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Hi, this is not a "what would you do" type of answer, but rather a quick observation. I like your site rapidefs.com (btw, you're missing a dot between www and r

Hi, this is not a "what would you do" type of answer, but rather a quick observation. I like your site rapidefs.com (btw, you're missing a dot between www and r in your post). It's fast, it's useful, it looks good. But it's not really anything new. It's a dictionary just like many others. Or have I missed something? Also, I have clicked on fb like, and then noticed "US patent pending" in footer. Nothing personal, but I immediately unliked your site. I do not claim I know what the patent is about, nor do I care. I'm just, in general, against patents. Too many ridiculous ones out there, wouldn't you agree?

sagacity 16y ago
Thanks for the reply, and for taking the trouble to point out the missing dot (now fixed). >I'm just, in general, against patents. Too many ridiculous ones out there, wouldn't you agree? Certainly agree and we're sailing (more or less) in the same boat on this. Please check my posts in the thread below. While I don't know if this would be adequate for you to fb like RapiDefs again or not ;-), I'm sure it'll clarify my stand on this at least somewhat: :-) http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2254680 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2254680 Edit: Minor changes
sagacity 16y ago
> It's a dictionary just like many others. Or have I missed something? Perhaps, you're a very fast typist and typed the whole word before RapiDefs had had a chance to show its thing. :-) Please try typing only a few (beginning) letters of any word to really see it in action.
- selectnull 16y ago
  Yes, I've seen it the first time. You type a few characters and get a list of matching word/phrases/definitions in your database. My question is still: so what? (or am I still missing it? :) ) Please understand, I like it. I'm trying to give you a feedback in light of your original question, and that's whether you should quit (or slow down) work on your main product, and focus on by-products, of which this is one example. In that light, I really do not see anything worth pursuing. Or, ask yourself this question: can you make money of it? is that money greater that your main product? If those kind of answers are yes, than and only than would I ever consider changing my focus.
  - sagacity 16y ago
    > Please understand, I like it. I'm trying to give you a feedback in light of your original question Thank you, and never suspected any hostility or ill-will in your posts. :-) As a matter of face, RapiDefs is one of the minor by-products, done and put away already. (We will keep expanding it from time to time, but that's about it.) The major by-product that is causing my indecision is not out yet but it (is totally different from RapiDefs or IPLoc and) has a great deal higher potential as compared to these. Actually, we've assessed its potential to be a lot higher than even the primary project; and hence the indecision.
    - selectnull 16y ago
      > Actually, we've assessed its potential to be a lot higher than even the primary project; and hence the indecision. If you have assessed the potential to be higher than your primary project, why the indecision? Does your primary project already have customers that you don't want to lose?
      - sagacity 16y ago
        No, nothing like that. However, it (the primary) project is a technology that can take the current state of the art of information retrieval methodologies just a notch further; something that can have a compelling value proposition for search players to acquire. By contrast, the major off-shoot (by-product) is in the SN sector, with some unique twists. It will (probably) create a new segment/category in the SN space, without actually competing with any existing player and has a high probability of going viral. And so the dilemma continues - which way to go?
        trevelyan 16y ago
        You're not giving anyone any useful information. And when anyone gives you advice you just throw out a few empty statements ("current state of the art of information retrieval..."). If you really want useful feedback stop wasting people's time and just put both products out there so others can give you informed opinions. Otherwise just work on whichever you prefer. You can build up anything in your mind until it seems like the next big thing but the reality is you won't be acquired and will have to figure out a way to make money with whatever you do if you want it to turn into a business. If you like the work you're more likely to put in the hard time necessary to create something wonderful that attracts and deserves others' attention. So do what you enjoy.

sagacity 16y ago

Thanks for the reply, and for taking the trouble to point out the missing dot (now fixed). >I'm just, in general, against patents. Too many ridiculous ones out there, wouldn't you agree? Certainly agree and we're sailing (more or less) in the same boat on this. Please check my posts in the thread below. While I don't know if this would be adequate for you to fb like RapiDefs again or not ;-), I'm sure it'll clarify my stand on this at least somewhat: :-) http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2254680 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2254680 Edit: Minor changes

sagacity 16y ago

> It's a dictionary just like many others. Or have I missed something? Perhaps, you're a very fast typist and typed the whole word before RapiDefs had had a chance to show its thing. :-) Please try typing only a few (beginning) letters of any word to really see it in action.

selectnull 16y ago
Yes, I've seen it the first time. You type a few characters and get a list of matching word/phrases/definitions in your database. My question is still: so what? (or am I still missing it? :) ) Please understand, I like it. I'm trying to give you a feedback in light of your original question, and that's whether you should quit (or slow down) work on your main product, and focus on by-products, of which this is one example. In that light, I really do not see anything worth pursuing. Or, ask yourself this question: can you make money of it? is that money greater that your main product? If those kind of answers are yes, than and only than would I ever consider changing my focus.
- sagacity 16y ago
  > Please understand, I like it. I'm trying to give you a feedback in light of your original question Thank you, and never suspected any hostility or ill-will in your posts. :-) As a matter of face, RapiDefs is one of the minor by-products, done and put away already. (We will keep expanding it from time to time, but that's about it.) The major by-product that is causing my indecision is not out yet but it (is totally different from RapiDefs or IPLoc and) has a great deal higher potential as compared to these. Actually, we've assessed its potential to be a lot higher than even the primary project; and hence the indecision.
  - selectnull 16y ago
    > Actually, we've assessed its potential to be a lot higher than even the primary project; and hence the indecision. If you have assessed the potential to be higher than your primary project, why the indecision? Does your primary project already have customers that you don't want to lose?
    - sagacity 16y ago
      No, nothing like that. However, it (the primary) project is a technology that can take the current state of the art of information retrieval methodologies just a notch further; something that can have a compelling value proposition for search players to acquire. By contrast, the major off-shoot (by-product) is in the SN sector, with some unique twists. It will (probably) create a new segment/category in the SN space, without actually competing with any existing player and has a high probability of going viral. And so the dilemma continues - which way to go?
      - trevelyan 16y ago
        You're not giving anyone any useful information. And when anyone gives you advice you just throw out a few empty statements ("current state of the art of information retrieval..."). If you really want useful feedback stop wasting people's time and just put both products out there so others can give you informed opinions. Otherwise just work on whichever you prefer. You can build up anything in your mind until it seems like the next big thing but the reality is you won't be acquired and will have to figure out a way to make money with whatever you do if you want it to turn into a business. If you like the work you're more likely to put in the hard time necessary to create something wonderful that attracts and deserves others' attention. So do what you enjoy.