Live data from Hacker News

Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

usefyi.com

31–40 of 328 posts

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#31

The problem with Evernote (and most of desktop apps) is that, it requires a bunch of RAM and CPU usage to use it. (Can relate with Slack desktop app, or Github desktop app). Just like user/customer could blame your web app if it starts too slow. The same applies to desktop apps, too.

A bunch of RAM and CPU compared to what? A website?

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#32
It's absolutely crazy some of the reasons stated for evernote failing to get investment early on. Today people would be clamoring to invest in a company that was bringing in users by offering the product for free. The sell is so compelling "Get our users to write everything in evernote, build a huge userbase and then you can start to monetize because you've got a fantastic way of keeping them". I feel like that's one of the most common uses of VC money today.

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#33

The problem with Evernote (and most of desktop apps) is that, it requires a bunch of RAM and CPU usage to use it. (Can relate with Slack desktop app, or Github desktop app). Just like user/customer could blame your web app if it starts too slow. The same applies to desktop apps, too.

A bunch of RAM and CPU compared to what? A website?

I don't compare to anything. The point here is, it requires my RAM and CPU usage. Just like, i prefer using Google Docs cloud to opening an Excel document on my computer.

In my case, open/close a web app on a new tab is much much faster than openning an Excel file. It's the point. And they're different.

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A bunch of RAM and CPU compared to what? A website?

I don't compare to anything. The point here is, it requires my RAM and CPU usage. Just like, i prefer using Google Docs cloud to opening an Excel document on my computer. In my case, open/close a web app on a new tab is much much faster than openning an Excel file. It's the point. And they're different.

Well every single application or website you could run requires RAM and CPU. If you're not comparing to anything then you're complaining that it uses any RAM and CPU? That's not a reasonable thing to say is a problem. Why do you have RAM and CPU if you don't want to use them at all?

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#35
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use google keep, it has time and location based reminders. I think there is even an option to create shared note with your SO edit: yes it works :D I managed to share a note with my gf and she sees it. Now she tried to set up a reminder that will ring my phone when either of us gets close a certain groccery store that we visit

Keep is my current go to. They've added a lot to it recently, but I was unaware they've added locations. The ML predictions for grocery items when you're writing a list is a nice touch. I'm trying to get off Google's teat, but it looks like I'm on the Keep train, until they abruptly discontinue it in 12-18 months.

This behaviour was also in Google Inbox but as they are killing it slowly other Google apps are getting it's features.

The teat is annoyingly hard to ween from! They get a lot right.

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#36
post #32

It's absolutely crazy some of the reasons stated for evernote failing to get investment early on. Today people would be clamoring to invest in a company that was bringing in users by offering the product for free. The sell is so compelling "Get our users to write everything in evernote, build a huge userbase and then you can start to monetize because you've got a fantastic way of keeping them". I feel like that's one…

I think it's opposite actually. 10 years ago, it was way easier to raise without any profitability story.

Then a ton of VCs got burned, and Paul Graham wrote "Ramen Profitability" (2009), and later "Default Alive or Default Dead?" (2015).

Nowadays, you NEED to have a story for how you're going to become default alive, and not rely on investor cash. That's because of what we learned from all of the failures from Evernote's era.

Think about other companies that started in that era – Facebook, Twitter, Yelp. The entire strategy was user growth and figure out monetization later. You don't see that as much today.

I suppose Uber/Lyft are good counter examples, but they at least had massive revenue along the way, and a great story about future profitability. (Swap out drivers with self-driving cars.)

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#37
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use google keep, it has time and location based reminders. I think there is even an option to create shared note with your SO edit: yes it works :D I managed to share a note with my gf and she sees it. Now she tried to set up a reminder that will ring my phone when either of us gets close a certain groccery store that we visit

Keep is my current go to. They've added a lot to it recently, but I was unaware they've added locations. The ML predictions for grocery items when you're writing a list is a nice touch. I'm trying to get off Google's teat, but it looks like I'm on the Keep train, until they abruptly discontinue it in 12-18 months.

hehe I'm in the same boat... been wanting to ditch google for so long but their software is one of the best if it works / the don't discontinue it...

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#38
I'm a paid customer of Evernote, I must say that it works great and it has no reasonable replacement.

I use it for all kinds of notes, like for example short tutorials on the command line, issuing commands that are hard to remember, TODO lists (both at work and for grocery shopping), meeting notes, listing pros and cons, everything.

In meetings I like the ability to record audio, or to add pictures I take with my phone, which isn't necessarily a capability of your average open source alternative.

Its search capabilities are also great. I have a ton of notes in my Evernote and I never have issues finding what I'm looking for. Compared with Google Docs for example, which is terrible.

My problems with it is that the data is not easy to port, I would have liked for example periodic Markdown backups to my Dropbox. Also support for encryption is weak. Apps like Evernote can be end to end encrypted, there's absolutely no reason for Evernote, the company, to have access to my notes.

I also worry about Evernote, the company, dying on me like many other startups before it.

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't compare to anything. The point here is, it requires my RAM and CPU usage. Just like, i prefer using Google Docs cloud to opening an Excel document on my computer. In my case, open/close a web app on a new tab is much much faster than openning an Excel file. It's the point. And they're different.

Well every single application or website you could run requires RAM and CPU. If you're not comparing to anything then you're complaining that it uses any RAM and CPU? That's not a reasonable thing to say is a problem. Why do you have RAM and CPU if you don't want to use them at all?

Maybe, my computer is slow, maybe for another reason i don't know. But openning a google docs file on my Chrome is much faster than openning a local Excel file. Maybe in your case it's different.

That's my experience with most of desktop apps. The only exception, is VSCode and iTerm2. Can't live without them.

Re: Why Evernote failed to realize its potential

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well every single application or website you could run requires RAM and CPU. If you're not comparing to anything then you're complaining that it uses any RAM and CPU? That's not a reasonable thing to say is a problem. Why do you have RAM and CPU if you don't want to use them at all?

Maybe, my computer is slow, maybe for another reason i don't know. But openning a google docs file on my Chrome is much faster than openning a local Excel file. Maybe in your case it's different. That's my experience with most of desktop apps. The only exception, is VSCode and iTerm2. Can't live without them.

> I don't compare to anything

> is much faster than

If your key point is 'it requires my RAM and CPU usage' then you're going to be disappointed to learn that a website also requires your RAM and CPU usage.

Post reply on HN