this is both for "feeling the water" and for real problems (e.g. as things are now i can't afford any advertising)
so what do you think? frank feedback welcome
what if...
Moderators: fgagnon, nikos, Site Mods
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nikos
- Site Admin
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what if...
i am contemplating a price hike of EUR5 to coincide with the forthcoming 1.2 release (no worries for existing customers, updates are still free!)
this is both for "feeling the water" and for real problems (e.g. as things are now i can't afford any advertising)
so what do you think? frank feedback welcome
this is both for "feeling the water" and for real problems (e.g. as things are now i can't afford any advertising)
so what do you think? frank feedback welcome
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Steve
- Member
- Posts: 13
- Joined: 2005 Jan 09, 06:04
- Location: Los Gatos, CA
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ricmarte
- Member
- Posts: 45
- Joined: 2005 Feb 01, 17:19
Promote, Promote, Promote
I answered YES, but with a few caveats and suggestions:
I know its long, but hey, you asked... and I feel like procrastinating:
1) as steve mentioned in the previous post, the enhancements you have added are worth it. However, folks need to know how down and dirty you can get with this little program.
2) 25Eu = $32.5 so that might discourage some US folks. When I registered the exchange rate left it $27 and change. This is more than what you have when your are broke and on a budget, but low enough to justify the time and effort you will save by using X2.
3) You mentioned that the increase is required to conduct proper adversiting. Here are some sorta free things
a) I think some of us can help by reviewing X2 in websites like download.com, etc. Perhaps put links on personal websites.
b) But I think a main selling point has to arrive from your website. You really need to put out there how powerful this tool it, expecially with the new addons.
c) You can also put convenient links to the iframe features. Since you are essentially promoting other software, you can ask those software vendor to at least mention X2 as a program that interfaces with their software.
d) In addition, put links (with warnings) to some of the registry hacks some of the forum participants have put up. I use these and it would be nice for visitors to see how easy it is to tweak some features on and off.
e) Your PDF manual is really something to be proud of. It is very well documented. You need to port that manual to a web site and have potential buyers see what kinds of issues that can resolved with your tool.
e) You also need to keep your website simple. I know this sounds contradictory but: Consider that you have a product that makes file management easier. You want to tell everyday folks who just need to get things done faster, that they can use X2. At the same time, you would like to attract those folks who also do a lot of file management but love to tinker with programs, addons, etc. Your website should appeal to both of these potential customers without turning any of them off by too much complexity or too little information.
f) keep stricking the delicate balance in the features you provide X2 lite and X2 pro. I was a user of X2 lite and I even added some search program to enhance X2 but it really was not the same as having X2 pro. However, I had to try X2 and tinker with it to see that difference. You really need to highlight how powerful the search engine properies of X2 and how well integrated it is with the preview feature and the editor program.
g) In addition to highlighting how X2 works well with other program, again, highlight how well X2 handles things other programs do. This may persuade people who do some file management tasks very infrequently, to use your program. The benefit being that your program can supplant over programs, taking up less space, with a program that is less than 1 Mb. It also means a few less programs that will need to buy which they were only going to use once in a while. X2, because it does so much, is intended to be used for everyday file management.
O.K. enough procrastination. I'm off to writing a paper then I'll find some sites to promote X2.
-Ric
I know its long, but hey, you asked... and I feel like procrastinating:
1) as steve mentioned in the previous post, the enhancements you have added are worth it. However, folks need to know how down and dirty you can get with this little program.
2) 25Eu = $32.5 so that might discourage some US folks. When I registered the exchange rate left it $27 and change. This is more than what you have when your are broke and on a budget, but low enough to justify the time and effort you will save by using X2.
