Year 28
It’s hard to believe that Darcy and I have been doing this for 27 years and we’re beginning our 28th year. We have gone from rags to riches and back again. We’ve done some soul-searching and we almost gave it all up once. But we found ways to keep things going and over time settled for less while giving more. Doesn’t make good business sense, does it?
Well, we started off doing artistic things like stationery, “Acpressions”, QuickNotes, wallpaper photography, and so on. We loved it and many of our friends and site visitors did too. At one point we were getting three million visitors a month and our newsletters had over a quarter million subscribers. It was grand. We loved it. But even amid prosperity, we decided to never capitalize on or take advantage of our subscribers. Even back in then we considered our subscribers and site visitors to be our friends.
When we started 28 years ago, the internet was mostly free and mostly wild and unregulated. The good, the bad, and the ugly rose up from the cyber ether and new websites were springing up by the tens of thousands every day. We should know – we were one of the many “mom & pop” sites that were born in that wild era. The entire internet could have gone down and only the new adventurers who dared to navigate those wild cyber vistas would have known.
Now, the web has become a commercial bonanza for millionaires, billionaires, and sprawling corporations. If the internet went down right now the world as we know it would know it and the whole world would grind to a halt.
Oh how far we have come from the days or those screeching phone modems and computers with 64 KILOBYTES off RAM and 540 MEGABYTE hard drives! Darcy and I have seen it all and lived through it all and we’ve survived 27 years because of our friends. Friends like you.
Every morning (including weekends and most holidays) we make sure everyone who writes to us gets an answer. On average we each spend about 2 hours every morning making sure to answer all the emails we receive. And recently, we’ve started emphasizing helping people with computer problems by email for free. Many times this includes writing detailed tutorials and including them in emails to help people fix their computer problems.
Yes, we still offer computer repair services that are not free – but are still inexpensive – we have not raised the price of our computer repair service in a decade.
I guess what I’m trying to say as we begin our 28th year as “Cloudeight” is that we are only here because so many of you help support our site with your donations and purchases of Emsisoft, Reg Organizer, OE Classic, and our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care services. And thank you so much too, for subscribing to our Weekly and Daily newsletters.
Year 28 will undoubtedly bring challenges. We will continue to do our best to keep you up-to-date and help keep you safe. Who knows? We might even introduce a few new ideas in our newsletter—maybe more smartphone tips or even a few life “hacks” that make everyday living easier. We’re always open to your suggestions, and we’re always here for you.
We hope we can continue to earn your trust and respect. We want you to know that we consider all of you our friends and hope, that if we continue to treat you right, you’ll continue to support us.
As we begin our 28th year, we want you to know how much we appreciate you making all these great years possible.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much!
Congratulaions to you both! You have helped me on more than one (or maybe 10) occasions! We (a collective we) are so very, very appreciative of all you guys do for us, helping us with our computer issues! It’s wonderful that you are so kind, generous and honest with your work. Thank you so, so very much!
I have been here for 26 of those years when I got my very first computer. And say Thank You for everyone of them.
I so looked forward to each new stationery and Smilycon. As well as all the other things you created.
THANK YOU for each and every year!
Yes I to agree with those comments above. I have also been with you from virtually the beginning and have used your friendly and helpful services many times. Life of course changes, years also have advanced and the technical programs I once used are no longer my main interest but I do still read your news letters often, renew the recommended programs annually and look into many of the suggestion you offer. It is understood that you may also be looking into some changes , but you and Darcy will always be treasured memories for me and I shall be eternally grateful for all you do and have done. From one who has truly valued your dedication….
Thank you. You two have been my trusted people since the beginning or soon after. I think I started with you in 1998. I had gotten my first dial-up computer. I had been working with a Commodore64 and the floppy. I have received so much from your newsletter. You have been there when I needed you most. You were my go-to people, and you still are. Your knowledge and honesty are beyond words. I try to send a little something when my budget allows and will continue to do so this coming year. I am looking forward to great things from you. God’s many blessings to you both and your family.
I do believe I’ve been with you since 1998-1999, way back when we all were wondering what would happen in “Y2K.” And you’ve never steered me wrong, not once. I’ve written to you and received guidance, trusted you enough to give you virtual access to my computer and purchased Emsisoft at your recommendation after using other services you had endorsed. In addition to guiding me through so many things computer-oriented, you’ve also given me some thoughtful reading with your essays. I consider you my long-term yet faceless friends. Yes, we’re aging but I hope the three of us continue to keep our marbles and bodies going another few years Thank you both.
Good Afternoon
It is hard to believe you have been here 27 years and now working on your 28th. I cannot ever tell you how much I appreciate all you two have done for me over the years. I think there were times I would have gone crazy if it had not been for you two. My husband work took us from state to state. So had it not been for you two and Pogo I would have gone crazy trying to find something to do while he worked. So, a great big THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU TWO DO FOR YUOR CUSTOMERTS.
Jan. 12, 2025 Oh My Word!!! I didn’t realize it’s been that long. 28 years?? I’ve been with you the entire time. Time flys when you spend it with great friends and that’s what you’ve both become. My great friends. But not only mine, I know thousands of others feel the same way. It’s wonderful to know that the two of you are only an email away. It gives me (and others) a sense of peace and security knowing the two of you have our backs, no matter what else is going on in this world. I am now 70 years old and you have literally saved me thousands of dollars in not only repair bills but whenever I’m ready for a new computer, your excellent advice on what to look for when purchasing that new computer has been awesome as well. I tell others about your services and have even shared your information with the Dell representative who came to my house to install my new SSD hard drive and others as well. I’m a Booster member and make a monthly donation, albeit a small one. I’ve used Emsisoft since you started recommending it. I also use free Revo Uninstaller, free LastPass and free uBlock Origin Lite. I wish you both continued success with Cloudeight because I honestly don’t know what I would do without you. Love and Hugs to the both of you. Thank you ever so much for your dedication, your kindness and caring. Take care my “computer guru friends”.