngine, a step up from pMachine. pMachine Hosting offers servers which run Redhat Enterprise Linux 3.0, Apache 2.x Web Server, and PHP 4.3.2.
At the time of the changeover from the Xserve, on Friday, November 19, 2004, MacDailyNews published a call for donations. This call has resulted in a total of $52 (US). We thank those who donated and we really appreciate it.
MacDailyNews does not run lucrative Windows-related ads from our network ad service, Fastclick. We turn off the Dell, Microsoft, Napster, RealNetworks and all other such ads for obvious reasons – we will not promote products we don’t believe in. MacDailyNews also generates revenue as an Apple iTunes, Apple Store, and .Mac affiliate – when you buy from these ads on MacDailyNews, we get a percentage of the sales generated. We are also supported by Other World Computing (see large banners at the top of all pages), without whom MacDailyNews most certainly would not exist today. Thank you for patronizing OWC!
We also generate revenue by selling Apple-related T-shirts, mugs, etc. via CafePress. Thanks to all who’ve purchased items from our “store” link!
This is where we stand today. MacDailyNews’ goals are to finish tweaking the code, pay for the rewrite, continue paying for monthly hosting, and build up funding to purchase our own Xserve(s) or somehow get back to server(s) running Apple Mac OS X as soon as possible. We are currently actively seeking new advertisers who would like to reach our concentrated audience of Mac enthusiasts. More information about advertising on MacDailyNews can be found here.
MacDailyNews thanks MacDock, pMachine Services, pMachine Hosting, and everyone else who has helped make MacDailyNews what it is today. We especially thank you, the MacDailyNews visitors – you’re the best! It may take a while, but we’ll reach our goals eventually!
$52 total?! Sad. I donated nearly 1/5th of the total donations with my $10. Good luck, MDN. Great site!
Use what works, thats why we use Macs, not just mindless zeaolots using whtever the “work” or my neighbor has
I cant believe MDN is getting blasted for this
Does MDN really feel the need to defend itself from one person’s ranting about what servers are being used? Sheesh, I got it the first time.
Thanks for the info, MDN. Hacks like Kantor have nothing real to criticize, so they turn to cheap and meaningless crap like “what server is the site running” idiocy. Here’s looking forward to the day you guys are back on an Xserve system – please let us know when it happens!
computers are tools get the right one for the right job with the right budget. get over it. MDN keep kicking ass. I think it shows great character to post these attacks and not hide them or ignore them.
There you go. Have another $25.
Just donated $25, too. Come on everybody! A little help? Go, MDN!
Do you think the people blasting MDN for being on Linux currently are making donations to help out the site? I think not. Put your money where your mouth is. Here comes another $25 – now that’s more than doubled the donation total already!
Thanks, MDN. Keep up the great work!
Here’s another $10… cha ching!
“here comes another $25”
<used to be happy with his $5 donation…>
Why is MacDock so much more expensive than the host I use, which is http://powweb.com/ ? PowWeb seems to give me so much more for a measley $100/year than MacDoc will provide for $650/year. Is it just because they use Apple Technology?
I’m not bashing–I really want to know.
“…began impacting other Mac Dock clients on that Xserve.”
Please don’t use “impact” as a verb when you mean “affect”. I know this is a lost cause, but it’s really tacky.
Please see usage note:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=impact
pMachineHosting is a great service and EE is marvelous software. But, the fact remains, MDM would bash the hell out of Apple if it didn’t eat it’s own dog food, as they would if Dell ran the wrong systems, or if they found some major Mac antagonist’s site running on Apple gear, etc. Since MDM is such a topic-specific site, and a major basher of others, it’s not unreasonable to think they should be on an xServe. MDM appears to have quite thin skin when they get a bashing back.
A few suggestions MDN
1. The site would look a lot more attractive to avertisers and new visitors alike if you had a major re-design. Get a sexy ‘MacDailyNews’ banner at the top of the page, and tie in the look of the rest of the page to that. (believe it or not, I think a good example of this is P. Thurrot’s Nexus site – bright and fresh looking). Maybe have a set of icons to show what them a story fits under.
2. just have a story printed on the click-thru from the main list and then another click-thru to a comments page. That way you can run more ad space.
3. How about throwing in a few “Editor” posts into the comments? I often wonder if this site posts under assumed names. It would be good for debate and chat. And add some ‘personality’ to the site
4. Take the ads out of the story list. I can cope with the ones around the sides but those are too much (esp. when they’re flashing).
5. Maybe a weekly ‘hit’ total? (after all, a lot of stories on here are about increased ‘hits’ for Apple, why not shine some light on your own parade too?)
All in all, it’s time for MDN to move up a stage. Just as in the print-media world, (better) advertisers are attracted by professional looking publications. Linux/Mac servers have nothing to do with it.
Nice. $10 mo’ Bucks.
If you feel like donating, head to a great non-profit, http://www.InGratia.org. It lists many deserving charities.
Charlie
the usatoday “writer” is a total loser.
he got totally hosed by inaccuracies in his articles and so he goes after mdn. then he has the gall to say mac users are extreme. this guy is about as professional as the dirt in my shoe.
MDN runs on Linux after running Mac OS X and FreeBSD? Shock and horror
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Gee, I wonder what MacCentral, granddaddy of them all runs?
http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/graph?site=maccentral.com
Linux.
What about MacMinute?
http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/graph?site=macminute.com
FreeBSD.
MacSurfer?
http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/graph?site=macsurfer.com
Linux, then FreeBSD.
MacNN?
http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/graph?site=macsurfer.com
FreeBSD.
OK … shamed me into contributing, which I should have already done. Take the USD 25 with my thanks for your great work!
Happy Indenpendence Day Here in Finland! 87 years since we kicked the Russians Butt!
Just for information’s sake…
What kind of an XServe installation would it take to run MDN? One node? One and a full XServe Raid? Something about the size of Virginia Tech’s? i.e. how much fund raising do we need to do?
Mike
PS As an aside, if the proper pronunciation of the character string “OS X” is Oh Ess Ten, why don’t we say “TenServe”, and “TenSan”? Yes. I have asked Apple. No answer yet. …And this is the company that changed from iPod Photo to iPod photo to make the new machine match the iPod mini.
Just put in my US$20. Seems worth it to me to contribute to upkeeping the place where I can get together with my fellow lunatic raving MacHeaded zealots, even if a bunch of you suckers voted for Dubya. Rave on.
Add me to the list of those who should have donated before but didn’t until today… you guys have been so helpful over the years with great information and discussion-thanks!
Love to see a total of what you’ve generated here with this article… 😎
Here’s another $25. Good job MDN! Thank you, & keep up the good work!
This call has resulted in a total of $52 (US).
Egads.. that is sad.. well I joined the crowd that chipped in a few bucks.. $20 here, merry Christmas, and sorry for not chipping in earlier.
DavidO
Just put in my US$20. Seems worth it to me to contribute to upkeeping the place where I can get together with my fellow lunatic raving MacHeaded zealots, even if a bunch of you suckers voted for Dubya. Rave on.
Right on, man. We may not agree on politics, but we both can are proud card carrying members of the Mac cult of zealous raving lunatics!