Would you pay for new features?

gerraldo · 07-12-2009, 03:04 AM

It's nice to get all the new features for free and with software it is that easy... But if you can get wanted/needed features just for money, would you be willing to pay?!

Let's assume there is a FW available with this features:
- either Mobi/ePub with DRM plus the other format without DRM
- reflowable PDF plus enhanced support (zooming, links etc.)
- enhanced HTML support
- freely definable buttons
- own starting picture

Note: It's all about NEW features, NOT just fixing bugs!!!

(This one's for you Michael...

)

Sparrow · 07-12-2009, 03:28 AM

I'd feel cheated if a company started charging for firm ware upgrades.

It's covered by the purchase price imho, I'd probably switch to another device rather than support that model.

gerraldo · 07-12-2009, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

It's covered by the purchase price imho, I'd probably switch to another device rather than support that model.

Sorry, but you don't "support" a device/company by using the reader - you've bought it, that's all that matters...

And no, it's not covered by the purchase price. Just because it's software and not any material goods, doesn't means its always free. Yes, they're programming some new features to stay in competition, but you've already got, for what you've paid! And there are some features they'd need to spend money for license fees (besides paying their programmers).

It's very nice of ALL companies that give us new features and stuff for free - be gratefull, it's NOT some kind of birthright you've bought with the device!!!

HarryT · 07-12-2009, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I'd feel cheated if a company started charging for firm ware upgrades.

Apple do it for the iPod Touch and nobody seems to mind. And, of course, it's entirely normal for software companies to charge for major upgrades to applications, which new purchasers get in the purchase price.

Krystian Galaj · 07-12-2009, 07:01 AM

I would pay for new features in Cybook. I won't pay for the features that were promised to be delivered when I bought the Cybook - I consider them part of the offer, and Bookeen's delay in delivering them as their failure in the ongoing deal.

DDHarriman · 07-12-2009, 07:41 AM

In one word: NO!

etherspin · 07-12-2009, 07:46 AM

if it added enough then yes, for sure, its like purchasing windows xp after having 98 or os x leopard after tiger .. thats IF the new features are enough

gerraldo · 07-12-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krystian Galaj

I would pay for new features in Cybook. I won't pay for the features that were promised to be delivered when I bought the Cybook - I consider them part of the offer, and Bookeen's delay in delivering them as their failure in the ongoing deal.

In that case I feel sorry for Bookeen...

To Bookeen: Please accept my deepest sympathy!

Terisa de morgan · 07-12-2009, 09:13 AM

I wouldn't pay, but it isn't because I feel they owe me, or they should give them for free. I don't need them, those features give me nothing, I don't need them so.. why should I pay? There're bery few features I would want to add and none of these is included.

gerraldo · 07-12-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

There're bery few features I would want to add and none of these is included.

Now I'm hooked... Please tell me, what would that be?!

EowynCarter · 07-12-2009, 11:47 AM

Intersting topic.

In a "normal" situation, the answer would be "NO".

Then there is a fact : e-reader market is still small; Even in the best case scenario , you don't sell that many e-readers.
Big companies (ie sony, amazon), can rely on money generated by more profitable branches. Companies like bookeen making only e-reader eventually suffer of this.

If is prise is reasonable, if it mean more frequents update and the features are worth it, why not.

K-Thom · 07-12-2009, 04:14 PM

I voted for "No", but as EowynCarter wrote, if the features are worth it, I might reconsider.

There are quite some iPod Touch users who don't buy the new update. But this may also be due to the fact that the update is free for iPhone users.

Terisa de morgan · 07-12-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerraldo

Now I'm hooked... Please tell me, what would that be?!

They're very, very simple: number of page where I am, bookmark selection (not having to navigate through all of them) and I don't know if another one would be interesting. None of the ones you have mentioned are interesting for my reading.

Abelturd · 07-12-2009, 05:05 PM

Depends on the new features.

