4 ms·
> A key difference is most of the new techs like Internet, email, Paypal, and so on improved on what people already had in a way that delivered obvious value.
by lojack 8y ago
> A key difference is most of the new techs like Internet, email, Paypal, and so on improved on what people already had in a way that delivered obvious value.
I'd argue that for most people the value was only obvious afterwards.
To put email in perspective, early adopters had to choose between what they already knew and all the hurdles involved in connecting to the internet and using the new technology. There was also a good chance the people they were trying to communicate with didn't even have email. Outside of a few niche areas, email provided no obvious value to the vast majority of people for decades.
- nickpsecurity 8y agoThe thing I was getting at is, if you had a computer and Internet, then email would be a free, fast alternative to traditional mail. That has obvious benefit. Whereas, these currencies are volatile, slower, often dont allow charge backs, use more energy, and accepted at fewer places. Worse in every way to checking accounts and credit cards. Esp if we have multiple cards or accounts to reduce risk of single institution.
- lojack 8y ago> if you had a computer and Internet Thats a lot of hand waving for something that wasn't trivial at all in the 60s and 70s.
- tuesdayrain 8y agoNo chargebacks is a feature in many situations.
- stickfigure 8y agoWorse in every way to checking accounts and credit cards. Quite a few Venezuelans would beg to differ about that.
- oblio 8y agoSo for cryptocurrencies to be the "better solution" you just need your entire country to have a total meltdown lasting multiple years?
- ahje 8y ago> you just need your entire country to have a total meltdown That happens more often than one might think. There are quite a few countries, that are currenly on the brink of collapse, so it is not unlikely that one or more of them will adopt a cryptocurrency some time in the not to far-off future.
- oblio 8y agoI agree, but it's a super narrow niche for most people. Definitely one much smaller than the current hype for blockchains.
- lojack 8y agoWhile I don't necessarily disagree with you on that, and I do think a lot of the hype comes from speculation, its worth noting that many ubiquitous technologies we take for granted started as a narrow niche.