Where is Keenspace headed?

Odd1 · Post by **Odd1** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 5:28 am

I'm not one to easily lose faith, but as far as I can tell Keenspace might very well collapse before long if something doesn't change for the better.

I'm seeing new free webcomic hosting services pop up here and there now and I fear that in it's current condition, Keenspace's can't compete with a (ad-)free service like Webcomic.net, or even DrunkDuck.com and certain plans for a free hosting plan at TWC.

I haven't looked into whether or not these alternatives have unlimited bandwitch like Keen does, but that's probably the only thing keeping the massively popular comics from moving, right? I'm trying to stay as optimistic as I can but the way I see it is: unless something happens fast, Keenspace is going to be nothing but 6000 empty accounts that nobody visits; and this community would fall apart...

ZOMBIE USER 13217 · Post by **ZOMBIE USER 13217** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 6:04 am

Peh. Give me my domain back, a cookie, and a keyboard for my dreamcast. and I'll be happy.

Netrek · Post by **Netrek** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 6:31 am

I signed on with Keenspace, I learned HTML to please Keenspace, and dadgummit, I'm a-gonna stick with those Keeners until something decides to go right! And maybe even beyond then!

--Sij

TheWhiner · Post by **TheWhiner** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 6:41 am

I've already moved on.

The repeated crashes, slow helpdesk and slow servers and TALKING ADS have annoyed me for a very long time (the whole 6+ months I was on Keenspace). I appreciate Keenspace jump starting me in the comicking community, but now I am driving on my own.

Spectralsingularity · Post by **Spectralsingularity** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 7:06 am

I actually already own my own site (it's not cos.com but it's still my own domain) with half a gig of space and decent bandwidth, so I suppose if I was inclined I could just host myself. But I joined keenspace primarily to be part of the keen community. I'll be here as long as they are.

Ghastly · Post by **Ghastly** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 7:23 am

Well none of the other free server systems has been up and running long enough for me to be comfortable moving my comic to their service. I might feel comfortable starting a new comic and hosting it there but I wouldn't move an already successful comic to an untested system.

PLus I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this time when Keenspace upgrades the servers it will be the lucky one and the server will actually work for more than just a couple of months. If the server was reliable Keenspace wouldn't be all that bad... well all that bad for people like me with broadband. I don't know how those poor souls on dialup get by.

Besides, if all these other services are just offering the same "everyone gets a comic" system of Keenspace moving there isn't going to offer me that much. They'll just get quickly bloated and suffer the same server-clogging pile of stick-figure on lined paper crap that Keenspace suffers from. Instead of Keenspace being the joke of the webcomic world it will be Keenspace and all those other guys.

What I'm waiting for is something to come along to compete with Keenspot. An exclusive, reliable server that lets comics join based on their merits and offers merchandising and print publishing. It's inevitable that someone is eventually going to decide to take on Keenspot and when they do they'll probably raid Keenspace for the top talent that is currently being neglected by Keen Industries.

Personally I'm sticking around for now.

Warren · Post by **Warren** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 8:32 am

I've been using Keen as a mirror since I got my account. It has never been my primary service, although I enjoy the community. There really isn't any additional hassle FTPing into Keen to upload a comic.

I'm here until either I quit webcomicing, or Chris Crosby and pals do.

Jaster! · Post by **Jaster!** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 8:40 am

Yeesh, everybody seems so anxious to jump ship... Keenspace has been getting things under control recently, and webpages around the world had problems from this worm or whatever that went around everywhere. It just happened to mess with the Keen servers, and I honestly don't think moving your site elsewhere will fix much, unless of course you're willing to just pay for your own site. I would rather hang out here, and while I can't blame people for being mad, or even just wanting some good service, everybody seems to be a little intolerant of everything recently, and all anybody can seem to think about is how they want out of the rickety old ship of Keenspace, but honestly, for the price, I don't see any better solutions. And I don't want to have to get both my readers to memorize a new, potentially even longer url. you guys do whatever, though. I'm stickin' around.

