5 ms·
> Its a shame you have to play 'guess the download link' getpaint.net > download tab > download now > Free Download Now That is quite a few clicks.
by adam74 12y ago
> Its a shame you have to play 'guess the download link'
getpaint.net > download tab > download now > Free Download Now
That is quite a few clicks.
- user24 12y agoLet me show you what it looks like without adblock: http://imgur.com/a/kuKqo http://imgur.com/a/kuKqo
- weef 12y agoMy daughter accidentally downloaded 6 different programs while trying to download Paint.net some which were malware. While I understand these are ads probably out of their control, their website is extremely deceptive in my opinion and should be modified to make the actual Paint.net download more obvious.
- user24 12y agoheck, I downloaded some random program while trying to install it a few weeks ago - and I've got a compsci MSc from Oxford.
- Ntrails 12y agoI did the same about 6 months ago trying to grab speedfan for someone else in the office. I never had any trouble before cause adblock and so didn't even think to be careful :(
- DanBC 12y agoI am surprised that any ad networks allow these links. It ine of the few things that makes me want to install an ad blocker.
- fournm 12y agoIt's why I do use adblockers. I try to disable them on sites that don't do anything nearly this scummy, which is frustrating because stuff like Paint.net I otherwise want to support.
- Grue3 12y agoI'm pretty sure these ads are exactly what they are to maximize click-rate, and therefore to give Paint.NET's author the most money. Very exploitative (with emphasis on exploit).
- morganvachon 12y agoWhat I find interesting is that when people go to the PDN forums to call him out on it, even in a nice way ("hey, I love your software but I got a bunch of malware instead due to the big fake buttons, just wanted you to know"), he blasts them and whines about how little money he makes off of a project he pours his life into, and how he's going to just quit because it's not worth the hassle anymore. Then he releases a new version, makes even bigger buttons that lead to even scummier malware, and the cycle repeats. I get the need to make money off of your hard work, and certainly the guy does a fantastic job on the software, but he's pulling some really shitty tactics to make that money. Why not a lite/pro version setup, or something else above board?
- weef 12y agoThe lite vs. pro version is a great suggestion and I would have purchased a pro version for my daughter immediately to avoid the malware hassles it caused us. Instead she purchased an academic version of Photoshop which was $100 USD or in that ballpark. This is a shame because Paint.net is a great product and I'd like to see it succeed but their business side is poorly executed. I'll need to head over to the PDN forums and express my frustration.
- Fede_V 12y agowow that's insane.
- Fede_V 12y agowow that's insane.
- nly 12y agoImgBurn has the same disease: http://i.imgur.com/8HbuKgl.png http://i.imgur.com/8HbuKgl.png The real download links are below the fold.
- pasbesoin 12y agoI realize this might normally qualify as a throw-away comment on HN, but, "Good grief!" People who aren't familiar should take a look: I hadn't realized how bad it's gotten. People like my mother (just helping her the other day) would be totally stymied by this. And... I guess I can be glad my sister just got a Mac. (Speaking of which, why is there an ad for "Free Zip for Mac" on a page for a .NET dependent Windows program?)
- nikbackm 12y agoHopefully the general public will soon learn to avoid the big green "Download here" arrows too. But then the ad-makers will probably come up with something else instead.
- Rudism 12y agoFor three years I worked for a company that actually created and distributed the fake download button ads (along with a wide variety of other "interesting" projects). I even designed some of the creatives during early A/B tests. And even I still click the wrong link on occasion.