If users paid for updates, maybe it would motivate Bookeen to greater responsibility.
No more blowing off customers' requests for new features, sticking to announced release dates, better communication on Bookeen's part.

kaas · 07-12-2009, 05:06 PM

I believe it would be only fair to pay for new features (mind you, not the nes promised when I bought the cybook for my girlfriend) and enable bookeen to invest further in the software...

cheers,
kaas

View Poll Results: Would you be willing to pay?
up to $ 5.--	7	9.46%
up to $ 10,--	6	8.11%
up to $ 20,--	13	17.57%
more then $ 20.--	4	5.41%
I'll never pay for a FW update	44	59.46%
Voters: 74. You may not vote on this poll

07-12-2009, 03:04 AM	#1
gerraldo Anti-DRM Advocate Posts: 351 Karma: 960 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vienna/Austria Device: CyBook Gen 3, Palm Tungsten T3	Would you pay for new features? It's nice to get all the new features for free and with software it is that easy... But if you can get wanted/needed features just for money, would you be willing to pay?! Let's assume there is a FW available with this features: - either Mobi/ePub with DRM plus the other format without DRM - reflowable PDF plus enhanced support (zooming, links etc.) - enhanced HTML support - freely definable buttons - own starting picture Note: It's all about NEW features, NOT just fixing bugs!!! (This one's for you Michael... ) Last edited by gerraldo; 07-13-2009 at 05:43 AM.

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07-12-2009, 03:28 AM	#2
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	I'd feel cheated if a company started charging for firm ware upgrades. It's covered by the purchase price imho, I'd probably switch to another device rather than support that model.

07-12-2009, 07:01 AM	#5
Krystian Galaj Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 11012 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Warsaw, Poland Device: Bookeen Cybook	I would pay for new features in Cybook. I won't pay for the features that were promised to be delivered when I bought the Cybook - I consider them part of the offer, and Bookeen's delay in delivering them as their failure in the ongoing deal.

07-12-2009, 07:41 AM	#6
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	In one word: NO!

07-12-2009, 07:46 AM	#7
etherspin Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 292 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: none	if it added enough then yes, for sure, its like purchasing windows xp after having 98 or os x leopard after tiger .. thats IF the new features are enough

07-12-2009, 09:13 AM	#9
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,686 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	I wouldn't pay, but it isn't because I feel they owe me, or they should give them for free. I don't need them, those features give me nothing, I don't need them so.. why should I pay? There're bery few features I would want to add and none of these is included.

07-12-2009, 11:47 AM	#11
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,338 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	Intersting topic. In a "normal" situation, the answer would be "NO". Then there is a fact : e-reader market is still small; Even in the best case scenario , you don't sell that many e-readers. Big companies (ie sony, amazon), can rely on money generated by more profitable branches. Companies like bookeen making only e-reader eventually suffer of this. If is prise is reasonable, if it mean more frequents update and the features are worth it, why not.

07-12-2009, 04:14 PM	#12
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	I voted for "No", but as EowynCarter wrote, if the features are worth it, I might reconsider. There are quite some iPod Touch users who don't buy the new update. But this may also be due to the fact that the update is free for iPhone users.

07-12-2009, 05:05 PM	#14
Abelturd Little Fuzzy Soldier Posts: 580 Karma: 5711 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nowhere in particular. Device: cybook gen3, htc hero, ipaq 214	Depends on the new features. If users paid for updates, maybe it would motivate Bookeen to greater responsibility. No more blowing off customers' requests for new features, sticking to announced release dates, better communication on Bookeen's part.

07-12-2009, 05:06 PM	#15
kaas Muncher of ebooks Posts: 312 Karma: 6423 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fürth, Germany Device: Pocketbook 360	I believe it would be only fair to pay for new features (mind you, not the nes promised when I bought the cybook for my girlfriend) and enable bookeen to invest further in the software... cheers, kaas