contact list.
Because I like the portable application.
smilingman - 15 years ago
I would prefer a donations setup first, it allows the users to give what they can.
Second would be a yearly fee of $5 for basic user and $15 for a pro version with added features like those of FusionDesk. This how I currently collaborate with my friends on our projects.
Last would be a free adware version and an ad-free version for $10 retail. Just give the users a choice of what ads appear and make then fit nicely into the GUI. Make it feel like a RSS feed from websites that your user would visit.
Toolbars and other programs from companies no one knows or uses is just wrong. Find out what your user interest are and then target those companies for ad placements.I would be more than will to take a few surveys to help.
If Digsby goes the wrong way on this i guess I will be retesting Pigdin and Trillian to see which meets my needs.
I'm mostly upset over what seems like slimy intentions. It SUCKS having to watch the install process like a hawk just to be sure I don't accidentally get something installed that I don't want.
The pattern both for this "feature" and for the hidden grid computing is an apparent attempt to sleaze users into installing things that they do not want, or do not know about, or won't take the time to figure out. Anything buried in a massive TOS is clearly an attempt to hide something.
Start with this - tell your lawyers to build a short, plain english READABLE EULA. If they won't help you with that, get new lawyers.
You have to make money, but if you don't respect your users you aren't going to be successful. You make a great product. I'd be happy to pay for it.
I definitely feel like I was misled, and even betrayed by a product that I have
recommended to friends on numerous occasions.
I just installed Astra and uninstalled Digsby.
Bret - 15 years ago
I'd rather not pay for it. So how about having it both ways? Offer a subscription version for people who want to opt out of the free revenue model and the current ad-based installer and grid computing option for those who want/need it for free. As for the blocked installer-- Digsby has always offered the alternate offline installer for those who needed it. If Digsby went to a paid-only model, I'd probably start using Pidgin even though Digsby is a lot nicer. So, please keep the free model.
Gerry - 15 years ago
The problem here was not your revenue model, it was that you were hiding it behind the backs of your users. Don't use our computers to your benefit without telling us. Don't be evil by secretly hurting your users to help youself, it's as simple as that.
MORE IMPORTANTLY... THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN HOWTOGEEK AND LIFE HACKER ARTICLES TO GET YOU TO WAKE UP AND START LISTENING!!!!!!! IN FUTURE, LISTEN TO YOUR USERS, DAMMIT!!!! THIS IS FAR FROM THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE FAILED TO DO SO!
Poll your users to see (1) how many have every paid for an IM program, (2) if they would in the future, (3) if so, which is most likely, and (4)Why? (1) I have never, (2) I might do so if the free choices weren't good, and right now if I did, (3) I would pay for Trillian even though I like Digsby better because it has a key capability that I feel is important that Digsby does not, user configurable connection protocol settings so that I can set my IM connection to a secure protocol rather than having all my conversations going across the Internet as if I am shouting across Grand Central Station for all to hear.That's unacceptable to me, so I currently use Digsby as a notififer, which it does a great job at. Have I missed the connection protocol settings in Digsby where I can choose a proxy server, SSL, or SOCKS? If so, please email or send me a Tweet to advise me as to where he setting is. Thank you!
tokimeki - 15 years ago
I can accept to show ad banner in contact list.
Because I like the portable application.
I didn't know about the research module, but to be honest I don't really care if it's there or not. I didn't know it was there, simply because it didn't effect me or my computing experience in any way, shape or form. If it's in the terms of service agreement then it really is our own fault for not knowing about it. I mean honestly shouldn't we read the contract before we sign it? That's affectively what we're doing when we click agree after all.
Most people who have voted in your poll are using common sense and voting that you keep revenue models as are. I do have an idea for you though, as there seem to be a minority whom feel you should offer them an ad sponsored version. Just do it, offer multiple versions of the software. Offer one verson which is exactly the way it is now, then offer a version that has ads plastered all over the place. Offer a version with no advertising at all for idiots who want to pay for it and hell, then everyone is happy and you end up with plenty of cash.
It's an unfortunate fact about business but customers will always find a way to make you feel like you've done something wrong when you haven't. For all the people who feel wronged, read the terms of service BEFORE you agree and install software. end of story...