Indybuda · Post by **Indybuda** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 8:55 am

I'll prolly keep keen up as a mirror site, but I won't use it as the primary site as soon as I set up my own site. On the other hand, I might just nuke the account.

And for those who love the community. Who says you have to leave just because you aren't on keen?

KedaDibandion · Post by **KedaDibandion** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 9:28 am

I never even had a chance.

I'm off to my own domain as soon as possible. Transferring from my old domain that I also own. *sigh*

ZOMBIE USER 13217 · Post by **ZOMBIE USER 13217** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 9:52 am

Ghastly wrote: I don't know how those poor souls on dialup get by.

eh. *shrug* at least its faster than.. um.. not having the internat...
yeah.

YarpsDat · Post by **YarpsDat** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 10:02 am

I think I'll stick with keenspace for now.
maybe it's buggy, but sometimes it works ok, and it's free, and I don't feel like paying for hosting any time soon.

but I'll keep my mirror, just in case.

JJcareksims · Post by **JJcareksims** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 10:10 am

They been so good to me up to the beginning of Jan! I won't lose faith in them since I have no other place to go ;[ Dammit! I want to be spotted!

ZOMBIE USER 11784 · Post by **ZOMBIE USER 11784** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 10:21 am

I actually left Freeservers for Keenspace.

They took away my webmail, and left me with an uncustomizable mess of "edit" buttons.

So, in other words, I believe this is only temporary, and the best thing around without payin' for anything. (Folks, my budget is tighter than the truth after Dubya's "state of the uNiOn")

JTPokie · Post by **JTPokie** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 10:22 am

I've had DNS error problems since I was given my account back in october...

Then with the server move in November, Gecko Nation dissapeared totally for a month and a half.

It showed up occationally when they finally decides to improve things in January, and then dissapeared totally again when Schlock crashed.

The funny thing is (funny strange not Ha Ha) that I have been able to ftp into my account the whole time. (siteadmin and schlock), but because of the dns.. no joy. I even made it throught the crash, sorta but still DNS.

I know this is just a hobby, but keen's been dern frustrating.

I wish I was paying for this service so I would feel justified calling them and complaining really loudly.

Others that got their accounts the same time I did are in the same boat as me. So I know I'm not alone.

Any way.. I'm looking into hosting elsewhere.. I'd love to stay on keen, and I may as a mirror, but it's been a frustrating ride.

Tim

JRaygor · Post by **JRaygor** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 1:41 pm

Say, if you all leave, can I take over Keenspace ?

My Draconian and tyrannical rule should drive the rest away !

Krazy Krow · Post by **Krazy Krow** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 2:43 pm

Having to change the URL sig on over 100 comics puts me off wanting to change. I would only go through the effort if a webcomic hosting service appeared that was clearly superior to Keenspace.

Reinder · Post by **Reinder** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 2:43 pm

I for one am sticking around even though I'll probably move my domain name to my Keenprime account. Of course, the archives for Rogues of Clwyd-Rhan are now on Modern Tales, which rather takes the sting out of those server outages for me.

Sortelli · Post by **Sortelli** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 2:52 pm

I'm not leaving, I like the community too and I have no reason to believe that any hosting service that starts up in reaction to the latest Keen outage is going to be any better. I've already invested this much, and frankly, a week or more out of my life only seems like an eternity in Internet Time.

But if like Ghastly says, if someone started up something to compete with the Spot with active promotion and merchandising and offered me a chance I'd be changing my tune like a Congressman. 8)

Psiogen · Post by **Psiogen** » Wed Jan 29, 2003 2:56 pm

reinder wrote:Of course, the archives for Rogues of Clwyd-Rhan are now on Modern Tales, which rather takes the sting out of those server outages for me.

Yeah, yeah, keep on gloating... but when I'm on Postmodern Tales, you'll be sorry!

Comic Genesis Forums

Where is Keenspace headed?

Do you plan to stick with Keenspace even if the problems persist?

Where is Keenspace headed?