The lowest kickstarter backer level for Macaw with software access were $99 which I backed. I've only had limited time for playing around, but Macaw is very promising - IF you do produce code yourself.
If you mostly just hack templates it's a bit expensive notepad substitute.
Macaw V1 Released
51–60 of 86 posts
Re: Macaw V1 Released
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
If this works, that price is a pittance to anyone who'd use it professionally. People ask for $100-200 things here (scopes, cheap logic analyzers, jtag stuff) just to play with them, and we don't blink, because what's the point of wasting time second guessing people? A $180 price point makes me much more hopeful about this particular piece of software. That sounds like a very reasonable and (importantly) sustainable…
Yes, I'm not disputing the $180 as the full price, especially for professionals. I'm just saying personally I'd prefer a cheaper price point option for better evaluation. Certainly would hand over the $180 after evaluation. As it stands, I don't feel I can eval properly in a 14 day trial, and I don't want to drop $180 without consideration. Seems I'm being down voted, not sure why as it's just feedback as to my react…
I didn't downvote you. For what it's worth as a marketing parable: you want something very particular --- early access to a new tool. People like you generally pay more for tools, not less.
The obvious response to your concern about whether the tool will work out is to wait and see how other people like it. :)
Re: Macaw V1 Released
#53It looks like an internet connection is required for the demo. When I try to open it without a connection, I'm told my trial has expired, even though I've never used the software.
Is an internet connection required only for trial period verification or is this, always online, internet connection required, software?
Re: Macaw V1 Released
#54A lot to like after using the trial for a few hours. Its expensive so I'm not ready to buy just yet but could see jumping in after the next rev if they make improvements.
2 crucial features I can't really use this seriously without: layouts and components. Components need to be updating, not just a way to copy and create duplicate elements everywhere.
Also for me, this would only ever be for throwaway prototypes since I see it as improbable you'll support ember anytime soon.
Great start though, unfortunately with an idea this ambitious you need quite a lot to get web devs to jump on board.
Re: Macaw V1 Released
#55[deleted]
Re: Macaw V1 Released
#56I think this is good just for creating the initial layout. Create the containers and rows, and add some placeholders. I don't think this tool is going to have much future if they try to compete with the traditional web design methods.
I see a future for this tool if they focus on the style exporting features. Something more close to Adobe Edge Reflow rather than Adobe Muse that is what I think they are aiming for.
Re: Macaw V1 Released
#57I hate to be the one ask, but where's the Linux support? I was ready to buy Macaw, but my web workflow is in Linux. Isn't it built on node-webkit? How hard could it be to port, really?
Looking at the ensuing thread, I can see why one might hate to be the one to ask this.
Re: Macaw V1 Released
#58The team deserves a congratulation to produce and ship a decent product on both platforms in a relatively fast pace given their limited resources (they're not Adobe or MS).
However, I'm critical of the site and the HN post.
It seems to me the post links to checkout page to increase conversion. Or at least that was the intent of it. However, this is not a small purchase and I think they lose even more by sending them to what looks a like a blind alley.
Secondly, the page has a coupon code option. Right away I know I don't want to pay the full price.
I think the product can save you enough time to warrant the price asked, but I think I would have bought it if the HN post included a 50% coupon. Especially if it they had a V1 2-day sale option. Not only I would have bought it, but I would have shared on FB and twitter. Given many HN readers are influencers that would have been a good marketing move.
All these aside, I think their videos are horrible. Especially for a $180 product. If the scripts were a bit more polished they could have covered as much in half the time. They also lack the big picture intro followed by diving into details. For example: we are able to create global styles an apply it to different objects. Let me show you how it's done....
To get very picky, the narrator's voice is a bit whiny. I have made videos in the past and we spend 1-2 hours just on polishing the script and I offered a friend with a great voice free lunch to come and narrate the video. So it can be done.
Still, kudos to the team!
Re: Macaw V1 Released
#59Some thoughts: I heard about this a couple months ago at a conference on rapid prototyping, and I've been waiting for it to come out in the hopes that we would finally have a rapid prototyping solution for user interface designs. I'm basically looking for a balsamiq with lots of built-in animations and UI interaction patterns. Unfortunately, it looks like this product is geared more towards being a full-featured WYSI…
I like the way you describe your ideal ux prototyping flow - I happen to have created something that works quite similarly: https://github.com/splatcollision/shorthand.js
Would appreciate your thoughts on the syntax, etc. I describe it as "Like markdown for jQuery"
Re: Macaw V1 Released
#60I am glad its not subscription based. "Price is a flat fee and not a subscription. Price includes all updates to version 1 of Macaw."
Yeah, but after reading their use and then privacy policy it sure looks like you have to be able to connect to their servers to start using it. I assume that if they go poof, so does your copies of application, short of cracking it. One would hope they have a provision for off-line use/starting it.
If you have connect to their server(s) to use it, the trial period shouldn't be based on time/date; but rather, on "time-used".