Theo - 15 years ago
It doesn't sound like you have been honest about the "research" tool. Why isn't that program's installation an option when installing but rather installed automatically? Finding a way to "pay for the bills" is fine, but six plus one additional crapware during install isn't.
Haas - 15 years ago
I hope Google will buy you guys, so you can have a decent business-model.
sbicty - 15 years ago
The current situation is working fine for me.
One time offers during the installation process is much much better than full time adds and the research option is both harmful and optional...
I can't see why someone may have a problem with "Option 1" were the user has full control over the application. Instead of buying an add free version of digsby just disable the research module and you have your add free version of the application with no money.
KrisR - 15 years ago
I don't get what the fuss is all about. You've clearly outlined the software that will be installed, and what it will do, all in the installer. It was straightforward to install, not to mention you only have to do it once per installation of Digsby. To me, Option 1 is great. I would support the research option if the research being done was in alignment with my own interests, e.g. Folding@Home.
I agree that there needs to be a donate to Digsby link. It's a good product, and donation worthy.
HonestFock - 15 years ago
If you offer a "pro" version people pay for all that will happen with this type of app is it will be cracked, kegened, and 99% of your users will get a free pro version and you will get no income. Simple as that.
Sav - 15 years ago
Having read all information when installing Digsby (and not skipping through clicking next, next, next as some others may have), i was perfectly fine with the install process, knew about the new revenue avenues such as the research module, and knew that afterwards i would have no annoying ads either as banners, or popping up on successful login every time i used Digsby.
Going by user sentiment from past comments, I think it might help if there was some more information about the research module you've included - Mainly who's utilizing it and for what purposes. However i highly doubt that some rogue corporates have gotten hold of it to perform some DoS attacks. I'd like to think that it's being used for university research, like performing some complex interstellar plotting or predicting molecular formations. If you could back that up in some way it'd make me feel better.
Also if there was some way i could donate some cash, i would be up for that too. This is by far the best IM client i have used (except for no Skype support, nudge, nudge, wink, wink), and i would happily donate a few dollars to the cause. Anything to keep the ads away!
Please, please do not use ads. I have no problem with the grid computing IF I know what it being used for. I have (and will continue to) turned it off until I find this out. If Digsby went to ads I would likely dump it if they were at all intrusive. I can't stand how AIM's ads pop out if you rollover.
I'm in support of option 1 rather than pop-up adds. This is precisely why I don't use applications like AIM. I would like to see 2 things on the grid computing side, 1) allow us to pick which one of a variety of projects we contribute to (assuming you don't use all the systems for one project). 2) give us a users bill of rights that guarantee's the grid computing system is sand boxed and incapable of accessing our private user information or our systems data.
I understand the desire of users to 'simply pay for something' but it seems in tractable when your offering a continual service unless your charging say 10 dollars every year or something of that nature. I wouldn't pay more than a dollar or two for this a month but yearly licensing seems reasonable.
Thiago - 15 years ago
The GRID is a very shadowy element in this revenue model.
First, it's not free. Actually, it's quite the opposite: users will be paying, and paying quite a lot in some cases, every month, when their electrical bills come. Using those "unused" CPU cycles will make the computer consume a substancial amount of extra power.
Second, it's complicated to agree to contribute to a GRID when we don't know what the GRID will be used for. Will it be used for scientific purposes? Or will it be used for spamming? Hacking? Weapons of mass destruction development?
For both these reasons, I don't think that the GRID option is an ethical one, and I'd much prefer some "bundles" in the installer and a small ad in a freeware version, with an adless, blundleless paid version.
Annoyed Digsby User - 15 years ago
I just found out through Slashdot that Digsby has been using my computer for some kind of research project without my knowledge. Nobody reads the agreements involved in software, they always boil down to: we provide this product without warranty and basically you have no rights at all, but this is absurd. Never -ever- force an opt-out scheme on your users, praying most will not notice or just not care. That is -bad- for the trust your users have in your product. As long as Digsby is well maintained, I will probably continue using it. I used Trillian before this, the free version, but they stopped fixing certain bugs -years- ago, just so they could work on a new product, leaving current users stranded. Show me some ads during installation or whatever, I don't care. Allow users to send you money if they want to, I don't care, if I ever get a credit card or something again, I might be persuaded to pay for the software, provided it comes with a written guarantee that I won't be forced to pay for an upgrade every other year and that I won't be left stranded within at least a year after paying. But don't -ever- do things like this again. If you want to add an option of contributing to certain projects, whatever, fine, but do -NOT- turn it on without express consent! I just turned it off and performance is suddenly a lot better. Well, that explains a lot..
