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Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

#151

Post by sleepybrett »

achen187 wrote: post #141
ralfhn wrote: post #140

I’ve been working at a fully distributed company for 3 years and I can tell you with a high degree of certainty that none of my 700+ coworkers will ever use something like this. You may find some traction now with companies abruptly transitioning to remote work and not having a clue how to get work done without being in an office, but long term, I’m a sceptic. I can tell you, however, that I would absolutely consider…

Makes sense! We're also looking for other markets to expand into so that's really helpful.

I think this subscription pricepoint would be a big turnoff for 'home use', especially when you are competing with free facetime that fills the gap well enough.

Re: Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

#152

Post by senojretep356 »

giarc wrote: post #58
ahstilde wrote: post #24

I think everyone focusing on the "always on" aspect is missing the point. This is a standalone device which takes care of a major part of the headache in transitioning to remote work -- a second monitor and webcam, a whiteboarding device, and a "who's online for me to talk to" visibility feature. It's like paying $25 to bring the social experience of an office to your remote work environment without worrying about te…

"camera off but still pingable" That's called Facetime'ing someone.

Yep or zooming them, or microsoft teaming them.

IBM released a very popular set of working from home guidelines - one of the absolute most important rules is that you never ask an employee to turn on their cameras - it's an invasion of privacy.

Re: Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

#153

Post by senojretep356 »

ahstilde wrote: post #24

I think everyone focusing on the "always on" aspect is missing the point. This is a standalone device which takes care of a major part of the headache in transitioning to remote work -- a second monitor and webcam, a whiteboarding device, and a "who's online for me to talk to" visibility feature. It's like paying $25 to bring the social experience of an office to your remote work environment without worrying about te…

Sorry but we're not missing anything. Not wanting to have micro managing overlords in your own home is perfectly natural. If you have this and your boss pings you - then the power imbalance puts pressure on you to accept. Any company implementing this is basically saying - we don't trust our employees. Ok, well I won't work for you then.

All those things come with an ipad or a second monitor and you have a lot more control.

Re: Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

#154

Post by davidajackson »

I feel like this could also be a tool for friends or cofounders. I'm not sure I see it as really that advantageous in a work setting (aside from cofounders who tend to chat and have that kind of social enthusiasm often), but that's just my personal opinion.

Re: Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

#155

Post by senojretep356 »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #147

I sincerely wish you luck on this. I suspect I won't be using this, but that's more of an issue of workflow, as opposed to a judgement of the device. I don't like being interrupted while I work. I don't run Slack continuously, like many do. Also I'm a hired gun. I don't have a constant gig, and 90% of my work is alone. I think a device approach is reasonable. People like a device. They tend to not like a bunch of dev…

This exactly. Now I have to deal with push notifications all day long everytime someone is alone in the room. Can you imagine if everytime someone was alone in the office you got a notification.

Re: Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

#156

Post by senojretep356 »

ravenstine wrote: post #78
wherewillitlead wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd consider using a product like this and I don't give a shit about draconian politics. The issue is that remote work has downsides. One downside is dramatically less collaboration. I like collaborating with team-mates, not just drudging away by myself. If this could help create more of a spontaneous back and forth in-person feel, that could be valuable. I don't know how it would feel, I'd have to try it and see. Bu…

I keep hearing this but it makes no sense to me. If people need to collaborate, what exactly is stopping them from doing it over video? On my team we collaborate all the time remotely.

Yep, feels like they've fallen over on the whole 'define a problem' thing. Have they got any actual clients or just a bunch of fellow cohort YC companies all clapping each other on the back.

Re: Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

#158

Post by senojretep356 »

ryanSrich wrote: post #69

As the founder of a remote company this defeats the purpose for me. Benefits of remote: - No commute - No office politics - No forced schedule - Less meetings - More writing - Forced communication - No "assess in seats" culture In part, this seems to defeat at least: - No forced schedule - Less meetings - No "asses in seats" culture My hunch is that your market research consisted of only talking to companies that are…

No constant interruptions

Re: Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

#159

Post by senojretep356 »

crsv wrote: post #41

Seems like a pretty gross security and privacy risk with extremely limited upside for the employee, all with the friction of supporting a totally separate device for a remote IT org if anyone adopts this Orwellian tool at scale.

Yep - big brother.

Re: Launch HN: Sidekick (YC S20) – A hardware device to connect remote teams

#160

Post by geuis »

We tried something like this in 2014 so our remote graphics designers would feel like they’re more in the office. It was a small team of 10 in the office plus 3 remote.

Everyone HATED it. Having a camera actively on you all the time is incredibly unsettling. We ended that experiment really quick.

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