Oh, please. Do you know what health insurance costs? For most health people under 40, it's less than $200/month. I have never seen a contract job that doesn't pay more than $200/month more than the equivalent "full time" position. In my opinion, rubes work "full time", and smart people work as contractors.
I can already buy anything I can imagine, thanks. By the way, how much imagination did it take to buy a very expensive gadget to print some generic plastic stuff worth pennies?
It's a moot point. The tablet fad will be over shortly, right after people get tired of trying to balance a tablet and use it at the same time, or right after those same people prop one up at an angle awkwardly on a desk, with an attached keyboard and mouse, and realize that they've got a grossly overpriced laptop with a fraction of the functionality. Silly consumers!
That's funny. I have lots and lots of boxes that run Windows XP just fine, but Ubuntu doesn't even install on. What do you put on low end computers? DOS?
This is a service which has been able to large scale investors before, but not to end users/consumers/what you want to call us.
The "service" of not having your money kick in until enough of others' people money can be a clause in an investment deal, true. BUT, Kickstarter has nothing to do with investing. Kickstarter is NOT investing in any way, shape, or form. It's irresponsible to suggest that Kickstarter is investing because so many uneducated people would believe you.
A couple percent is barely enough to keep up with inflation. That's much too much risk for much too little return. I would expect FDIC insurance for a few percent, as would most people, I'd imagine.
The companies are taking these absurd risks (absurd in that it's unlikely they will see positive ROI's on most of these deals) because interest rates are so low, there's nowhere to put spare cash. I'm personally in the same boat. I need somewhere to put my spare assets (that earns something), so I'm moving towards riskier and riskier investments.
What is the point of these things when the market is awash with cheap used computers? Why not grab a laptop for $100 that'll have much, much more functionality than one of these bare bones kits?
And if I want to use the GPS feature only while driving?
Why do you need a GPS while driving? Can't you look up directions to where you're going BEFORE you start driving, like people have for about a century?
But in early 2013 I agree Windows 7 is a much better bet and is semi modern but starting to age fast just like XP was when Vista came out in late 2006.
How can software "age"? It doesn't wear out. There's no reason you can't use the same software forever, in fact.
Finding out that oops, this country in this state raised their tax rate and you didn't know but now they're taking you to court for not paying the right fees is not how you want to run a business.
That's why small and medium sized businesses will use subscription services to track sales tax!
You're fucked, maybe, but I'm not. I buy locally and pay with cash. If you want to buy from every Tom, Dick and Harry on the planet without hassle, yes, your'e giving up privacy, and it's costing you money, as well.
By using a credit card, you have the protection of that credit card. You can reverse charges on anything. You can't do that with Google or PayPal. And of course, Google and PayPal cost merchants significantly more, so you'll eventually pay for that cost.
Sure, they *should* be easy, but there are lots and lots of other regulations that should be made easier, first. My point is that as tricky as collecting sales tax may be, it's really easy compared to lots of other aspects of running a business, including other dealings with the government. Besides, online retailers have the relatively new advantage of being able to sell to the entire world. If somebody can't make it selling on the Internet, then it's not the fault of some somewhat difficult sales tax regulations that will, in all likelihood, end up being just another cost of doing business.
And, I'm not trying to be a dick, but seriously, you're probably not cut out to run a business. If you think that having to contact 3 different governmental web sites is tough, then you're certainly not prepared for the truly difficult parts of running a business. A bit of governmental paperwork is the simplest part of running a successful business. I think of it as a weeder class in a university program: if you think that part is tough, there's no way you'll make it through the truly difficult stuff.
Oh, and FYI, having a bunch of co-owners in an LLC acting as employees will inevitably fail. The infighting will tear your company apart. That's why successful companies have employees, and not a bunch of owners.
You don't seem to understand that just 20 years ago, it was a huge, huge, HUGE advantage to be able to sell stuff to everybody on the planet. It still is. There's some difficulty that goes along with it. If you want to play ball, you gotta follow the rules. If mom and pop can't figure out sales tax, then they could open a local store, and collect fewer different sales taxes. Nobody has a right to open a store open to the entire world, completely frictionless. That's a bit daft.
Why not? If it only takes you an hour or two a month? Basically what you are saying is that you like the market being dominated by big business.
A business that can't earn enough revenue to submit tax payments properly is not a viable business. It doesn't take a "big business" to be able to calculate taxes properly. And, there's no inherent right to be able to operate a business with absolutely no burden of paying taxes.
I am not going to do any such thing. Intuit will probably do it, and it'll probably cost a few hundred bucks a year. A business that does a couple of hundred dollars a year in sales over the Internet isn't viable.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes, it will go away tomorrow, but the bloody editors should just drop it. Damn it, off to Reddit.
Reddit? Really? That's like saying, "Aw shucks. My favorite pizza place is closed. I'm off to eat dog shit, instead."
Pretty much slavery with no benefits.
Oh, please. Do you know what health insurance costs? For most health people under 40, it's less than $200/month. I have never seen a contract job that doesn't pay more than $200/month more than the equivalent "full time" position. In my opinion, rubes work "full time", and smart people work as contractors.