Marsh - 15 years ago
I don't see why you can't have option 1 with a paid option as well!
Though I have to admit, all those crapware offers make your software look a little shady.
Jamie - 15 years ago
I like option one, but:
A) don't offer up crapware that no one wants, or even worse, SPYWARE.
B) I have no problem with ads in an installer, but don't make it so misleading. Instead of using a button that says Declin, which could make people think that if they click that they won't be able to install Digsby, use a check box to let the user decide if they want to install that particular program like EVERY OTHER INSTALLER DOES.
A good way to get revenue (and the way that I would be most happy with) would be to have a free version and a paid version. If you were to do that, though, DO NOT put ads on the free version like protocol-specific clients (AIM, Yahoo!, etc) do: instead put more features in the paid version, a la Trillian.
You could also do donations alongside any, all, or none of the above suggestions. I can guarantee that people will donate, especially with a product as good as Digsby - and if you get rid of the ads, etc., you may get more users.
Doug - 15 years ago
The minority of people opposed to the current way Digsby is making money seem to be the most vocal. The majority who don't care or are okay with it, are simply ok and not making a big stink. Isn't that the way this always works? The fringe elements are the loudest? :P
Any by the way.. the "just let me give you money" option --- yeah right, only in a utopian society would that work. That would be about 1% of all users who might just do that. Pfft.
Chris - 15 years ago
How about a 3rd option. Create an ad free/cpu using free version which people can purchase. I would buy it.
Cahlroisse - 15 years ago
It would be great if we were allowed to see some stats on what we had contributed to the research in terms of time or CPU cycles or something or units completed or something, but otherwise, I like it as it is.
(Also, this page keeps refreshing and taking me back to the top as I'm trying to read the comments and it's very annoying.)
Shad - 15 years ago
Option 1 is good - however an optional payment on the digsby portal might get results also. I have found Digsby better than trillian pro. The value is there...
Sam Howells - 15 years ago
Thank God: I thought I was the only person who favoured the old-fashioned "money in return for services" model! I would gladly pay for a Digsby Mac client, either as a one-off or on a subscription basis.
The one thing that will make me walk away, though, is forcing ads on me.
Good luck whatever you decide: it's a great piece of software.
Korben - 15 years ago
Digsby is revolutionary and much more feature rich (less crashy) than every other IM/ Social Networking UI program I have used (e.i. Pidgin, Trillian). I often recommend Digsby to others. I hope it will integrate into or with Google Wave (when it becomes available).
I do not mind helping to pay for my use of Digsby via the Research Option. For nearly a decade I used my many computers for the SETI project, fighting over systems spare CPU cycles to boost my block count. However, there are some research projects I don't want to have anything to do with and would like to have the option of choosing which my CPU cycles are dedicated to.
I definitely do not like mal-targeted ads and large imposing ads, but software development isn't free. CPU Cycle Research is a great way to pay for Digsby.
Jay - 15 years ago
I think the paid idea is a decent third option.
The add-ons are fine too, but maybe a yes or no option instead of accept/decline. Then a user would choose his or her option and click next to continue.
I also don't mind using the idle processes, and agreeing with dave, it needs to let the sleep mode kick in when needed and also be very unnoticeable. Also, having an announcement about which projects are being worked on, and a new announcement when the project changes would be beneficial. It may also invoke a "warm fuzzy feeling" when the users that do allow it know that the projects are worthwhile.
maybe even having a counter or graph that we could check that shows how much it has been used and when would be an idea. It would also help because it would serve as a general idle cycle check on the computer so we can see when we are idle and how a computer is being utilized in general, not just when the grid is being used.
I highly support the idea of a two-tier model. Having used the software for a year, I would happily pay $5 for it (iPhone model of pricing, see Jeff Atwood's post: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001293.html). I suspect the same would be true of MANY users. But having the ad-supported (in the installer or other) version is great for users to try it. Those who've tried it know it's great software, and completely worth paying to upgrade if they have a problem with ads.
If even half of your 3 million users paid $5, you would make bank!
