When visiting Google Helpouts, I imidiately understood its purpose... unlike going to the LiveNinja website. Watch a video? Aint nobody got time for that.
Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
51–60 of 134 posts
Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
#52I'm not going to lie, I didn't like this post as much as I wanted to. The author says that Google is making the same mistakes that LiveNinja made over a year ago. And that LiveNinja has learned a lot and iterated since then. At this point, I'm ready to believe that LiveNinja is the more mature product. That if I have a need, I should probably go to LiveNinja. I'm ready to be sold... But then the author does nothing.…
Agreed. All this article really gives me is a brand comparison of both products. I know what to expect from Google, and Helpouts is probably familiar in the brand vein of Hangouts. However after reading this article I'm left with a sour brand impression from Liveninja. I get that vibe of nerd machoism from the tone of the article and the product name, ninja pirates and robots oh my.
Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
#53I'm not going to lie, I didn't like this post as much as I wanted to. The author says that Google is making the same mistakes that LiveNinja made over a year ago. And that LiveNinja has learned a lot and iterated since then. At this point, I'm ready to believe that LiveNinja is the more mature product. That if I have a need, I should probably go to LiveNinja. I'm ready to be sold... But then the author does nothing.…
I'm glad that he didn't...in a hopeful sense anyway. I would have preferred this post to come after they truly did crush google in this space, as I think it is an inspiration to the small/new guys who intimidate and bully themselves from ever doing something because they just think that google and friends will swoop in and do it faster and better.
I have my reservations, but I hope that these guys create a better product and end up being bought out by google in the long run.
Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
#54Author thanks google for copying its product, hope googles outcompetes him? Is there some tragic irony in play here or is this guy just a well wisher?
Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
#55I hate to be that guy, but for some reason I'm unable to let this one pass by. It's trivial, and in no way reflects on his point (to the degree that he has one...the article is shockingly light on any concrete information), but for some reason this bugs me.
> This is more like a squeeze bunt back to the pitcher and you're out at first base.
You're supposed to be out at first base on a squeeze bunt. That's what a squeeze bunt is. You give yourself up so that the runner from third can score.
Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
#56Explain to me why LiveNinja is better - I've thought that a product like LiveNinja (or now Helpouts) was needed for a while, and you've got me convinced Helpouts is shit and LiveNinja is better.... until you didn't actually explain why.
Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
#57Unrelated, but: > I really love competition, and as a competitor I only want to compete against the best of the best. It’s like Mike Tyson in his prime saying that he wants to box with you. Wanting to box Mike Tyson in his prime is a death wish. Maybe not the best analogy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-478QGV9pc
>"Wanting to box Mike Tyson in his prime is a death wish. Maybe not the best analogy..."
Probably not.
Though, the thing that Iron Mike brings to mind in the context of startups for me isn't his impetuous style, impregnable defense or ferocious offense. It was the way so many of opponents we're seemingly defeated before the bell.
Tony Tucker gave strong evidence he wasn't invincible and Buster Douglas proved it. They did it by maintaining composure and confidence in both cases.
The lesson, I think, is to understand the challenge in front of you, attack it intelligently and be fearless in doing so.
Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
#58tl;dr: Please buy us. Having Google enter your space must be one of the most crushing things that can happen to a small company. The feeling these guys felt when they saw the announcement must have been mortifying. Even if you have a superior product, like LiveNinja says they have, Google will outmarket you by so many orders of magnitude you just disappear into nothingness.
That's a terrible way to think. Drew Houston knew Microsoft and Google were already in the midst of building competitors when he applied Dropbox to YC. I hope fellow entrepreneurs dont ever get discouraged when they see larger companies follow them on the same trail. It means they are on the right track more than anything else. Dropbox didnt get discouraged and neither should any other startup.
Another example is Facebook Poke and Snapchat.
Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
#59Keep believing that.. we all know you're shivering with fear because Google entered a market you're in :)
Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
#60tl;dr: Please buy us. Having Google enter your space must be one of the most crushing things that can happen to a small company. The feeling these guys felt when they saw the announcement must have been mortifying. Even if you have a superior product, like LiveNinja says they have, Google will outmarket you by so many orders of magnitude you just disappear into nothingness.
That's a terrible way to think. Drew Houston knew Microsoft and Google were already in the midst of building competitors when he applied Dropbox to YC. I hope fellow entrepreneurs dont ever get discouraged when they see larger companies follow them on the same trail. It means they are on the right track more than anything else. Dropbox didnt get discouraged and neither should any other startup.
I think you're comparing apples to oranges here. Dropbox was different and still is and came after Google and Microsoft were building their stuff.
In this case, LiveNinja was first, Google copied it, apparently building the exact same product.
So, I'd read the original post as "please buy us" as well.