After watching various videos and seeing the growth of 37 Signals, it makes me curious why people use their applications. They clearly have less features and I don't see that as a large issue. Since they are mostly designers you would expect the UI/UX to be good. Finally I'm sure that some just jumped on their products because of the RoR hype. So if you use a 37 Signals product, why do you continue to use it?
Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
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Re: Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
#2I've been using Basecamp since 2005 - simple, responsive UI, stable.
If you haven't read their manifesto on keeping things simple, you should - the 'lack' of features is intentional.
Re: Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
#3[deleted]
Re: Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
#4[deleted]
Re: Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
#5I like the simplicity and minimalism
I don't have to spend time learning another interface as theirs is stripped down and minimalist.
It's also easy for me to use with less technical people. As it's not overwhelming unlike some similar tools, they can start using Basecamp straight away. I don't have to sit down and give them a walk through.
I also like how it's flexible. I don't have to adjust my workflow to their software.
Re: Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
#6If you're so curious, perhaps your time would be better spent actually trying their applications, rather than "watching various videos and seeing the growth".
Re: Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
#7Simplicity and excellent usuable UI design. And ofcourse the RoR hype helps a little
Re: Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
#8My company uses Basecamp to manage projects. It's the only project management tool we've stuck with over five years of experimentation.
I have to attribute this to Basecamp's simplicity: it doesn't do a lot of the things we want, but we can fake it for the most part. Instead of prescribing how we should be managing our projects, Basecamp takes as little information as possible and lets us decide how to use it.
So, basically, we use it because it solves problems we need solved. Same reason we use anything else.
Re: Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
#9It (Basecamp) is simple enough that our clients can use it. Enough said.
Re: Why do you use 37Signals products? Simplicity, UI, Hype?
#10If you're so curious, perhaps your time would be better spent actually trying their applications, rather than "watching various videos and seeing the growth".
I didn't read the OP's question as hostile, or suggesting their applications are rubbish. I think it's a valid question - clearly some people are willing to pay money for inferior products, because they value other things. Trust? support? name brand? Love RoR and want to support people using RoR?
Analysing what those things are seems a good idea if you're trying to emulate it, and you can't do that by "Trying the app yourself". The best way, as the OP has done, is ask customers why they pay for it.
I have tried Campfire, and I'm still not quite sure why people pay for it. I think you can take simplicity too far personally. It could be replicated on a weekend (As was done at google with huddlechat) so I don't see the value proposition there. I haven't tried basecamp so maybe that's more complex.