Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#31

Post by mikeash » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 8:37 PM UTC

briandear wrote: post #25

n9com wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This probably makes more sense and they wouldn't have needed to give up a 30% cut to Apple. Right now, I don't see how they will be able to continue to update the app once they hit 100,000 users whilst preventing the app from being purchased by new users via the Mac App Store. In order to offer updates via the MAS, your app needs to be available to sale to new customers.

They could just raise the price to $1000 once they get close to the token limit.

Or just make it free, since it's no longer useful for new users.

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#32

Post by dfxm12 » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 8:43 PM UTC

nicholassmith wrote: post #30

I really want to buy it, and I don't even mind $20 that much but given that they've got so few tokens I'm actually going to leave it for someone who uses Twitter on the desktop way more than I would. I think it's a reasonable price given the situation.

Can you imagine if everyone felt the exact same way you do? I suggest you buy it if you really want to.

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#33

Post by janaboruta » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 8:44 PM UTC

I would happily pay $20 for Tweetbot. It's a great app: well designed, easy to use, intuitive.

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#34

Post by taylonr » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 8:44 PM UTC

zupreme wrote: post #16

taylonr wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt it. In fact, I think of the majority of the people I know if they were to try and download Tweetbot and couldn't, they'll be mad at Tweetbot. Even if Tweetbot states something like "Twitter has limited the number of clients we can sell" they'll still think Tweetbot is stupid. But most of them won't think "I wonder if there is a way around this." And then head to some warez type solution. Instead they'll look…

You misinderstood me. I'm not saying that people will be driven to pirated software. I'm saying that people will be driven to software written by pirates (so to speak). There is a subtle distinction here. I'm addressing the underground marketplaces where Tweetbot-like applications already flourish. These apps, quite often, don't use any API at all but instead rely on hidden browser windows and net.webclient interface…

I did misunderstand. My bad.

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#35

Post by danilocampos » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 8:45 PM UTC

Why is it $20?

Because it's worth that much. I didn't even give it any thought – I just hit the purchase button the moment I read I could.

They shouldn't have written this with the sheepish, question-marked headline. They don't need to apologize or feel bashful, though I get why they would. It's a great desktop app. It costs what it costs. Anyone who doesn't like that is just leaving more tokens for the rest of us.

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#36

Post by bitcartel » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 8:52 PM UTC

Once upon a time you didn't have to justify your pricing. Thanks App Store.

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#37

Post by kalms » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 9:10 PM UTC

jug6ernaut wrote: post #24

bluetidepro wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Even if the app is only around and viable for a year, if you use it every day, is it really so hard to justify spending $20 on it? That's exactly what I'm worried about. It COULD be a year (and in that case, yes, it would be worth it), but no one can guarantee that. It could be tomorrow for all we know. And that is why I say it's a gamble I don't really want to take on a social networking app (no matter how nice th…

If $20 is a "huge risk" for you, you probably shouldn't be buying any frivolous software.

But he is making a good point. You're buying something that the seller essentially have no control over. You better be ready to lose that $20.

That said, I still think the app is worth it.

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#38

Post by unreal37 » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 9:13 PM UTC

I thought the 100,000 limit was just the limit for free tokens - "you have to talk to us". I mean, if Twitter is willing to sell tokens at $2 each, then Tapbot can sell this app forever giving Twitter their cut.

I also find it ironic that the app maker has to ask beta testers to revoke access to free up tokens for others.

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#39

Post by bbatsell » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 9:20 PM UTC

deveac wrote: post #29

They say their plan is to both release it for profit and continue to support it, all under the constraint of a limited number of user tokens provided to them by Twitter. I wonder if they considered a subscription option instead of a one time payment. A lower subscription price (say a dollar a month) might have sounded good to users psychologically, kept a revenue stream going for the stated future development, and of…

Twitter does not allow the keyholder to revoke tokens; only individual users can do that. It would be impossible for Tapbots to reclaim unused/unpaid tokens. (Which is why they beg users of the alpha to dissociate Tweetbot in their control panel if they don't plan on buying the app.)

Re: Why is Tweetbot for Mac $20?

#40

Post by GavinB » Thu, Oct 18, 2012, 9:23 PM UTC

danilocampos wrote: post #35

Why is it $20? Because it's worth that much. I didn't even give it any thought – I just hit the purchase button the moment I read I could. They shouldn't have written this with the sheepish, question-marked headline. They don't need to apologize or feel bashful, though I get why they would. It's a great desktop app. It costs what it costs. Anyone who doesn't like that is just leaving more tokens for the rest of us.

I interpreted this as largely a protest in the hopes of getting Twitter's token policy changed. It seems very odd that they can get 100,000 tokens for free but can't pay for more.