JP - 15 years ago
I would much rather pay you 10 or 15 bucks for an ad-free version on Digsby. I agree with the others in this CPU thing, it makes me want to get rid of Digsby just reading about it. I've disabled it, and won't be re-enabling it. I think you should see what you get in donations, if that doesn't work, I agree offer both options.
But, in the end, let me give you money. Digsby is a powerful tool and I love it.
Linus - 15 years ago
I prefer open source software.
Nick S. - 15 years ago
I would have paid $10 had you asked. Just finding out about this "research" crap is making me switch to Pidgin (like on Ubuntu since there was no Digsby available... I assume there still isn't).
Jared - 15 years ago
1. I love the research module as long as it's optional. I'd be happy to lend some processing power for a while, but would also like my computer to sleep eventually (see Dave's comment about preventing sleep mode).
2. I also like the one-time-only multiple offers on install, but the "Accept" and "Decline" buttons are typically used for EULAs and when I installed I was afraid that declining any offers would also decline the Digsby EULA and it wouldn't be installed. I had to look around a bit to see that these were optional offers and I didn't have to accept them to install Digsby. Please make this more apparent. :)
3. Once again, I agree strongly with Dave. Offers should be for software that's actually potentially useful. Maybe take a poll about which companies you could potentially partner with for ads and have Digsby users rate them. Oh, and Freeze.com is blacklisted for me too because they push spyware.
Dave - 15 years ago
1. The grid computing will cause my PC to use more power. At idle, the CPU use drops, and it eventually goes to sleep. on-demand processes like this prevent that. Keep it optional.
2. The offers with the installer range from crapware that no one wants, to spyware that does questionable monitoring and serves intrusive ads. Why not offer useful software that's known to be safe to install?
So I'm for option 1, just remove the crapware.
I should also note that the freeze.com installer is blocked by my work as spyware, and Digsby.com has been on their blacklist since they started using the new installer. Why? Because freeze.com shovels malware. Bad choice of partner.
Try donations for a period of time and see if you can raise enough money through that. I understand that I have no real understanding of your operating costs, but I don't think is would be immoral to use a donation system such as PayPal or the like.
Timothy - 15 years ago
I personally don't see anything wrong with the grid computing or the ads that pop up during primary installation. Use my spare processing power, if there is any, and don't bug me while I'm using the application. I've misclicked those ads so many times and it's extremely annoying. I use Digsby and recommend it to my friends because it's really top notch AND free, please don't start charging.
Why will you not simply accept donations? What's the harm in accepting free money?
D. Hartmann - 15 years ago
Why not option 1 and 2 hybrid? Have the base revenue model as Option 1 maintaining the options of enabling or disabling the research component, but then offer a paid Digsby version also that acts mostly as a 'donation'. However, this paid version will never have any ads or research site distributed computing in it for the life of digsby.
As a possible selling point for it, you could put all ad based facets of Digsby (future and present) into modules/plugins which do not exist (vs. simply disabling) in the paid installer or program itself thus giving the paranoid freaks out there peace of mind.
Marcelo Esperidiao - 15 years ago
I also think that a payed option would make many users leave. I like Digsby a lot, but I would think twice before paying for it. I'm not a heavy IM user.
And ads are what make me hate the other IMs so much.
Maybe some sort of enterprise partnership could be an option of business model? Some people use IM to talk inside the company, and to clients outside of it. You could offer some advantages to the enterprise, like more security or reliability. This could bring some money :)
And the user could use it at the company, and later for free at home.
RONALD POWERS - 15 years ago
I was wondering how long it would be before Digsby would want to make it a pay app. If that becomes the case, it will become goodbye Digsby and back to to the individual messengers!
Pip - 15 years ago
I agree with the others on the idea of "just let me give you money", but I do not see anything wrong with the grid computing function. I already use idle time on my work and home computers for folding@home, which is a great cause.
As long as my security is kept in mind, I see no problems with Option 1.
Either charge money for the software, or accept donations. All the other third party IM clients manage.
As for "I'm using it and is probably for a good cause of SOME sort." re the grid computing. Yeah, it's either something for a good cause... or maybe a really REALLY bad one.
Letting strangers use your computer and internet connection for what ever they want is a really stupid idea. At least know what it's doing.
