The more they "slip in" the more it will break stuff. That's just a fact. We witnessed it with the modded CD's and we will witness it with this solution. As every programmer and engineer knows -- stuff just doesn't work right when its overengineered.
I haven't run any focus groups or anything but I am betting that consumers will backlash if their shit keeps breaking. I know my mom doesn't have the time or inclination to futz with something until it works right. They expect it to work out of the box. So when mom puts her MP3's on her "device" and is told "Sorry, we can't play this" -- I give it all of 5 minutes for mom to get pissed.....and pissed customers don't buy anything more from you.
Ummm, yea that's exactly who they are looking out for -- shareholders. I guess some of us missed that Business 101 class where we learned that publicly owned companies are OWNED by the shareholders.
So yea, I hope they are worrying about their shareholders. That's their goddamned job.
Agreed that Apple has a right to charge whatever they want. Heck, they *could* charge $100,000 for their computers but I am guessing they wouldn't sell very many and that pricing scheme would probably lead to their bankruptcy. But -- they *could* do it if they wanted. The same is true for this service. I think the original poster was just wondering why $100? What are we getting for our $100?
Free (as in beer) e-mail? So what. Some extra storage? So what. Cool interface? So what.
Of course, I say "so what" but many out there may not agree with me. The question for apple is the same ole economics 101 question we all ask when pricing a product: How many of these can I sell at this price?
My guess is -- not many. But again, that's only a guess.
The good news is that all of these pricing decisions even out over the long term. If Apple has mispriced this service, it will be obvious in a very short period of time (ie: nobody will sign up). If they have priced it correctly, Apple makes a lot of money by signing up lots of people. Either way, there is resolution over the long term. Most things are like that (MPAA, RIAA, etc).
If past history is any indicator, the "specs" on how palladium works will never be fully disclosed. The linux folks will always be in a state of catchup and they will be doing so with one hand tied behind their backs. Remember, reverse engineering will prolly be illegal if any encryption is used (which is certainly will be).
I used to be heavy into warez. Games, in particular. Back in the day, I could get most of the games I wanted but there was still a minor hassel factor involved.
Now that I have a real job and no time to hang out on the computer 4hours a day downloading warez, I have to buy all of the games I want.
Without doubt, I buy significantly less games than I used to get as warez. So, if someone was doing an empirical study, they would see that during my "warez years", I "stole" hundreds of thousands of dollars in software, however, if you compare that to what I would have actually bought, the difference is HUGE. I *might* buy 3-5% of the games I used during my warez days.
Rule #1 in business: Don't let ANYONE between you and your customers. If passport sucks and I am trying to buy a book from Amazon -- guess who gets blamed?
Employers will pay what they perceive you are worth. If you are worth what you are asking, then its a win-win. If you are not, then somebody's feelings get hurt eventualy.
Employers also understand that people work for money. Period. While other things (environment, love of the work, etc) do factor in, the primary reason people work is for money. Asking for more is not telling your employer "I am in it for the money". It's simply saying -- "I think I am worth more than you are paying me". If your employer agrees, as is the case here, then you win and they win. Go celebrate.
I've spent MANY a Saturday (and yes, that means the whole damn day) browsing around and finding little nuggets here and there. Anyone whos been to their store knows what I mean.
So are you suggesting that I just "vote with my wallet" on PG&E's brownouts? Obviously, I have no choice as there is not another electricity company serving the greater SF area.
...and THAT's the point of the article. Capitalism also implies that substitutes are available. What if they aren't - and can't be? Then what?
Slashdot Mirror
Just want to add one more reason why this makes sense (for those who aren't familiar with the IT services industry).
The services arm of IBM has MUCH better margins than the hardware arms. Less people - more money generated.
Money.
The more they "slip in" the more it will break stuff. That's just a fact. We witnessed it with the modded CD's and we will witness it with this solution. As every programmer and engineer knows -- stuff just doesn't work right when its overengineered.
I haven't run any focus groups or anything but I am betting that consumers will backlash if their shit keeps breaking. I know my mom doesn't have the time or inclination to futz with something until it works right. They expect it to work out of the box. So when mom puts her MP3's on her "device" and is told "Sorry, we can't play this" -- I give it all of 5 minutes for mom to get pissed.....and pissed customers don't buy anything more from you.
Having been a PM for 4 years, I second this suggestion. Raise the issue IMMEDIATELY. If no action is taken, well, you've at least raised the issue.
Reminds me of a saying I live by: if a manager ignores an issue and hopes it goes away, the issue won't go away but the manager will.
Been true for every project I've ever worked on (even before I was a PM).
Ummm, yea that's exactly who they are looking out for -- shareholders. I guess some of us missed that Business 101 class where we learned that publicly owned companies are OWNED by the shareholders.
