Comments on: People buy features http://saunderslog.com/2006/12/10/people-buy-features/ A daily round table on the tech industry with experts and callers from all over the globe. Join us as we pick apart the news and get to the meat of what\'s happening out there. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:57:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Alec http://saunderslog.com/2006/12/10/people-buy-features/#comment-77044 Alec Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:38:29 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2006/12/10/people-buy-features/#comment-77044 Zachary -- the argument that "I'd rather pay less and get exactly what I want" has always been used by folks buying software, but you know, the incremental cost of adding new features to software is tiny when it's spread across millions and millions of customers. The same is true of adding new features to cell phones. Plus, there are natural price points that customers gravitate toward. The cost to produce custom / niche specific products is actually higher than the swiss army knife approach. Zachary — the argument that “I’d rather pay less and get exactly what I want” has always been used by folks buying software, but you know, the incremental cost of adding new features to software is tiny when it’s spread across millions and millions of customers. The same is true of adding new features to cell phones. Plus, there are natural price points that customers gravitate toward.

The cost to produce custom / niche specific products is actually higher than the swiss army knife approach.

]]> By: Zachary Houle http://saunderslog.com/2006/12/10/people-buy-features/#comment-77037 Zachary Houle Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:17:34 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2006/12/10/people-buy-features/#comment-77037 I realize this may make me sound like a cynic or a devil's advocate of some sort, but there are times where more is sometimes less. I don't know how many times I've bought a new product -- a new cellphone, a new computer, etc. -- and found that I vary rarely use half the bells and whistles features that come within. (Text messaging on cellphones, anyone?) Granted, this is not to say I have anything against real product innovation, but I'd rather have the choice of getting something bare-bones and having *exactly* what I want than being forced to pay extra in _hidden fees_ for bundled services that I *don't* want. (Nobody gets something for nothing, after all.) I realize this may make me sound like a cynic or a devil’s advocate of some sort, but there are times where more is sometimes less.

I don’t know how many times I’ve bought a new product — a new cellphone, a new computer, etc. — and found that I vary rarely use half the bells and whistles features that come within. (Text messaging on cellphones, anyone?) Granted, this is not to say I have anything against real product innovation, but I’d rather have the choice of getting something bare-bones and having *exactly* what I want than being forced to pay extra in _hidden fees_ for bundled services that I *don’t* want. (Nobody gets something for nothing, after all.)

]]> By: Digital Common Sense » In a word - Simplify http://saunderslog.com/2006/12/10/people-buy-features/#comment-76749 Digital Common Sense » In a word - Simplify Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:47:24 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2006/12/10/people-buy-features/#comment-76749 [...] Today Alec wrote: People buy features [...] [...] Today Alec wrote: People buy features [...]

]]>