Alerts

How about an alerts feature on Forum threads and comments on videos? 

You can use the RSS feeds for each forum thread or video thread.

For example this thread has the URL http://channel9.msdn.com/forums/Feedback/473757-Alerts/ if you add an RSS/ behind it, you'll get to the RSS feed: http://channel9.msdn.com/forums/Feedback/473757-Alerts/RSS/ You can add this feed in Outlook for example and let Outlook display a desktop alert for new replies. That only has a little feed refresh rate delay.

If I remember correctly, the C9 team can't send emails because the LiveID signon doesn't provide the email address but only the authentication value associated with it. That wouldn't stop them from using an email field in the profile though... (email address ownership must be approved of course)

Dodo said:

You can use the RSS feeds for each forum thread or video thread.

For example this thread has the URL http://channel9.msdn.com/forums/Feedback/473757-Alerts/ if you add an RSS/ behind it, you'll get to the RSS feed: http://channel9.msdn.com/forums/Feedback/473757-Alerts/RSS/ You can add this feed in Outlook for example and let Outlook display a desktop alert for new replies. That only has a little feed refresh rate delay.

If I remember correctly, the C9 team can't send emails because the LiveID signon doesn't provide the email address but only the authentication value associated with it. That wouldn't stop them from using an email field in the profile though... (email address ownership must be approved of course)

Good point, we can use RSS.

While this solution would work it requires too much work for me.  I personally want something quicker and easier.  I personally would much prefer email.

An email alert seems to be a fairly standard feature on Discussion boards across the web.

If I post a comment on a video add an alert for any subsequent comments.  Same for discussion board threads.