4 ms·

It's bad because someone is restricting the capabilities of hardware that you own and trying to extract fees to "unlock" it.

kgermino 3y ago
Ya but that’s not new. People started getting really upset when they offered a subscription option in addition to the one time purchase. I don’t generally like subscriptions on hardware features, I wouldn’t get one and I worry about what they’ll do in the future if this test goes well. But the “hardware I own” is not any more restricted than it was before they started the subscription option.
idopmstuff 3y ago
But if you don't want that to happen, you can just pay for the full-priced version. Why is it worse for the consumer to have both of those options, as opposed to only the option where they can pay full price and not have the capabilities restricted?
- lastingwin 3y ago
  > But if you don't want that to happen, you can just pay for the full-priced version. I would never buy hardware from a company that locks the capacity down with software, so a Tesla (nor BMW) is not the car for me. > But if you don't want that to happen, you can just pay for the full-priced version. Consumers should have full access to their hardware, limiting that is limiting consumer rights. It's also bad because it encourages other companies to do the same and soon people will be left with no options.
- ryandrake 3y ago
  Imagine if a car company decided that in order to save money, their factories would only produce 4-door cars. BUT, unless you paid a large extra monthly "Sedan fee", you would only be permitted to use the front two seats. Very few customers would accept this, for the same reason that these other software gates are unacceptable.
ThatPlayer 3y ago
When the alternative is paying more for those extra capabilities you might not care about, there's nothing wrong with a consumer wanting a cheaper option.
Incipient 3y ago
I think your argument is meant to be "if telsa can sell a car with a full 100kwh battery for $10k less, they should just sell it for that price". I get it, but too few people sell for what they need to, they sell for what they CAN. if there was more competition, that would force telsa to eat into this profit margin. Same goes for all businesses and industries.

kgermino 3y ago

Ya but that’s not new. People started getting really upset when they offered a subscription option in addition to the one time purchase. I don’t generally like subscriptions on hardware features, I wouldn’t get one and I worry about what they’ll do in the future if this test goes well. But the “hardware I own” is not any more restricted than it was before they started the subscription option.

idopmstuff 3y ago

But if you don't want that to happen, you can just pay for the full-priced version. Why is it worse for the consumer to have both of those options, as opposed to only the option where they can pay full price and not have the capabilities restricted?

lastingwin 3y ago
> But if you don't want that to happen, you can just pay for the full-priced version. I would never buy hardware from a company that locks the capacity down with software, so a Tesla (nor BMW) is not the car for me. > But if you don't want that to happen, you can just pay for the full-priced version. Consumers should have full access to their hardware, limiting that is limiting consumer rights. It's also bad because it encourages other companies to do the same and soon people will be left with no options.
ryandrake 3y ago
Imagine if a car company decided that in order to save money, their factories would only produce 4-door cars. BUT, unless you paid a large extra monthly "Sedan fee", you would only be permitted to use the front two seats. Very few customers would accept this, for the same reason that these other software gates are unacceptable.

ThatPlayer 3y ago

When the alternative is paying more for those extra capabilities you might not care about, there's nothing wrong with a consumer wanting a cheaper option.

Incipient 3y ago

I think your argument is meant to be "if telsa can sell a car with a full 100kwh battery for $10k less, they should just sell it for that price". I get it, but too few people sell for what they need to, they sell for what they CAN. if there was more competition, that would force telsa to eat into this profit margin. Same goes for all businesses and industries.