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Ponzi schemes don't produce major technological advancement. SpaceX made reusable rockets a thing. Tesla made great cars with bleeding-edge EV technology. So

Ponzi schemes don't produce major technological advancement. SpaceX made reusable rockets a thing. Tesla made great cars with bleeding-edge EV technology. SolarCity made "solar roof" a viable & aesthetic product. All three are still thriving on a lot of tech advancement. Long-term success remains to be seen in three very difficult industries, but current performance is certainly not the facades of Ponzi schemes.

ForHackernews 9y ago
> SpaceX made reusable rockets a thing. The space shuttle was reusable. It just wasn't cost-effective. So far, SpaceX hasn't proven their resuable rocket is cost-effective either. > Tesla made great cars with bleeding-edge EV technology. Model X ranked dead last in reliability: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/consumer-reports-survey-marks-tesla-model-x-as-least-reliable/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/consumer-reports-survey-m... Model S owners have also complained about reliability and build quality problems. I don't know much about SolarCity as a business, but the Tesla buyout has a lot of sketchy signs about it https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/18/solarcity-teslas-solar-boondoggle.aspx https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/18/solarcity-teslas-s... I don't necessarily think Musk's companies are literally "Ponzi schemes", but they are less impressive than the hype surrounding them, and they all rely heavily on government subsidies. I just wish HN would take the same critical eye to Musk that it does toward other business luminaries. It seems like far too many people are easily seduced by "Mars colony! Hyperloop! Rocket around the world!"
- greglindahl 9y ago
  There are tons of people on HN who post negative things on every thread related to Musk. Where's the problem?
- unethical_ban 9y ago
  Comparing the shuttle glider to the boosters of the Falcon is completely inaccurate. Compare the SRBs and the main booster. And yes, I think SpaceX has been working constantly to reduce cost of reuse of their boosters. Do YOU have proof, given their track record of improvements, that they are anywhere near as expensive as the Shuttle in terms of launch costs?
eighthnate 9y ago
> Tesla made great cars with bleeding-edge EV technology. What "bleeding-edge" EV tech? Tesla hasn't made a single "bleeding-edge" contribution to EV tech. > SolarCity made "solar roof" a viable & aesthetic product. That's why solar city went bankrupt and had to be "bailed out" by musk? > All three are still thriving on a lot of tech advancement. SpaceX, tesla nor solar city made a SINGLE contribution to tech advancement. SpaceX hasn't made a single contritubion. They are rehashing DECADES old tech. Tesla hasn't made a single contribution. And solar city went bankrupt and had to be bailed out - just like tesla 10 years ago.
- Sohcahtoa82 9y ago
  > What "bleeding-edge" EV tech? Tesla hasn't made a single "bleeding-edge" contribution to EV tech. They proved that an all-electric car is viable. While certainly not an advancement in the truest sense of the word since we already had Li-Ion batteries and large electric motors, it was definitely a contribution.

ForHackernews 9y ago

> SpaceX made reusable rockets a thing. The space shuttle was reusable. It just wasn't cost-effective. So far, SpaceX hasn't proven their resuable rocket is cost-effective either. > Tesla made great cars with bleeding-edge EV technology. Model X ranked dead last in reliability: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/consumer-reports-survey-marks-tesla-model-x-as-least-reliable/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/consumer-reports-survey-m... Model S owners have also complained about reliability and build quality problems. I don't know much about SolarCity as a business, but the Tesla buyout has a lot of sketchy signs about it https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/18/solarcity-teslas-solar-boondoggle.aspx https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/18/solarcity-teslas-s... I don't necessarily think Musk's companies are literally "Ponzi schemes", but they are less impressive than the hype surrounding them, and they all rely heavily on government subsidies. I just wish HN would take the same critical eye to Musk that it does toward other business luminaries. It seems like far too many people are easily seduced by "Mars colony! Hyperloop! Rocket around the world!"

greglindahl 9y ago
There are tons of people on HN who post negative things on every thread related to Musk. Where's the problem?
unethical_ban 9y ago
Comparing the shuttle glider to the boosters of the Falcon is completely inaccurate. Compare the SRBs and the main booster. And yes, I think SpaceX has been working constantly to reduce cost of reuse of their boosters. Do YOU have proof, given their track record of improvements, that they are anywhere near as expensive as the Shuttle in terms of launch costs?

eighthnate 9y ago

> Tesla made great cars with bleeding-edge EV technology. What "bleeding-edge" EV tech? Tesla hasn't made a single "bleeding-edge" contribution to EV tech. > SolarCity made "solar roof" a viable & aesthetic product. That's why solar city went bankrupt and had to be "bailed out" by musk? > All three are still thriving on a lot of tech advancement. SpaceX, tesla nor solar city made a SINGLE contribution to tech advancement. SpaceX hasn't made a single contritubion. They are rehashing DECADES old tech. Tesla hasn't made a single contribution. And solar city went bankrupt and had to be bailed out - just like tesla 10 years ago.

Sohcahtoa82 9y ago
> What "bleeding-edge" EV tech? Tesla hasn't made a single "bleeding-edge" contribution to EV tech. They proved that an all-electric car is viable. While certainly not an advancement in the truest sense of the word since we already had Li-Ion batteries and large electric motors, it was definitely a contribution.