Key metrics, references to Reuters, arguments about time zones. It really won’t make any difference. LL are entitled to choose when they have downtime and how long it lasts. Maybe some of you will lose out on some business but I can’t believe even 6 hours will break anyones bank.

Isn’t it about time we all grew up, smelled the coffee and realised that LL work hard to make SL exist in the first place and we are privelaged to be able to access it.

By the way I live in the UK and the downtime will hit me as hard as any of you. I shall take the opportunity to go OUTSIDE for a bit.

Remember that place anyone?

Try imagine a graph. Let’s assume SL usage is like a “sinus” wave, the downtime should be at a minimum.

For some reason your theory about spending does not quite apply inworld. People dont spend more money after a downtime, so a downtime means a loss, regardless. I could imagine reasons for that, but those don’t really matter for our case, do they?

People don’t spend more money after a downtime, but downtime is necessary regardless, all other major platforms and MMMO have them regularly, and they always conflict with somebody some even have on Thursday night which is a bitch for Australians with Friday off.

Europe consists of many States, just as the US. But each state is counted seperatly in the statistics. So if you want to do it right, count them all together.
Wikipedia might help.
It’s equal in terms of usage between “european” timezones and “US” timezones.

just looking at the top three is just wrong. really. wrong.

And again, what’s your point? Asian timezones have ~12% of users, europe and america around 88%.

1) The United States has the most Active User Counts
2) The United States has the most Active User hours

If you look at the charts, Brazil and Japan are just as important as Europe but you don’t see those representatives whining. And the ONLY =european country= in the TOP 3 is Germany!

Active User Counts:
#1 US
#2 Brazil
#3 Japan

Active User Hours:
#1 US
#2 Germany
#3 Japan

http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2007/02/09/europe-takes-lead-in-second-life-users/

the “rest of the world” in terms of usage, according to SL key metrics, source lindenlabs (not reuters - a hint to Dytska Vieria), is around 15% at max. That little bit of “europe” (and your US morning hour users) make quite a lot of a difference.

Try imagine a graph. Let’s assume SL usage is like a “sinus” wave, the downtime should be at a minimum.

For some reason your theory about spending does not quite apply inworld. People dont spend more money after a downtime, so a downtime means a loss, regardless. I could imagine reasons for that, but those don’t really matter for our case, do they?

Lindenlabs advertises the grid for business use. It is common in IT business to do all updates in the time the lowest usage occurs. Don’t question it, that’s the way it is.
Tech workers should be used to that. With the current downtimes (1-2 times a month), it shouldn’t be a problem to do it at the right times, even if that means that people have to get up earlier. It’s their job. You’d expect your ISP that provides your internet access to do the same for you.
The remark about unavailable techs or products is kinda odd. They do prepare the downtime, don’t they? I don’t _really_ think they sent out their trainee 30 minutes before each downtime to get the newest hardware at the hardware store around the corner.

Business in SL is 24/7, so you’re going to loose 6 hour regardless, it’s every 2nd or 3rd Wednesday, get used to it, customerers aren’t buying from the competition during downtime you realise, and if they were, improve your product or match their prices.
Be great to be down for 12 hours instead of 4hrs because the techs or parts required weren’t available till 9am?
Why should we upset the rest of the world just for your little bit of Europe?