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Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

bookhuddle.com

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Re: Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

#11

Post by vaksel »

make a way for users to avoid seeing books that they already read. For me at least Amazon recommendation is pretty useless now, since for Science Fiction I already read all of the books that they recommend.

Go deeper into the categories. Amazon for example stops at Space Opera. But that's still a very large genre. Let users tell you what kind of features the specific space opera has. i.e. Alternate Reality? Space Battles? Technical Technology descriptions? You know REALLY research the book genres so that you can improve your recommendation system. Someone who likes light sci-fi will probably HATE technical sci-fi that spends 4 pages describing how a certain thing works.

Spend a few books to have nicer images made. I mean those 3 images really make the site look cheap.

Re: Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

#12

Post by brianlash »

LPTS wrote: post #10

Maybe you will not want my feedback. I don't like the design on the front page. You need to redesign the front page by starting completely from scratch and thinking minimal. This site looks like it was a barge where you just kept piling on whatever would fit wherever until you had a full page to launch. Don't show 5 new member photos on the front page when members don't add photos. I really don't like the hyperlink b…

"I want to be able to take a batch of picture of my books bar codes and upload them and have it generate the list of my books automatically. Then, I want to be able to rate my books, easily, like on netflix, and get new recommendations based on that, and a list of local friends that might have the same taste in books. I want..."

Fair suggestions, but who's to say that's what these guys are trying to be? From what I gather they're a meeting place for those who like to read. I was able to quickly gather that from their homepage.

To be fair, it sounds like you're taking up a different discussion (Founders' Vision and the Web 2.0 Phenomenon) with these guys caught in your crosshairs. The fact is, we don't know what they're trying to become. Maybe they'll evolve into those features you mentioned... it's believable. But they're nascent, and it's their job today to release quick and iterate fast as per user suggestions.

They've done that (that's why they're here on HN). Why nitpick the details of their "vision" so early on?

Re: Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

#13

Post by LPTS »

brianlash wrote: post #12
LPTS wrote: post #10

Maybe you will not want my feedback. I don't like the design on the front page. You need to redesign the front page by starting completely from scratch and thinking minimal. This site looks like it was a barge where you just kept piling on whatever would fit wherever until you had a full page to launch. Don't show 5 new member photos on the front page when members don't add photos. I really don't like the hyperlink b…

"I want to be able to take a batch of picture of my books bar codes and upload them and have it generate the list of my books automatically. Then, I want to be able to rate my books, easily, like on netflix, and get new recommendations based on that, and a list of local friends that might have the same taste in books. I want..." Fair suggestions, but who's to say that's what these guys are trying to be? From what I g…

Because they asked for feedback, and that's the big problem I see. It's not that I'm nitpicking at the details of their vision, it's that I think they don't have any vision.

If you want to build a 21st century place for people to meet around reading, those are the kind of features I think you need. If you ask me what I think of your website, I'm going to tell you. I like to think big picture and design, so I'm going to focus on that. In this case I noticed nothing compelling from a big picture perspective, so I focused on that.

Besides, on the post I came from, the person who owns the website said "Bookhuddle is a social network and book reference site created to help people discover, organize, and share book information." So it's quite relevant to say how a social network and reference site created to help people... should actually look like in the 21st century.

Re: Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

#15

Post by maxklein »

I'm a potential for your site, but your site does not seem like it gives me immediate value. I have simple needs:

1. I want an easy way to add books I liked 2. I want recommendations on new books based on those 3. I want to be able to recommend books to my sister (and only my sister), and I want her to be able to recommend books to me

It's not clear if your site does this, and it looks too complicated anyways, so I decided not to sign-up. I'm looking for absolute simplicity that does just what I want, and all other features are hidden away.

Re: Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

#16

Post by bookhuddle »

We thank everyone for the honest feedback, that is exactly what we are looking for. We understand that everyone has an opinion, a point of view, and a set of expectations and we appreciate you sharing yours with us.

Any company faces lots of challenges and constraints while pursuing its vision. Prioritizing and executing on the things that will get the company there are the hard part. We understand and accept that and are excited to try to create a great service to help readers discover, organize, and share book information.

Re: Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

#17

Post by bookhuddle »

bigbee wrote: post #14

I looked at it for 30 seconds, didn't figure out why I'd want to switch over from shelfari and left. I think you should make it much easier for people who arrive at your website understand why they should stay.

Thanks for the feedback. In your opinion, what would convince you to want to switch over to Bookhuddle or any other service?

Re: Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

#18

Post by bookhuddle »

maxklein wrote: post #15

I'm a potential for your site, but your site does not seem like it gives me immediate value. I have simple needs: 1. I want an easy way to add books I liked 2. I want recommendations on new books based on those 3. I want to be able to recommend books to my sister (and only my sister), and I want her to be able to recommend books to me It's not clear if your site does this, and it looks too complicated anyways, so I d…

Thanks for your feedback. On Bookhuddle, you can easily add books that you like to your list, simply search for the book and click "add to list" and select the list you wish to add it to. You can also tag the book and tagging with one of the predefined tags automatically adds the book to the related book list.

You can also recommend books to anyone within or outside Bookhuddle, simply click on the "Recommend to friends" link on the book detail page or any search result page.

The Activity Feed is also a great way to discover books through your friends. When they interact with a book (write a review, participate in discussion, add to a list, etc), you find out.

Re: Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

#19

Post by maxklein »

bookhuddle wrote: post #18
maxklein wrote: post #15

I'm a potential for your site, but your site does not seem like it gives me immediate value. I have simple needs: 1. I want an easy way to add books I liked 2. I want recommendations on new books based on those 3. I want to be able to recommend books to my sister (and only my sister), and I want her to be able to recommend books to me It's not clear if your site does this, and it looks too complicated anyways, so I d…

Thanks for your feedback. On Bookhuddle, you can easily add books that you like to your list, simply search for the book and click "add to list" and select the list you wish to add it to. You can also tag the book and tagging with one of the predefined tags automatically adds the book to the related book list. You can also recommend books to anyone within or outside Bookhuddle, simply click on the "Recommend to frien…

You don't get it, do you? I can do these things by using email and notepad. But it's not convenient. It's the same with your site. It does not fit my intended usage, but does this as a side effect, and so your site is not convenient either.

And please stop talking like a PR or salesletter and start talking like a person.

Re: Discover, Organize, and Share books with Bookhuddle (A social networking and book-reference site)

#20

Post by maxklein »

bookhuddle wrote: post #16

We thank everyone for the honest feedback, that is exactly what we are looking for. We understand that everyone has an opinion, a point of view, and a set of expectations and we appreciate you sharing yours with us. Any company faces lots of challenges and constraints while pursuing its vision. Prioritizing and executing on the things that will get the company there are the hard part. We understand and accept that an…

Where do people learn to speak this way? Why can't you just be Bob and say things in english without using words like 'challenges', 'constraints', 'excited' and other such fluffy words?

Just tell me what I want to know and stop trying to market me a free product.

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