Show HN: Designing Web Applications • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Designing Web Applications

#111

Post by halcyondaze » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 4:25 PM UTC

javajosh wrote: post #96

nathanbarry wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would be very expensive. Looks like at least $30 per copy.

>That would be very expensive. Looks like at least $30 per copy. How do you reconcile this with your previous comment[1] in this thread: My target market is people who are serious about web applications. In an industry where it isn't hard to charge $100-250 an hour for design or development work, $200 for everything included doesn't seem like a lot. [1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4910124

? That statement doesn't even apply in this situation. In that statement he's referring to how he's value-priced his product at around the hourly rate of a solid app developer, so purchasing the book (that he's collated together through experience and time) is really not that expensive, especially if you compare it to doing it yourself.

In his second response, he's saying that he'd rather not pay $30 to sell a book that he (was) selling for $29 (now $39).

One statement refers to value of a product to his target market, one refers to simple profit calculation on his own product.

Re: Show HN: Designing Web Applications

#112

Post by dwolfson20 » Sat, Dec 15, 2012, 1:15 AM UTC

Irregardless wrote: post #35

My questions as someone learning web development and always searching for new (quality) resources: Who are you? And why should I pay you $200? > Previously I led the software design team at a local startup, but in the last year I have been working independently designing and developing my own apps. After seeing the $200 price tag, I expected to read something along the lines of "My web apps have been used by over X m…

> For the price of the book alone ($29), I could watch 100+ hours of tutorials on a site like Lynda or Tuts+ from a variety of developers with similar experience. I'm having a hard time verifying that the value of the resources matches the price tag.

Dude. Do you realize that you are valuing your time at approximately 25 cents per hour? I suspect you have other, deeper reasons for not investing such a small amount of money in something that, by the way, comes with a full guarantee.

Re: Show HN: Designing Web Applications

#113

Post by dwolfson20 » Sat, Dec 15, 2012, 1:16 AM UTC

chris_p wrote: post #67

tomasien wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's not going to be able to change who he is, so if he's not well known then he's not well known. If you think being famous is what makes someone qualified to create a product you want to buy, then you're not going to buy his product. That's just the beginning and end of that question, and he shouldn't worry about that one bit. He's not going to sell as many books as DHH would, but hopefully the product stands on it…

> If you think being famous is what makes someone qualified to create a product you want to buy, then you're not going to buy his product. That's not what he said. He only asked for some evidence that the writer is really good at "Designing Web Applications", and knows what he's talking about.

How about evaluating the work itself -- through the sample, or buying the book and asking for money back if it's unsatisfactory?

Re: Show HN: Designing Web Applications

#114

Post by dwolfson20 » Sat, Dec 15, 2012, 1:26 AM UTC

nathanbarry wrote: post #37

t4nkd wrote: post #29

The "complete package" gave me sticker shock, so much that I almost closed the page then and there. It was only out of curiosity as to why the $200 price tag was worthwhile that I even kept reading to find more purchase options. It put a bad taste in my mouth, honestly, and I'm left feeling pretty confused by why you won't let me cherry pick my own interview+book package. I'm just having trouble seeing the dollar val…

Thanks for the feedback. I am always trying to improve my content, sites, and marketing. My target market is people who are serious about web applications. In an industry where it isn't hard to charge $100-250 an hour for design or development work, $200 for everything included doesn't seem like a lot. But I understand that for some people (students) that can be a ton of money, so I am also selling the book by itself…

As one who is serious about web apps, I have some different feedback for you.

I would pay at least $300 for the interviews alone.

While there are clearly improvements that could be made to the sales page, they are all tactical. I think your strategy is spot-on, and I think you've compiled a package of incredible value.

Thank you for putting this all together in such a well-designed way! Clearly if one values their time, this investment is far more productive than sifting through "hundreds of blog posts."