3) You mentioned that the increase is required to conduct proper adversiting. Here are some sorta free things
a) I think some of us can help by reviewing X2 in websites like download.com, etc. Perhaps put links on personal websites.
b) But I think a main selling point has to arrive from your website. You really need to put out there how powerful this tool it, expecially with the new addons.
c) You can also put convenient links to the iframe features. Since you are essentially promoting other software, you can ask those software vendor to at least mention X2 as a program that interfaces with their software.
d) In addition, put links (with warnings) to some of the registry hacks some of the forum participants have put up. I use these and it would be nice for visitors to see how easy it is to tweak some features on and off.
e) Your PDF manual is really something to be proud of. It is very well documented. You need to port that manual to a web site and have potential buyers see what kinds of issues that can resolved with your tool.
e) You also need to keep your website simple. I know this sounds contradictory but: Consider that you have a product that makes file management easier. You want to tell everyday folks who just need to get things done faster, that they can use X2. At the same time, you would like to attract those folks who also do a lot of file management but love to tinker with programs, addons, etc. Your website should appeal to both of these potential customers without turning any of them off by too much complexity or too little information.
f) keep stricking the delicate balance in the features you provide X2 lite and X2 pro. I was a user of X2 lite and I even added some search program to enhance X2 but it really was not the same as having X2 pro. However, I had to try X2 and tinker with it to see that difference. You really need to highlight how powerful the search engine properies of X2 and how well integrated it is with the preview feature and the editor program.
g) In addition to highlighting how X2 works well with other program, again, highlight how well X2 handles things other programs do. This may persuade people who do some file management tasks very infrequently, to use your program. The benefit being that your program can supplant over programs, taking up less space, with a program that is less than 1 Mb. It also means a few less programs that will need to buy which they were only going to use once in a while. X2, because it does so much, is intended to be used for everyday file management.
O.K. enough procrastination. I'm off to writing a paper then I'll find some sites to promote X2.
-Ric
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Pete Mounce
- New Member
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- Joined: 2004 Jun 21, 10:46
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Demetris
- Silver Member
- Posts: 217
- Joined: 2004 Jul 04, 17:18
Nikos, I voted no. For two reasons.
I think what is most important is to maintain the delicate balance, as ricmarte put it, between the two versions. As it is now, x2 lite is an excellent tool in itself, and at the same time the best introduction to x2 pro. And if I were you, I would consider renaming x2 lite to x2 free. The name is misleading!
btw, the bSingleWindow settings do not work for me (SP2, unicode version 1.1.0.90). I tried both the HKEY_CURRENT...xplorer2_UC and the HKEY_CURRENT...xplorer2_UC\MainFrame Settings keys. Am I missing something?
- It's two early for this. It would put me off, even though I am not affected. (This is more a matter of principle)
- You are now just below what is in my opinion a critical psychological barrier: 19.95. (This is a matter of business)
I think what is most important is to maintain the delicate balance, as ricmarte put it, between the two versions. As it is now, x2 lite is an excellent tool in itself, and at the same time the best introduction to x2 pro. And if I were you, I would consider renaming x2 lite to x2 free. The name is misleading!
btw, the bSingleWindow settings do not work for me (SP2, unicode version 1.1.0.90). I tried both the HKEY_CURRENT...xplorer2_UC and the HKEY_CURRENT...xplorer2_UC\MainFrame Settings keys. Am I missing something?
Last edited by Demetris on 2005 Feb 19, 18:58, edited 1 time in total.
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ricmarte
- Member
- Posts: 45
- Joined: 2005 Feb 01, 17:19
I like this idea! FREE and PRO are terms that focus on catchy and positive aspects of X2. The FREE aspect should attract those folks who need a tool to get some file management task done more efficiently (than Windows Explorer can provide). FREE emphasizes NO RISK, so why not try. When they see how powerful x2 FREE is, they will be hooked. As their needs and demands grow, they will plead for more features in the FREE version or pay to upgrade to the PRO version.And if I were you, I would consider renaming x2 lite to x2 free. The name is misleading!
This happened to me yesterday when i had icons for xx03, xx06, xx08, and Betaxx09 on my system. I somehow kept launching the wrong icon and xx03 was loading. To fix it:btw, the bSingleWindow settings do not work for me (SP2, unicode version 1.1.0.90). I tried both the HKEY_CURRENT...xplorer2_UC and the HKEY_CURRENT...xplorer2_UC\MainFrame Settings keys. Am I missing something?
