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Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

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Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#31

Post by watty »

swies wrote: post #16

Y Combinator also funded our solution to crapware. http://ninite.com Basically we automate multiple installers and decline toolbars just like you would. Users range from the nontechnical to NASA. We even have a huge blind user base because these installers are frequently hell to navigate with a screenreader. We make money selling a Pro version with extra features to businesses and school IT departments. It works well…

Ninite is great and has saved me time in the past. What exactly does this have to do with the article? Are you implying that since Y Combinator funded non-junk applications that it's okay to now fund junk applications?

Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#32

Post by coderdude »

jfb wrote: post #30
coderdude wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they can still make money without hurting anyone's experience. (Edited because I misinterpreted your comment the first time.)

Their users (scumware peddlers) aren't susceptible to market pressure from the poor bastards who end up with their vectored garbage ruining their computing experience. Where's the incentive to make less money, once it's nut-cutting time?

Like I said, review the software and get rid of the bad eggs. Not all of it will be bad, I'm sure, since not all of it is bad now. The incentive to leave some of the money on the table (the money from the bad people) is in not tanking your brand just to scrape in a few extra dollars.

Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#33

Post by h2s »

coderdude wrote: post #25
jfb wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no money in being nice to your victims.

I think they can still make money without hurting anyone's experience. (Edited because I misinterpreted your comment the first time.)

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...doesn't harm anyone's experience?

Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#34

Post by jiggy2011 »

kybernetyk wrote: post #24

The crapware situation on Windows is horrible. I'm a Mac/Linux user but from time to time I have to power up my Windows VM. A few days ago I wanted to install the Partition Magic trial on my Win XP VM. Having left Windows around 2005 I figured that typing "Partition Magic Win XP download" in Google would be helpful. I got a handful of "reputable" download sources like CNet and the like. I went there and was bombarded…

Agreed, a lot of the reasons that non technical users dislike Windows seem to be the result of these. It really takes control out of the users hands.

We can see the origins of this becoming a problem on Ubuntu with Canonical adding stuff like the Amazon search and seemingly having no issue with bundleware as a means of monetisation.

On the other hand I'm surprised this isn't more of an issue on the Mac, since Mac (especially older versions) will allow installation of software from random sources which could include bundleware.

Is there something about OS X that makes bundleware more difficult to develop or is it just easier to monetise an OS X app without bundleware?

Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#35

Post by jstclair »

swies wrote: post #16

Y Combinator also funded our solution to crapware. http://ninite.com Basically we automate multiple installers and decline toolbars just like you would. Users range from the nontechnical to NASA. We even have a huge blind user base because these installers are frequently hell to navigate with a screenreader. We make money selling a Pro version with extra features to businesses and school IT departments. It works well…

It took me a double-read to understand you meant "...funded our solution (to [crapware] junk like this): ninite.com"

Upon first reading, it sounded like "to junk like ninite"

Great stuff!

Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#36

Post by psycho »

watty wrote: post #31
swies wrote: post #16

Y Combinator also funded our solution to crapware. http://ninite.com Basically we automate multiple installers and decline toolbars just like you would. Users range from the nontechnical to NASA. We even have a huge blind user base because these installers are frequently hell to navigate with a screenreader. We make money selling a Pro version with extra features to businesses and school IT departments. It works well…

Ninite is great and has saved me time in the past. What exactly does this have to do with the article? Are you implying that since Y Combinator funded non-junk applications that it's okay to now fund junk applications?

It's nice move to fund both junk and solution for the junk... Some people say that antivirus software companies are the ones that make viruses, you know...

Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#37

Post by edanm »

swies wrote: post #16

Y Combinator also funded our solution to crapware. http://ninite.com Basically we automate multiple installers and decline toolbars just like you would. Users range from the nontechnical to NASA. We even have a huge blind user base because these installers are frequently hell to navigate with a screenreader. We make money selling a Pro version with extra features to businesses and school IT departments. It works well…

I'm very surprised to learn that ninite is YC funded. Thanks for a great product. And I say this on behalf of many less-technical friends, as well.

Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#38

Post by [deleted] »

watty wrote: post #31
swies wrote: post #16

Y Combinator also funded our solution to crapware. http://ninite.com Basically we automate multiple installers and decline toolbars just like you would. Users range from the nontechnical to NASA. We even have a huge blind user base because these installers are frequently hell to navigate with a screenreader. We make money selling a Pro version with extra features to businesses and school IT departments. It works well…

Ninite is great and has saved me time in the past. What exactly does this have to do with the article? Are you implying that since Y Combinator funded non-junk applications that it's okay to now fund junk applications?

[deleted]

Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#39

Post by josteink »

btipling wrote: post #6

Winzip and Nero use the Ask Partner Network (I used to work there on the Ask Toolbar) to monetize their free software, so that is probably where that first email came from. http://apn.ask.com/ There's also conduit: http://toolbar.conduit.com/

> Winzip and Nero use the Ask Partner Network

Sadly, on Windows even Oracle's Java has the ASK toolbar.

Almost nobody has any pride left on the Windows-platform, user-abuse is rampant, almost expected. It's killing the platform and there's nothing Microsoft can do about it.

Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows

#40

Post by brk »

watty wrote: post #31
swies wrote: post #16

Y Combinator also funded our solution to crapware. http://ninite.com Basically we automate multiple installers and decline toolbars just like you would. Users range from the nontechnical to NASA. We even have a huge blind user base because these installers are frequently hell to navigate with a screenreader. We make money selling a Pro version with extra features to businesses and school IT departments. It works well…

Ninite is great and has saved me time in the past. What exactly does this have to do with the article? Are you implying that since Y Combinator funded non-junk applications that it's okay to now fund junk applications?

I think he was saying it was kind of a humorous contrast with YC essentially funding companies that compete in a way. The nerdy conclusion of this discussion would lead to a battle of the two platforms, one trying to install spam-ware and the other trying to prevent it...
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