Mark Harr - 15 years ago
Just let me pay you. Subscription, licensed, or donation-ware, it does not matter to me. I don't want ads, toolbars, or tricks; just let me give you money.
RottingOrange - 15 years ago
I am perfectly happy with having both: the optional programs in the installer are noninvasive and don't trick you into using them, and grid computing will not effect my computer's performance while I'm using it and is probably for a good cause of SOME sort. I'm happy to have both, keep up the user centric modes of revenue, Digsby!
contact list.
Because I like the portable application.
I would prefer a donations setup first, it allows the users to give what they can.
Second would be a yearly fee of $5 for basic user and $15 for a pro version with added features like those of FusionDesk. This how I currently collaborate with my friends on our projects.
Last would be a free adware version and an ad-free version for $10 retail. Just give the users a choice of what ads appear and make then fit nicely into the GUI. Make it feel like a RSS feed from websites that your user would visit.
Toolbars and other programs from companies no one knows or uses is just wrong. Find out what your user interest are and then target those companies for ad placements.I would be more than will to take a few surveys to help.
If Digsby goes the wrong way on this i guess I will be retesting Pigdin and Trillian to see which meets my needs.
I'm mostly upset over what seems like slimy intentions. It SUCKS having to watch the install process like a hawk just to be sure I don't accidentally get something installed that I don't want.
The pattern both for this "feature" and for the hidden grid computing is an apparent attempt to sleaze users into installing things that they do not want, or do not know about, or won't take the time to figure out. Anything buried in a massive TOS is clearly an attempt to hide something.
Start with this - tell your lawyers to build a short, plain english READABLE EULA. If they won't help you with that, get new lawyers.
You have to make money, but if you don't respect your users you aren't going to be successful. You make a great product. I'd be happy to pay for it.
I definitely feel like I was misled, and even betrayed by a product that I have
recommended to friends on numerous occasions.
I just installed Astra and uninstalled Digsby.
I'd rather not pay for it. So how about having it both ways? Offer a subscription version for people who want to opt out of the free revenue model and the current ad-based installer and grid computing option for those who want/need it for free. As for the blocked installer-- Digsby has always offered the alternate offline installer for those who needed it. If Digsby went to a paid-only model, I'd probably start using Pidgin even though Digsby is a lot nicer. So, please keep the free model.
The problem here was not your revenue model, it was that you were hiding it behind the backs of your users. Don't use our computers to your benefit without telling us. Don't be evil by secretly hurting your users to help youself, it's as simple as that.
MORE IMPORTANTLY... THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN HOWTOGEEK AND LIFE HACKER ARTICLES TO GET YOU TO WAKE UP AND START LISTENING!!!!!!! IN FUTURE, LISTEN TO YOUR USERS, DAMMIT!!!! THIS IS FAR FROM THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE FAILED TO DO SO!
Poll your users to see (1) how many have every paid for an IM program, (2) if they would in the future, (3) if so, which is most likely, and (4)Why? (1) I have never, (2) I might do so if the free choices weren't good, and right now if I did, (3) I would pay for Trillian even though I like Digsby better because it has a key capability that I feel is important that Digsby does not, user configurable connection protocol settings so that I can set my IM connection to a secure protocol rather than having all my conversations going across the Internet as if I am shouting across Grand Central Station for all to hear.That's unacceptable to me, so I currently use Digsby as a notififer, which it does a great job at. Have I missed the connection protocol settings in Digsby where I can choose a proxy server, SSL, or SOCKS? If so, please email or send me a Tweet to advise me as to where he setting is. Thank you!
I can accept to show ad banner in contact list.
Because I like the portable application.
I didn't know about the research module, but to be honest I don't really care if it's there or not. I didn't know it was there, simply because it didn't effect me or my computing experience in any way, shape or form. If it's in the terms of service agreement then it really is our own fault for not knowing about it. I mean honestly shouldn't we read the contract before we sign it? That's affectively what we're doing when we click agree after all.
Most people who have voted in your poll are using common sense and voting that you keep revenue models as are. I do have an idea for you though, as there seem to be a minority whom feel you should offer them an ad sponsored version. Just do it, offer multiple versions of the software. Offer one verson which is exactly the way it is now, then offer a version that has ads plastered all over the place. Offer a version with no advertising at all for idiots who want to pay for it and hell, then everyone is happy and you end up with plenty of cash.
