Quote:
Originally Posted by kovidgoyal
Let me explain why I don't think you're going to stay in business long:
You're trying to charge money for a service that is available for free for example from calibre and the mobipocket desktop software.
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Hi Kovid. I understand where you're coming from and I appreciate your viewpoint.
I also admire your skill and generosity.
Free tap water versus expensive bottled water
Free Open Office (and Free Google Docs!) versus Microsoft Office ($$).
Free Television news versus the Newspaper ($).
Free Television Newsmagazines versus newsstand print magazines ($$)
Free Linux Operating System versus Microsoft OS.
Volkswagen Touareg $40k versus the Porsche Cayenne ($60k, for essentially the same vehicle).
$4 Starbucks coffee versus 11-cent premium coffee made at home.
The *topics* of many paper books is available for free online - does this mean that paper books will no longer sell?
There are many examples. If a product is easier, faster, cheaper, more convenient, then some subset of customers will pay for it - even if it's free, elsewhere - (and some won't).
For what it's worth, many of the products from which I've earned a living in the past 20 years were available for free - but people bought from us anyway because we provided value or a feature that they perceived to be worth the price.
To be clear: We are charging ZERO right now. Nothing. Free. We've been (financially) successful with other similar products, so we aren't doing anything we're not familiar with - other than releasing 3 weeks early
P.S. this product is not all mine. It was written by a staff.
I'm okay with having a philosophy that's different than yours, and I'm completely honest and true when I say I really do respect you.