DaveWr;525905 Wrote: > The real problem for those that follow these forums, is that there is no > Logitech involvement. What remains is a small, very committed bunch of > ex Slim Devices employees, trying their best. but where is the steering > comments of Logitech business management - the equivalent of Sean or > Dean coments / actions. > > In this vacuum, rumours expand, change. Sales and support messages / > actions are not aligned with the Logitech developers that post on these > Forums. > > In this climate, the loyal customer base starts to question the future > commitment, but even then no Logitech management comment. > I think the "problem" is really that we historically have been spoiled with very good communication, both with marketing, support and developers.
The problem is that Logitech and the Squeezebox development is now switching to the same level of communication with users as other large companies. There are a few developers that have been here during the old days and still wants to keep the old communication level but their management probably want them to focus on finishing up the next product instead of spending time in the forum. The result of all this is that we keep complaining because sometimes there seems to be someone listening (the developers) and all we do is making both them and ourselves more frustrated. As already said, there are basically no large companies that have a connection with the end users on the same level as old Slim Devices had. This kind of connection just isn't possible when the organization grows. If you like an extreme example, look at companies like Apple which is extremely closed. We all really want the best of the two worlds: - The communication level we had with Slim Devices - The economical backbone/stability and distribution channel we have with Logitech However, I'm starting to realize that this will probably never happen because those things is VERY hard to combine. It's easy to think these things can be combined, but remember that's a lot different to answer questions from 500 users compared to answer questions from 50000 users. It just takes too much time in a large company so you can't prioritize it in front of other things that produces economical result. I'm not sure about the economy on old Slim Devices but I suspect they wouldn't survive a product delay similar to what we have seen with the Radio, battery and Touch. Of course, they would probably not have put themselves in this situation, releasing several new products in this short time frame. Still, even thought it might not feel so, I really think the Squeezebox product still lives because someone inside Logitech believes in it and even is prepared to loose some money temporary to make it a success in the long run. It's easy to say that Logitech can just announce a release date in the forum, but remember that posting a date that later has to be delays is often a bad idea. The developers still do it sometimes, probably just to temporary stop to complains to get rid of some frustration so they can focus on the development, but this still doesn't mean it's a good idea to announce a date you aren't 110% sure you are going to reach. It's also easy to say that Logitech could release a half finished products to early adopters, but remember that this product is also going to get in the hands of reviewers which will give it bad critique and make that available to mass market users and decrease their interest. Fortunately, the good news is that the Radio and Touch really is the most exciting products in the streaming music player business I've ever seen, both in reality and on paper. IMHO, they are definitely worth some initial frustration and waiting time before the launch. I'm personally hoping that Logitech will at least try to pick and keep the good parts from Slim Devices, like: - The connection with the beta testers, at least the hardware beta testers - The connection with the third party developers - Try to keep the community alive so it can help them with the support issues I still have some fear they might fail with all this but there have been some good indications during the last months, well hidden behind all the complains also seen in this forum. Trying to keep the connection between the management and end users is a dead end in a big company as Logitech, it just won't work. Anyone wondering about the release date, before you complain in the forum at least contact your nearest Logitech sales contact and ask them. The only answer you are going to get in the forum is from the Logitech developers and community members that guesses or seen some rumor. To everyone complaining: - What would you think of the Squeezebox products if this forum didn't exist ? - Logitech management can easily shut down this forum if all they see is a lot of complaints and angry users that gives their products bad reputation. I'm not saying that we should be silent, but sometimes something that 10 people has already said doesn't have to be said another time. - Remember that before you fill this forum with even more posts that cause more frustration and make experienced people avoid the forum because they just see a lot of complaints. Now, instead of complaining focus on posting ideas of new functionality, screen savers and other useful applets you would like to see on the Radio and Touch. -- erland Erland Isaksson 'My homepage' (http://erland.isaksson.info) (Install my plugins through Extension Downloader) (Developer of 'TrackStat, SQLPlayList, DynamicPlayList, Custom Browse, Custom Scan, Custom Skip, Multi Library, Title Switcher and Database Query plugins' (http://wiki.erland.isaksson.info/index.php/Category:SlimServer)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ erland's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3124 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=76286 _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