It's an unfortunate fact about business but customers will always find a way to make you feel like you've done something wrong when you haven't. For all the people who feel wronged, read the terms of service BEFORE you agree and install software. end of story...
It doesn't sound like you have been honest about the "research" tool. Why isn't that program's installation an option when installing but rather installed automatically? Finding a way to "pay for the bills" is fine, but six plus one additional crapware during install isn't.
I hope Google will buy you guys, so you can have a decent business-model.
The current situation is working fine for me.
One time offers during the installation process is much much better than full time adds and the research option is both harmful and optional...
I can't see why someone may have a problem with "Option 1" were the user has full control over the application. Instead of buying an add free version of digsby just disable the research module and you have your add free version of the application with no money.
I don't get what the fuss is all about. You've clearly outlined the software that will be installed, and what it will do, all in the installer. It was straightforward to install, not to mention you only have to do it once per installation of Digsby. To me, Option 1 is great. I would support the research option if the research being done was in alignment with my own interests, e.g. Folding@Home.
I agree that there needs to be a donate to Digsby link. It's a good product, and donation worthy.
If you offer a "pro" version people pay for all that will happen with this type of app is it will be cracked, kegened, and 99% of your users will get a free pro version and you will get no income. Simple as that.
Having read all information when installing Digsby (and not skipping through clicking next, next, next as some others may have), i was perfectly fine with the install process, knew about the new revenue avenues such as the research module, and knew that afterwards i would have no annoying ads either as banners, or popping up on successful login every time i used Digsby.
Going by user sentiment from past comments, I think it might help if there was some more information about the research module you've included - Mainly who's utilizing it and for what purposes. However i highly doubt that some rogue corporates have gotten hold of it to perform some DoS attacks. I'd like to think that it's being used for university research, like performing some complex interstellar plotting or predicting molecular formations. If you could back that up in some way it'd make me feel better.
Also if there was some way i could donate some cash, i would be up for that too. This is by far the best IM client i have used (except for no Skype support, nudge, nudge, wink, wink), and i would happily donate a few dollars to the cause. Anything to keep the ads away!
Sav
Please, please do not use ads. I have no problem with the grid computing IF I know what it being used for. I have (and will continue to) turned it off until I find this out. If Digsby went to ads I would likely dump it if they were at all intrusive. I can't stand how AIM's ads pop out if you rollover.
I'm in support of option 1 rather than pop-up adds. This is precisely why I don't use applications like AIM. I would like to see 2 things on the grid computing side, 1) allow us to pick which one of a variety of projects we contribute to (assuming you don't use all the systems for one project). 2) give us a users bill of rights that guarantee's the grid computing system is sand boxed and incapable of accessing our private user information or our systems data.
I understand the desire of users to 'simply pay for something' but it seems in tractable when your offering a continual service unless your charging say 10 dollars every year or something of that nature. I wouldn't pay more than a dollar or two for this a month but yearly licensing seems reasonable.
The GRID is a very shadowy element in this revenue model.
First, it's not free. Actually, it's quite the opposite: users will be paying, and paying quite a lot in some cases, every month, when their electrical bills come. Using those "unused" CPU cycles will make the computer consume a substancial amount of extra power.
Second, it's complicated to agree to contribute to a GRID when we don't know what the GRID will be used for. Will it be used for scientific purposes? Or will it be used for spamming? Hacking? Weapons of mass destruction development?
For both these reasons, I don't think that the GRID option is an ethical one, and I'd much prefer some "bundles" in the installer and a small ad in a freeware version, with an adless, blundleless paid version.
I just found out through Slashdot that Digsby has been using my computer for some kind of research project without my knowledge. Nobody reads the agreements involved in software, they always boil down to: we provide this product without warranty and basically you have no rights at all, but this is absurd. Never -ever- force an opt-out scheme on your users, praying most will not notice or just not care. That is -bad- for the trust your users have in your product. As long as Digsby is well maintained, I will probably continue using it. I used Trillian before this, the free version, but they stopped fixing certain bugs -years- ago, just so they could work on a new product, leaving current users stranded. Show me some ads during installation or whatever, I don't care. Allow users to send you money if they want to, I don't care, if I ever get a credit card or something again, I might be persuaded to pay for the software, provided it comes with a written guarantee that I won't be forced to pay for an upgrade every other year and that I won't be left stranded within at least a year after paying. But don't -ever- do things like this again. If you want to add an option of contributing to certain projects, whatever, fine, but do -NOT- turn it on without express consent! I just turned it off and performance is suddenly a lot better. Well, that explains a lot..
