Killing the list ? (was: Re: New Wiard Module: Borg "Assimila tor" Filters)

[Tim Ressel]

To all,

As an old geezer, I get to expound at length on subjects like these. And as a
Libra, I get to defend both positions and get away with it.

I understand how the commercial designers feel. They make really good stuff,
they feel proud, and they want to make money from it. This is only natural. It
is a great thrill to create a neat widget that works well. I've been there, I
know.

Let me tell you about Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. These guys started in a
falling-down gas station in Vermont, and now they are the makers of some of the
best ice cream in the world. Early on they published a book filled with their
ice cream making secrets and a bunch of their recipes! This is death!!!  But no,
they survived quite nicely. People liked reading about their story. I for one
still buy their ice cream, even though I make my own using their book.

The key here, I think, is to understand you market. DIYers are quite capable of
doing things all by themselves. If they buy something its because of expedience.
Once they know of your nifty idea, chances are they can duplicate it on their
own. And if you withhold info from them in a suspicious manner, human nature
kicks in and they will duplicate it just to spite you. This helps no one. 

Instead, Might I suggest tailoring you offerings to the DIY crowd?  For example,
publish the schematic and encourage everyone to get excited about the design.
Then offer blank PCBs and front panels. The DIYers get a working widget at a
reasonable cost (having swapped time for money), and you get to sell product.
Everybody wins.

Think of sharing information as a form of advertising. I for instance am much
more likely to buy a module that I've seen the schematics for. That way I know
for sure what I'm getting. If a product is a crappy design, I don't want it, no
matter how neat it is. 

And don't forget the lesson of Ben & Jerry's: goodwill counts, Karma works!


Tim Ressel--Compliance Engineer
Hewlett-Packard
Verifone Division
916-630-2541  
tim_r1 at verifone.com