I certainly hope it is, although I somehow doubt it...
I can already buy anything I can imagine, thanks. By the way, how much imagination did it take to buy a very expensive gadget to print some generic plastic stuff worth pennies?
Your whole description of people getting excited over a gadget is really creepy. It's bordering on unhealthy, as far as I'm concerned.
It's a moot point. The tablet fad will be over shortly, right after people get tired of trying to balance a tablet and use it at the same time, or right after those same people prop one up at an angle awkwardly on a desk, with an attached keyboard and mouse, and realize that they've got a grossly overpriced laptop with a fraction of the functionality. Silly consumers!
Windows on low end computers suck.
That's funny. I have lots and lots of boxes that run Windows XP just fine, but Ubuntu doesn't even install on. What do you put on low end computers? DOS?
I can't imagine needing a lot of poor quality plastic bits for anything. If I need any now, it's much cheaper and easier to buy them from China.
True, but it is if you're using somebody else's shells.
This is a service which has been able to large scale investors before, but not to end users/consumers/what you want to call us.
The "service" of not having your money kick in until enough of others' people money can be a clause in an investment deal, true. BUT, Kickstarter has nothing to do with investing. Kickstarter is NOT investing in any way, shape, or form. It's irresponsible to suggest that Kickstarter is investing because so many uneducated people would believe you.
A couple percent is barely enough to keep up with inflation. That's much too much risk for much too little return. I would expect FDIC insurance for a few percent, as would most people, I'd imagine.
The companies are taking these absurd risks (absurd in that it's unlikely they will see positive ROI's on most of these deals) because interest rates are so low, there's nowhere to put spare cash. I'm personally in the same boat. I need somewhere to put my spare assets (that earns something), so I'm moving towards riskier and riskier investments.
What is the point of these things when the market is awash with cheap used computers? Why not grab a laptop for $100 that'll have much, much more functionality than one of these bare bones kits?
And if I want to use the GPS feature only while driving?
Why do you need a GPS while driving? Can't you look up directions to where you're going BEFORE you start driving, like people have for about a century?
But in early 2013 I agree Windows 7 is a much better bet and is semi modern but starting to age fast just like XP was when Vista came out in late 2006.
How can software "age"? It doesn't wear out. There's no reason you can't use the same software forever, in fact.
It's called software. It's GREAT at keeping track of numbers!
Finding out that oops, this country in this state raised their tax rate and you didn't know but now they're taking you to court for not paying the right fees is not how you want to run a business.
That's why small and medium sized businesses will use subscription services to track sales tax!
So, we're fucked then
You're fucked, maybe, but I'm not. I buy locally and pay with cash. If you want to buy from every Tom, Dick and Harry on the planet without hassle, yes, your'e giving up privacy, and it's costing you money, as well.
By using a credit card, you have the protection of that credit card. You can reverse charges on anything. You can't do that with Google or PayPal. And of course, Google and PayPal cost merchants significantly more, so you'll eventually pay for that cost.
Sure, they *should* be easy, but there are lots and lots of other regulations that should be made easier, first. My point is that as tricky as collecting sales tax may be, it's really easy compared to lots of other aspects of running a business, including other dealings with the government. Besides, online retailers have the relatively new advantage of being able to sell to the entire world. If somebody can't make it selling on the Internet, then it's not the fault of some somewhat difficult sales tax regulations that will, in all likelihood, end up being just another cost of doing business.
Have you tried running a business?
Been doing it for 10+ years.
And, I'm not trying to be a dick, but seriously, you're probably not cut out to run a business. If you think that having to contact 3 different governmental web sites is tough, then you're certainly not prepared for the truly difficult parts of running a business. A bit of governmental paperwork is the simplest part of running a successful business. I think of it as a weeder class in a university program: if you think that part is tough, there's no way you'll make it through the truly difficult stuff.
Oh, and FYI, having a bunch of co-owners in an LLC acting as employees will inevitably fail. The infighting will tear your company apart. That's why successful companies have employees, and not a bunch of owners.
You don't seem to understand that just 20 years ago, it was a huge, huge, HUGE advantage to be able to sell stuff to everybody on the planet. It still is. There's some difficulty that goes along with it. If you want to play ball, you gotta follow the rules. If mom and pop can't figure out sales tax, then they could open a local store, and collect fewer different sales taxes. Nobody has a right to open a store open to the entire world, completely frictionless. That's a bit daft.
Why not? If it only takes you an hour or two a month? Basically what you are saying is that you like the market being dominated by big business.
A business that can't earn enough revenue to submit tax payments properly is not a viable business. It doesn't take a "big business" to be able to calculate taxes properly. And, there's no inherent right to be able to operate a business with absolutely no burden of paying taxes.
I am not going to do any such thing. Intuit will probably do it, and it'll probably cost a few hundred bucks a year. A business that does a couple of hundred dollars a year in sales over the Internet isn't viable.
Exactly. If they want the money, they should have to do all the paperwork.
Why don't you try that cute little argument on April 15th and see how far that gets ya'?