I don't see why you can't have option 1 with a paid option as well!
Though I have to admit, all those crapware offers make your software look a little shady.
I like option one, but:
A) don't offer up crapware that no one wants, or even worse, SPYWARE.
B) I have no problem with ads in an installer, but don't make it so misleading. Instead of using a button that says Declin, which could make people think that if they click that they won't be able to install Digsby, use a check box to let the user decide if they want to install that particular program like EVERY OTHER INSTALLER DOES.
A good way to get revenue (and the way that I would be most happy with) would be to have a free version and a paid version. If you were to do that, though, DO NOT put ads on the free version like protocol-specific clients (AIM, Yahoo!, etc) do: instead put more features in the paid version, a la Trillian.
You could also do donations alongside any, all, or none of the above suggestions. I can guarantee that people will donate, especially with a product as good as Digsby - and if you get rid of the ads, etc., you may get more users.
The minority of people opposed to the current way Digsby is making money seem to be the most vocal. The majority who don't care or are okay with it, are simply ok and not making a big stink. Isn't that the way this always works? The fringe elements are the loudest? :P
Any by the way.. the "just let me give you money" option --- yeah right, only in a utopian society would that work. That would be about 1% of all users who might just do that. Pfft.
How about a 3rd option. Create an ad free/cpu using free version which people can purchase. I would buy it.
It would be great if we were allowed to see some stats on what we had contributed to the research in terms of time or CPU cycles or something or units completed or something, but otherwise, I like it as it is.
(Also, this page keeps refreshing and taking me back to the top as I'm trying to read the comments and it's very annoying.)
Option 1 is good - however an optional payment on the digsby portal might get results also. I have found Digsby better than trillian pro. The value is there...
Thank God: I thought I was the only person who favoured the old-fashioned "money in return for services" model! I would gladly pay for a Digsby Mac client, either as a one-off or on a subscription basis.
The one thing that will make me walk away, though, is forcing ads on me.
Good luck whatever you decide: it's a great piece of software.
Digsby is revolutionary and much more feature rich (less crashy) than every other IM/ Social Networking UI program I have used (e.i. Pidgin, Trillian). I often recommend Digsby to others. I hope it will integrate into or with Google Wave (when it becomes available).
I do not mind helping to pay for my use of Digsby via the Research Option. For nearly a decade I used my many computers for the SETI project, fighting over systems spare CPU cycles to boost my block count. However, there are some research projects I don't want to have anything to do with and would like to have the option of choosing which my CPU cycles are dedicated to.
I definitely do not like mal-targeted ads and large imposing ads, but software development isn't free. CPU Cycle Research is a great way to pay for Digsby.
I think the paid idea is a decent third option.
The add-ons are fine too, but maybe a yes or no option instead of accept/decline. Then a user would choose his or her option and click next to continue.
I also don't mind using the idle processes, and agreeing with dave, it needs to let the sleep mode kick in when needed and also be very unnoticeable. Also, having an announcement about which projects are being worked on, and a new announcement when the project changes would be beneficial. It may also invoke a "warm fuzzy feeling" when the users that do allow it know that the projects are worthwhile.
maybe even having a counter or graph that we could check that shows how much it has been used and when would be an idea. It would also help because it would serve as a general idle cycle check on the computer so we can see when we are idle and how a computer is being utilized in general, not just when the grid is being used.
I highly support the idea of a two-tier model. Having used the software for a year, I would happily pay $5 for it (iPhone model of pricing, see Jeff Atwood's post: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001293.html). I suspect the same would be true of MANY users. But having the ad-supported (in the installer or other) version is great for users to try it. Those who've tried it know it's great software, and completely worth paying to upgrade if they have a problem with ads.
If even half of your 3 million users paid $5, you would make bank!
I would much rather pay you 10 or 15 bucks for an ad-free version on Digsby. I agree with the others in this CPU thing, it makes me want to get rid of Digsby just reading about it. I've disabled it, and won't be re-enabling it. I think you should see what you get in donations, if that doesn't work, I agree offer both options.
