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YC Analysis: "37signals/DHH style" companies?

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Re: YC Analysis: "37signals/DHH style" companies?

#91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The OP asked a question, and I simply extrapolated a response from my observations. I don't see how that makes me a "smug Mac weenie", I've got three boxes running, and only one is a mac. To suggest that there isn't rampant pirating in the windows community by holding up Paint Shop Pro (generally a b2b piece of software) is ignoring the obvious, though.

What makes you smug is that you stated that Mac users were different in that they appreciate quality, and thus that people who are not Mac users do not appreciate quality. And, you stated that 80% of Windows systems are running entirely pirated software, which is, frankly, a ridiculous claim. Paint Shop Pro isn't b2b. It's the epitome of consumer software. Businesses buy Photoshop. I'm not arguing piracy doesn't exis…

>What makes you smug is that you stated that Mac users were different in that they appreciate quality, and thus that people who are not Mac users do not appreciate quality.

That's not always a good thing, and shouldn't be construed as such. For example, there are many great free products out there that won't appeal to some mac users at all because they equate price with quality. It's the same type of mentality that buys a BMW when a chevy will suffice. Sometimes the "buy quality" mantra is accurate, sometimes not. It is an aspect of that particular set of users though.

>And, you stated that 80% of Windows systems are running entirely pirated software, which is, frankly, a ridiculous claim.

No, I said 80% of windows users have never bought software that isn't a game. Given my experience of close to 15 years in various IT roles, I think that's not that ridiculous.

I think you're assuming you are talking to a particular type of individual and responding in kind, but rest assured, I'm not that person.

Re: YC Analysis: "37signals/DHH style" companies?

#92
post #74
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hundreds of users, you say! Oh, the sarcasm! Perhaps if you'd actually watched the talk before commenting on it, you'd have gotten the point and wouldn't be so unknowingly ironic. ;) http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=168378

Tell me right now that the talk establishes that GitHub and Lighthouse are financially successful (cash flow positive after investment) and I will: * Apologize * Watch the video I don't think I'm going to have to do either. The point I'm trying to make is, just because geeks love something (like, inexplicably, GitHub) doesn't mean it's necessarily a financial success. Also: hundreds of end-users? A tiny customer base…

Have we made enough to recoup the six months we could have been consulting full-time? No.

Are we making enough within two weeks of the site launch that we're thinking about never consulting again? Yes.

-PJ Hyett

Re: YC Analysis: "37signals/DHH style" companies?

#93
post #54

blinksale.com followed a 37s path-- consulting firm that eventually gave up consulting, I believe.

Any informations if they're profitable?

I think they stopped consulting base on customer demand for BlinkSale... But I obviously don't know their costs. I'd wager they're profitable, or are sacrificing profit at the alter of growth in the near-term.

Re: YC Analysis: "37signals/DHH style" companies?

#94
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does. He seems to be implying that small companies (or companies with modest expectations) cannot be considered "startups" when, in fact, that's nearly always what they are.

I agree that he's wrong. So vote him to -1. No need to keep going after that.

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