1) I got rid of the alpha icons,
2) cleared the "ZabaraKatranemia Plc "registry folder.
3) Installed Beta xx09.
4) Restored a backup of my registry.
5) Went back and put in the bSingleWindow registry edit.
Works fine, now.
-ric
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Demetris
- Silver Member
- Posts: 217
- Joined: 2004 Jul 04, 17:18
Thanks for the applause and for the tip, ric. I uninstalled, reinstalled with a clean registry, but nothing changed. :?
I am eager to see this working, because I hate making the round of the Alt+Tab panel every time I need x2.
I want to be able to hit the hotkey I have assigned to it, and jumb straight to the running instance. (Not many programs support this in single-instance mode. I hope it will work in this way in x2.)
I am eager to see this working, because I hate making the round of the Alt+Tab panel every time I need x2.
I want to be able to hit the hotkey I have assigned to it, and jumb straight to the running instance. (Not many programs support this in single-instance mode. I hope it will work in this way in x2.)
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ricmarte
- Member
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- Joined: 2005 Feb 01, 17:19
Here is what the registry setting looks like:
-------Copy the test below this line------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ZabaraKatranemia Plc\xplorer2_UC]
"bSingleWindow"=dword:00000002
------Copy the text above this line------
I apologize you are already familiar with adding to the registry. if you're not, I believe you can paste the above text into a text file as save it as "bSingleWindow.reg" without the quotes. Doubleclicking on it should insert into the registry.
Also, make sure that X2 is setup as your default directory "opener." After applying the above setting, create an empty folder on your desktop and name it whatever you want. Launch X2 and open some other folder or directory. Minimize X2 and double-click on the folder on desktop. Now, restore the X2 window and see if there is a tab for the folder you double-clicked on.
Goodluck!
-ric
-------Copy the test below this line------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ZabaraKatranemia Plc\xplorer2_UC]
"bSingleWindow"=dword:00000002
------Copy the text above this line------
I apologize you are already familiar with adding to the registry. if you're not, I believe you can paste the above text into a text file as save it as "bSingleWindow.reg" without the quotes. Doubleclicking on it should insert into the registry.
Also, make sure that X2 is setup as your default directory "opener." After applying the above setting, create an empty folder on your desktop and name it whatever you want. Launch X2 and open some other folder or directory. Minimize X2 and double-click on the folder on desktop. Now, restore the X2 window and see if there is a tab for the folder you double-clicked on.
Goodluck!
-ric
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nikos
- Site Admin
- Posts: 16401
- Joined: 2002 Feb 07, 15:57
- Location: UK
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nikos
- Site Admin
- Posts: 16401
- Joined: 2002 Feb 07, 15:57
- Location: UK
ps regarding the psychological limit of EUR20: the biggest concern is actually the limit in terms of US$ --most registered customers come from that country-- which crosses the $30 boundary. Will that burn me? only time will tell but (a) x2 will be still much cheaper from most managers and (b) i can always revise the pricing back to 20
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ricmarte
- Member
- Posts: 45
- Joined: 2005 Feb 01, 17:19
After examining the changes in BETAxx09 and all of the additions, I think $30 is more than reasonable. Whether the market of potential new X2 customer believes it is reasonable is another story.
One way to look at an X2 market of users is to consider those potential customers who've never used or considered using an alternative to Windows Explorer. These customers could pay full price because they've never invested in a file manager and this will be their initial investment. Placing a price/feature comparison of X2 with competitors products on the website, might go a long way to show what a great value X2 is.
Then you have potential customers who are aware of and use freeware and commercial file managers. These folks might need to be enticed with a discount. In fact, you might consider offering these customers a sub $20 priceif they can prove they are registered owners of other filemanagers. Why the sub $20 price for these customers? Well, these potential customers are likely never to buy your software because up until now, they have beeb resourceful enough to get along with the lite version or some other half-assed filemanager.