But, in the end, let me give you money. Digsby is a powerful tool and I love it.
I prefer open source software.
I would have paid $10 had you asked. Just finding out about this "research" crap is making me switch to Pidgin (like on Ubuntu since there was no Digsby available... I assume there still isn't).
1. I love the research module as long as it's optional. I'd be happy to lend some processing power for a while, but would also like my computer to sleep eventually (see Dave's comment about preventing sleep mode).
2. I also like the one-time-only multiple offers on install, but the "Accept" and "Decline" buttons are typically used for EULAs and when I installed I was afraid that declining any offers would also decline the Digsby EULA and it wouldn't be installed. I had to look around a bit to see that these were optional offers and I didn't have to accept them to install Digsby. Please make this more apparent. :)
3. Once again, I agree strongly with Dave. Offers should be for software that's actually potentially useful. Maybe take a poll about which companies you could potentially partner with for ads and have Digsby users rate them. Oh, and Freeze.com is blacklisted for me too because they push spyware.
1. The grid computing will cause my PC to use more power. At idle, the CPU use drops, and it eventually goes to sleep. on-demand processes like this prevent that. Keep it optional.
2. The offers with the installer range from crapware that no one wants, to spyware that does questionable monitoring and serves intrusive ads. Why not offer useful software that's known to be safe to install?
So I'm for option 1, just remove the crapware.
I should also note that the freeze.com installer is blocked by my work as spyware, and Digsby.com has been on their blacklist since they started using the new installer. Why? Because freeze.com shovels malware. Bad choice of partner.
Try donations for a period of time and see if you can raise enough money through that. I understand that I have no real understanding of your operating costs, but I don't think is would be immoral to use a donation system such as PayPal or the like.
I personally don't see anything wrong with the grid computing or the ads that pop up during primary installation. Use my spare processing power, if there is any, and don't bug me while I'm using the application. I've misclicked those ads so many times and it's extremely annoying. I use Digsby and recommend it to my friends because it's really top notch AND free, please don't start charging.
Why will you not simply accept donations? What's the harm in accepting free money?
Why not option 1 and 2 hybrid? Have the base revenue model as Option 1 maintaining the options of enabling or disabling the research component, but then offer a paid Digsby version also that acts mostly as a 'donation'. However, this paid version will never have any ads or research site distributed computing in it for the life of digsby.
As a possible selling point for it, you could put all ad based facets of Digsby (future and present) into modules/plugins which do not exist (vs. simply disabling) in the paid installer or program itself thus giving the paranoid freaks out there peace of mind.
I also think that a payed option would make many users leave. I like Digsby a lot, but I would think twice before paying for it. I'm not a heavy IM user.
And ads are what make me hate the other IMs so much.
Maybe some sort of enterprise partnership could be an option of business model? Some people use IM to talk inside the company, and to clients outside of it. You could offer some advantages to the enterprise, like more security or reliability. This could bring some money :)
And the user could use it at the company, and later for free at home.
I was wondering how long it would be before Digsby would want to make it a pay app. If that becomes the case, it will become goodbye Digsby and back to to the individual messengers!
I agree with the others on the idea of "just let me give you money", but I do not see anything wrong with the grid computing function. I already use idle time on my work and home computers for folding@home, which is a great cause.
As long as my security is kept in mind, I see no problems with Option 1.
I believe you should offer an ad version as well as a paid version. I would pay 10 or 15 bucks or something like that to not get ads.
Either charge money for the software, or accept donations. All the other third party IM clients manage.
As for "I'm using it and is probably for a good cause of SOME sort." re the grid computing. Yeah, it's either something for a good cause... or maybe a really REALLY bad one.
Letting strangers use your computer and internet connection for what ever they want is a really stupid idea. At least know what it's doing.
Just let me pay you. Subscription, licensed, or donation-ware, it does not matter to me. I don't want ads, toolbars, or tricks; just let me give you money.
I am perfectly happy with having both: the optional programs in the installer are noninvasive and don't trick you into using them, and grid computing will not effect my computer's performance while I'm using it and is probably for a good cause of SOME sort. I'm happy to have both, keep up the user centric modes of revenue, Digsby!