The Value of Ideas • Hacker News Board

Re: The Value of Ideas

#101

Post by aditya » Sat, Jun 05, 2010, 6:32 PM UTC

grinich wrote: post #48

jimbokun wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The whole concept of the "great idea" is skewered brilliantly by the Windows 7 ads. We all get a good chuckle watching someone tell us straight faced that, just because they thought of something that could have been better about Windows, they can now take credit for it after Microsoft successfully implemented it in Windows 7. Could be useful as a reference the next time someone has a business idea that he "just needs…

It looks like their agency is still Crispin, Porter + Bogusky. For reference, here's some of their other work: Laptop Hunters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIS6G-HvnkU Gates/Seinfeld - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFE3XiAxDjA&feature=relat... Good News (Kylie) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssOq02DTTMU Seems like a strange way to advertise.

CP+B also did the famous (and awesome) Burger King Get a Whopper for defriending friends campaign.

Re: The Value of Ideas

#102

Post by Tycho » Sun, Jun 06, 2010, 4:02 PM UTC

I'd say instead that the real value of ideas generally cannot be known/calculated until executed. They are somewhat like prophecies. Only a good track record will get people listening and willing to pay 'in advance.' In the meantime your only hope is to capitalize on the idea yourself (and if you're planning to do so, the potential value of the idea merits some considerations of secrecy).

Re: The Value of Ideas

#103

Post by NewWorldOrder » Sun, Jun 06, 2010, 9:07 PM UTC

Personally, I can't stand when people claim ideas are worthless and execution is everything. The fact is that ideas INFORM flawless execution. Ideas and execution are inextricably linked.

Re: The Value of Ideas

#104

Post by kenjackson » Sun, Jun 06, 2010, 9:32 PM UTC

xiaoma wrote: post #95

micaelwidell wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny you should mention hand-painted rock business as a counter-example. I presume you haven't heard of the massive success of Pet Rocks? Basically the story I was told was that Gary Dahl had a bet with a few friends that he could sell any product, no matter how stupid or useless, with the right packaging and marketing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_Rock

It's still a much more limited business than the one Ford did create. Fifty years from now, the pet rock will be forgotten but Ford's assembly line will still be well known.

But in one thousand years from now, when we're all teleporting, no one will have cars anymore, but I'll bet you will be able to find painted rocks. :-)

Re: The Value of Ideas

#105

Post by grinich » Mon, Jun 07, 2010, 3:48 PM UTC

aditya wrote: post #101

grinich wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It looks like their agency is still Crispin, Porter + Bogusky. For reference, here's some of their other work: Laptop Hunters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIS6G-HvnkU Gates/Seinfeld - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFE3XiAxDjA&feature=relat... Good News (Kylie) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssOq02DTTMU Seems like a strange way to advertise.

CP+B also did the famous (and awesome) Burger King Get a Whopper for defriending friends campaign.

I just saw that they also did the BK Freakout, where they pretend the Whopper is discontinued and watch people go nuts. Talk about customer loyalty.

http://www.bk.com/en/us/campaigns/whopper-freakout.html

Re: The Value of Ideas

#106

Post by jamesseda » Mon, Jun 14, 2010, 7:11 PM UTC

timr wrote: post #51

jamesseda wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think part of it is due to academia. In computer science classes a lot of questions have a "best" answer. In the real world customers don't buy software because the architecture started with the "best" ideas. They buy software because it fits their need. The best idea could contribute a superior customer experience but it is peripheral to what it takes to be successful.

"I think part of it is due to academia. In computer science classes a lot of questions have a "best" answer." Only if your conception of "academia" doesn't extend beyond first-year undergraduate coursework. Real academia is entirely about tackling questions for which answers are unavailable or incomplete, and finding better answers. Intellectual astronauts don't make it out of grad school, because they don't publish…

Clearly I was not talking about Research at academic institutions. I'm sure your research is valuable.