3 ms·

Despite what they say about getting lower price deals on components, it looks very preplanned "strategy". Either way the next couple of days will be make or br

by pavs 13y ago

Despite what they say about getting lower price deals on components, it looks very preplanned "strategy". Either way the next couple of days will be make or break, if this last price change doesn't get any significant contribution in short time, I don't think they can reach the target anymore.

eterm 13y ago
If it is planned it's a very cynical way of meeting a target by effectively lowering mid-campaign. Having thousands donate at $800 and the refunding the difference down to $695 means that the "target" is met but the actual net amount is lowered by that amount that needs to be refunded. It doesn't actually help them meet the lowered target either, it simply lowers the target while getting them no closer to the target by lowering their effective amount raised at the same time. That's why I don't think it was planned. It feels to me less planned and more reacting to not meeting their target but reacting in a not so clever way. The thing is, if they can't keep steady during the fund-raising part I don't trust them to deliver on the hard part of building the hardware. Either way I also don't believe this is in any way really connected to lower component price deals, this is marketing but in my opinion it's not clever marketing.
- achiang 13y ago
  > Either way I also don't believe this is in any way really connected to lower component price deals You don't have to believe it, but it is true.
- ErikHuisman 13y ago
  I think you're right. If they'd truly wanted to build the best speced phone possible they would've used the savings to build an even better phone. I can imagine this scenario going on: They got a bit scared to loose the project altogether. Brainstormed ways to inject some buzz into the fundraiser. A pricedrop was one of the possibilities (it also lowers the barrier to pledge). Conveniently it was also somewhat true because early indications from suppliers. They lowered their expectations from "We want to build the best fucking phone possible" to "We want to build the best phone with great hardware" Nothing wrong with that but dropping the price is still marketing ;)
  - Shorel 13y ago
    Shuttleworth already has the money to pay for the phones from this pocket. Even the best possible phones. What he needs is to prove there's a market. They are still short of this goal by a large margin. The price drop helps toward this goal.
niemeyer 13y ago
> Despite what they say about getting lower price deals on components, it looks very preplanned "strategy". I was there. I've overlooked the spreadsheets with component parts, and people having phone calls and debating about how to possibly lower the cost even more. I can also say that getting to $695 wasn't straightforward at all. We all love a bit of conspiracy, but please allow a bit of credit to the people trying to pull it off.
- pavs 13y ago
  Don't get me wrong. I support Ubuntu Edge 100%, and I am sorry that it sounded like I am fueling conspiracy. Reading marketing-speak by other companies has made me generally cynical about such announcements that seemed to me very conveniently timed. I am glad to be wrong.

by pavs 13y ago

eterm 13y ago

If it is planned it's a very cynical way of meeting a target by effectively lowering mid-campaign. Having thousands donate at $800 and the refunding the difference down to $695 means that the "target" is met but the actual net amount is lowered by that amount that needs to be refunded. It doesn't actually help them meet the lowered target either, it simply lowers the target while getting them no closer to the target by lowering their effective amount raised at the same time. That's why I don't think it was planned. It feels to me less planned and more reacting to not meeting their target but reacting in a not so clever way. The thing is, if they can't keep steady during the fund-raising part I don't trust them to deliver on the hard part of building the hardware. Either way I also don't believe this is in any way really connected to lower component price deals, this is marketing but in my opinion it's not clever marketing.

achiang 13y ago
> Either way I also don't believe this is in any way really connected to lower component price deals You don't have to believe it, but it is true.
ErikHuisman 13y ago
I think you're right. If they'd truly wanted to build the best speced phone possible they would've used the savings to build an even better phone. I can imagine this scenario going on: They got a bit scared to loose the project altogether. Brainstormed ways to inject some buzz into the fundraiser. A pricedrop was one of the possibilities (it also lowers the barrier to pledge). Conveniently it was also somewhat true because early indications from suppliers. They lowered their expectations from "We want to build the best fucking phone possible" to "We want to build the best phone with great hardware" Nothing wrong with that but dropping the price is still marketing ;)
- Shorel 13y ago
  Shuttleworth already has the money to pay for the phones from this pocket. Even the best possible phones. What he needs is to prove there's a market. They are still short of this goal by a large margin. The price drop helps toward this goal.

niemeyer 13y ago

> Despite what they say about getting lower price deals on components, it looks very preplanned "strategy". I was there. I've overlooked the spreadsheets with component parts, and people having phone calls and debating about how to possibly lower the cost even more. I can also say that getting to $695 wasn't straightforward at all. We all love a bit of conspiracy, but please allow a bit of credit to the people trying to pull it off.

pavs 13y ago
Don't get me wrong. I support Ubuntu Edge 100%, and I am sorry that it sounded like I am fueling conspiracy. Reading marketing-speak by other companies has made me generally cynical about such announcements that seemed to me very conveniently timed. I am glad to be wrong.