So yea, I hope they are worrying about their shareholders. That's their goddamned job.
Like COPA, they can put an injunction on it -- which effectively puts the law on hold until the constitutionality can be figured out by the courts.
Ok, so its open season. Fine. Game on.
How, exactly, is a PVR any different from a VCR?
Ok, lets say we give in to the removal of the ad-skipping feature. Now -- how is it different?
I agree with everything this poster said if it weren't for one key word in this discussion: Monopoly.
The very definition of a monopoly implies that the free markets do NOT work in this case. Hence the judges ruling.
Folks, this is a PERFECT example of unintended consequences.
Any more questions on why people say computer law is jacked up?
Agreed that Apple has a right to charge whatever they want. Heck, they *could* charge $100,000 for their computers but I am guessing they wouldn't sell very many and that pricing scheme would probably lead to their bankruptcy. But -- they *could* do it if they wanted. The same is true for this service. I think the original poster was just wondering why $100? What are we getting for our $100?
Free (as in beer) e-mail? So what.
Some extra storage? So what.
Cool interface? So what.
Of course, I say "so what" but many out there may not agree with me. The question for apple is the same ole economics 101 question we all ask when pricing a product: How many of these can I sell at this price?
My guess is -- not many. But again, that's only a guess.
The good news is that all of these pricing decisions even out over the long term. If Apple has mispriced this service, it will be obvious in a very short period of time (ie: nobody will sign up). If they have priced it correctly, Apple makes a lot of money by signing up lots of people. Either way, there is resolution over the long term. Most things are like that (MPAA, RIAA, etc).
the more the world changes, the more it stays the same. Been true for thousands and thousands of years.
If past history is any indicator, the "specs" on how palladium works will never be fully disclosed. The linux folks will always be in a state of catchup and they will be doing so with one hand tied behind their backs. Remember, reverse engineering will prolly be illegal if any encryption is used (which is certainly will be).
I used to be heavy into warez. Games, in particular. Back in the day, I could get most of the games I wanted but there was still a minor hassel factor involved.
Now that I have a real job and no time to hang out on the computer 4hours a day downloading warez, I have to buy all of the games I want.
Without doubt, I buy significantly less games than I used to get as warez. So, if someone was doing an empirical study, they would see that during my "warez years", I "stole" hundreds of thousands of dollars in software, however, if you compare that to what I would have actually bought, the difference is HUGE. I *might* buy 3-5% of the games I used during my warez days.
"You are in the court of world opinion." Pretending otherwise is only fooling yourself.
You ARE in marketing just by being a part of open source.
Rule #1 in business:
Don't let ANYONE between you and your customers. If passport sucks and I am trying to buy a book from Amazon -- guess who gets blamed?
All I can think of when I see that commercial is "Yep, that's EXACTLY what I find myself saying in every mobile call I make".
Seriously. When I first saw that commercial, I thought they were making fun of themselves and their crappy service. Then I realized they were serious.
I still don't get it.
like the typical "can't yell fire in a crowded movie theater". I think that is what the poster intended.
While it IS a right, it is NOT an unlimited right to say whatever you want, whenever you want, etc. Whether you like or not, there ARE limits.
The real question is: does this go past the limits?
Are you kidding me? Have you ever SEEN the chicks in a nudist colony? Yuck...
Employers will pay what they perceive you are worth. If you are worth what you are asking, then its a win-win. If you are not, then somebody's feelings get hurt eventualy.
Employers also understand that people work for money. Period. While other things (environment, love of the work, etc) do factor in, the primary reason people work is for money. Asking for more is not telling your employer "I am in it for the money". It's simply saying -- "I think I am worth more than you are paying me". If your employer agrees, as is the case here, then you win and they win. Go celebrate.
They change their business model and just provide us what we want.
Inexpensive, portable, downloadable music.
See, that's not so hard to say!
Half priced books.
I've spent MANY a Saturday (and yes, that means the whole damn day) browsing around and finding little nuggets here and there. Anyone whos been to their store knows what I mean.
So are you suggesting that I just "vote with my wallet" on PG&E's brownouts? Obviously, I have no choice as there is not another electricity company serving the greater SF area.
...and THAT's the point of the article. Capitalism also implies that substitutes are available. What if they aren't - and can't be? Then what?
Its not the drugs that create the profits for terrorists, its the drug policies that create the potential profits.
How do you think Al Capone came around? Booze was around wayyyy before he was and it will be around wayyyy after.
Ok, I've read the article and I've followed this project via slashdot for a while. Here's my question: so what?
Not to be a jerk but the only headline I see here is "Mozilla 1.0 released and finally catches up to IE - as of 2 years ago"