By providing the discount you will get an income stream from folks who would have forgone X2 PRO, installed some hacked version of it, or stuck to the lite version. At sub $20, registering allows them to make feature requests on the forum and provide tech support. These customers might also feel nice that they are supporting shareware authors. Last, a sub $20 price might elminate some hesitation these customers may have since they've already purchased a file manager and are likely not pleased with it. A low price makes up for the shame of having bought some crappy software that is now useless. It also makes it easier to justify shelling out a few bucks. I think once, they see the features, they won't go back.
One more thing... I wrote ealier that I thought, you should revamp the website as part of the promotion. After e-mailing with you about it, I actually went back to the X2 website saw that it was actually pretty well organized. In fact, I checked a review I made of X2 when I purchased it which was still about 10 days before I ever posted a message on the forum. In the review I posted on Download.com, I actually noted how well documented X2 is.
http://www.download.com/Xplorer2/3640-2 ... 54460.html
I think a better recommendation would have been to say that as new features are added to X2, you maintain the simplicity you have on your website, without limiting the amount of information users can extract from it.
Novice users need a readable and accessible main page. Advanced users also should have well organized access to cool tricks you can do with X2 and links to files and addons (e.g., IFilters) that enhance X2.
Good luck!
-ric
One way to look at an X2 market of users is to consider those potential customers who've never used or considered using an alternative to Windows Explorer. These customers could pay full price because they've never invested in a file manager and this will be their initial investment. Placing a price/feature comparison of X2 with competitors products on the website, might go a long way to show what a great value X2 is.
Then you have potential customers who are aware of and use freeware and commercial file managers. These folks might need to be enticed with a discount. In fact, you might consider offering these customers a sub $20 priceif they can prove they are registered owners of other filemanagers. Why the sub $20 price for these customers? Well, these potential customers are likely never to buy your software because up until now, they have beeb resourceful enough to get along with the lite version or some other half-assed filemanager.
By providing the discount you will get an income stream from folks who would have forgone X2 PRO, installed some hacked version of it, or stuck to the lite version. At sub $20, registering allows them to make feature requests on the forum and provide tech support. These customers might also feel nice that they are supporting shareware authors. Last, a sub $20 price might elminate some hesitation these customers may have since they've already purchased a file manager and are likely not pleased with it. A low price makes up for the shame of having bought some crappy software that is now useless. It also makes it easier to justify shelling out a few bucks. I think once, they see the features, they won't go back.
One more thing... I wrote ealier that I thought, you should revamp the website as part of the promotion. After e-mailing with you about it, I actually went back to the X2 website saw that it was actually pretty well organized. In fact, I checked a review I made of X2 when I purchased it which was still about 10 days before I ever posted a message on the forum. In the review I posted on Download.com, I actually noted how well documented X2 is.
http://www.download.com/Xplorer2/3640-2 ... 54460.html
I think a better recommendation would have been to say that as new features are added to X2, you maintain the simplicity you have on your website, without limiting the amount of information users can extract from it.
Novice users need a readable and accessible main page. Advanced users also should have well organized access to cool tricks you can do with X2 and links to files and addons (e.g., IFilters) that enhance X2.
Good luck!
-ric
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Demetris
- Silver Member
- Posts: 217
- Joined: 2004 Jul 04, 17:18
You are right. I was thinking only of Euros.nikos wrote:ps regarding the psychological limit of EUR20: the biggest concern is actually the limit in terms of US$ --most registered customers come from that country--
re: bSingleWindow
False alarm: It does work for folders opened from outside x2.
I was trying to do something else: while x2 runs, sitting in the taskbar, to start it through a hotkey (or shortcut icon with the exact same path), and have the running instance pop up. (It is not convenient going through Alt+Tab if you have more than three or four programs running.)
I does not do this. It just opens a new window.
I am not using any switches; always the same hotkey (or shortcut icon).
Is this possible?