Thread

1. librasteve · 1790541818 · focus · HN ↗

   hmmm … I so want to use this … but the webpage buries this

     Is it really free?
     Yes. The editor and local files stay free, with no account   
     required. Beauty Maximus is an optional subscription for 
     keeping a library current across Apple devices and for meeting
     notes that transcribe and summarize on device.
   

   so not free as in open source, nor free as in beer either

   1. thiagoperes · 1790548535 · focus · HN ↗

      It's free as in: no logins, no servers, everything is local and using open formats, export anytime. Syncing is paid, but if it's a huge detractor I can get you a promo code for a year's worth, just email hi at peres dot pro

      1. librasteve · 1790576265 · focus · HN ↗

         ok … I’ll play ball. I really like your idea and the demo is very convincing. I already use Apple Notes as my daily driver over Obsidian, Bear and the others because I do not want to pay $$ per month just to sync notes between iPhone and Mac. However, I would much prefer a native md option over whatever proprietary rtf stuff that Notes does. So I am your perfect target user.

         Show me a well designed md centric notes taker that uses my own drive, syncs between Apple devices, has no subscription and I am listening.

         So I scrolled (and scrolled) through your website to find the pricing section, and finally unearthed your very cryptic note about paying for the power option that allows me to sync. This raises three red flags to me:

           1. it is hidden and is similar to typical trick clauses that many software products vendors play … you reserve the right to hold back a key feature and make it payable
         
           2. it is cryptic - as you say your product is free on my devices and on web and it is shareable … maybe I can use dropbox to sync, but maybe not … now I have to invest effort to test the limits
         
           3. nothing prevents you from drawing the line quite high for now, but then playing more and more stuff behind your paywall over time, forgive me but (1) has already lowered my trust in you
         

         Now - thank you for offering me a free subscription for one year … but I don’t want to strand a years’ worth of my notes behind a proprietary paywall. This tells me that (i) your intent is to take my money and (ii) you don’t understand my objection. So no thanks for the free puppy.

         So here now, I am out. To get me in, you need to win back my trust. Not easy. But your product is very cool. So I make you a counter offer:

           1. make your product free for ever including synching across the Apple ecosystem to all personal users
         
           2. look at a product like BBEdit and adopt their freemium model where business users must pay a fair fee and it is enforced via a self declaration or maybe where folk want to collaborate with 3+ colleagues or something (I want you to make money, but I will not pay a subscription for device synching a text editor)
         
           3. open source your code so I can fork and build myself if you go under a bus
         
           4. make your policy clear and upfront (a pricing section with free vs paid comparison would be good)

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