Community WHS Add-Ins: A Change in Direction

By on March 7, 2010 in Add-in News, News, Software

I also asked Brain Binnerup, author of MyMovies for WHS, for his input.  He preferred a Skype conversation, and I asked if we could use IM.  As we are 7 to 8 hours apart in time zones, and both have other commitments to deal with, we were never able to quite get together.  When that does happen, I will post a follow-up article to include his comments.

So, that is that.  The comments included above are unfiltered, and I was personally quite impressed with the thoughtful and intelligent responses I received.  As you read through those comments, you can obviously get a very good idea of the questions I was asking.  I wanted to make the article basically a forum from which the software authors could present their thoughts on why they want a return on their investment.  Hopefully, I have succeeded in presenting their case by the use of their own thoughts on this matter.

You, the reader

OK, you have read a few of my thoughts from a user perspective.  You have read a lot more of the thoughts of the software developers.  It is time for you to chime in and let me (and those developers) know your thoughts.

Are you happy to pay for Windows Home Server add-ins? Do you see the growth of commercial add-ins a good thing for the Windows Home Server ecosystem or not? It’s your soapbox – let’s hear your comments!

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About Jim Clark

Hello. I’m from the heartland of the U.S. Lots of corn and beans, although Iowa is a lot more than just farmland. It also has a few computer enthusiasts (no, not me!). I’ve been around PCs since I got my 1st PC XT aloooong time ago. WGS is one of the first sites I found centered around WHS. And the best. Every once in awhile, I do get away from the KB and enjoy time with and my wife and our 4 kids. And I do have a day job.
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  • diehard

    You can definitely see a difference with the newer AdminiMe and Disk management addin from there previous version. However the pricing should be reasonable or some users will just abaondon them. I like the option of a nag or a compact and full version for these types of addins.

  • JC24

    Pay models for add-ins are ok as long as developers remember to keep the prices reasonable ($10.00 or less depending on the functionality). For end users it is difficult to justify spending hundreds on the server it self and then spending hundreds more on add-ins that only have one function. Also developers need to consider if you plan to charge for software, it must to be unique and innovative and not just mimic functionalities of other free software with added WHS console access. To me it does not make sense to pay for a disk defrag software or disk utility software, or any other system utility. I can just as easily use free software to perform the same tasks using remote desktop so why should I have to pay for these functionality? Paid add-ins should be geared more towards entertainment features and remote streaming of content and not add-ins that perform simple system tasks. The other consideration for developers is that once you start charging for software, customers will have the right to demand relatively bug free software with full developer support and not just an add-in that gets released with many bugs and never has updates or support from software author.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jim_Clark Jim_Clark

      "customers will have the right to demand relatively bug free software with full developer support"

      At the risk of sounding cynical, you must not use Microsoft OS's! Sorry, I could not help that one! ;)

      • scoob101

        A bad workman blames his tools!…. but joking aside::

        For European residents there may be some legislative help on the way. The EU is keen to put software warranties into law.

        I`m sure small software houses and one-man-bands are not happy about it, but I am.

  • MoonT

    I'm all for developers being able to charge for their time and effort but on the understanding that the add-on (as JC24 points out) gives me a lot more than the currently available free version, or functionality not already present in the many add-ons currently available.

    I have already stumped up for AdminiMe (excellent functionality and interface) and LightsOut (no other add-on provides this functionality). However other add-ons that are changing to the paid model I have not found nearly as impressive, either offering only very limited additional functionality,adding useless features to distinguish them from the previous core functionality that other add-ons provide, or are vastly overpriced for the job that they do.

    If developers can provide end users with functionality that is genuinely useful and offers unique features, then sure lets pay them. If however as a number of them seem to have done and continue to stick old products in nothing more than a shiny new box, then I say stick to the free alternatives.

  • Mike Lowrey

    From my point of view (as user and developer) it’s self-evident okay to charge money for a product, but I believe that it’s better to develop a module based software.
    So you are able to sell each module for a lower price…

    I think this way is best because if you look at steam or itunes, you can see that cheap products are often bought because you don’t have to think about such a low amount of money.
    If I have to pay 20$ for software, I will think whether it’s the money worth or not, if I have to pay only 5-8$, I don’t have to think necessarily about this amount…
    That’s why each “weekend-deal” in steam store is successful.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

      Took the words out of my mouth, on steam I don't even consider the money if the title seems like it could keep me engaged for a few hours. I buy much more 1-5 pound games than full priced releases.

      Some valid points above and I think iTunes/Steam have set a very likable standard of being able to purchase in small quantities.

      Im actually on the fence about disk managment becuase the storage tab combined with my perfet disk and SMART gives me almost all the info I need.

  • JerryW

    For the most part I agree with the comments so far. However, there is an exception. This exception is with the add-in AdminMe. Though, I love the interface, the new look, and I believe is a well developed add-in, I do not feel that the developer has offered me something that I could not have gotten already with other add-ins that are free or own my own, provided you understand Windows 2003. I don't see the real usefuleness. Now, AutoExit, did offer something useful.

    I too am a developer, though I am not developing for WHS, I have written many applications that my company uses on a daily basis. I never have found server monitors a must in a home environment. I say this because as a developer I create applications that should already take into account CPU, memory, etc. I know, you may not agree with me but it is an opinion.

    I simply feel that if a developer is going to start charging and closing the door to freeware, that is fine, as long as the developer is offering something that one can find useful and most of all, a unique approach, or idea. An example is Mike Haven and team, over at homeserverland.com, creating add-ins that extend the use of Quicken, Quickbooks, and soon an add-in to make it easier to find and install add-ins through a unified console. It is this uniqueness, like Lights-Out, WHS Download Manager, and the list goes on, that sets these developers apart and warrants the price for their time and ingenuity.

  • scoob101

    Its not a great surprise that things are moving in this direction. Some devs look at the relativeley new "apps store" concept for selling small applications, and think quite rightly, "I want a peice of that action".

    If you don`t like it, then blame Apple for monetising small applications so successfully!

  • DV-Design

    As a user, in this economy and job market, i have to decide where im going to cut the fat. For me its easiest to start with the non-tangibles and things that i dont NEED. Software generally falls under this category for most.

    The smartest software companies be it games, utilities, etc. have shifted from pay-to-use models to other innovative means for making money while still keeping their users. Many of them using means that either shift the burden of revenue off the end user to advertisers or other companies. Others have adopted premium fees (support, extra features, etc).

    The companies and devs that are able to either completely remove or alleviate the financial burden from the end user are the ones who will persevere through hard times and keep me as a user.

  • Peter

    I can't add too much to what has gone before except to confirm the idea that when we "End Users" see real value in an add-in (or anything else) we are for the most part content to pay a fair price for it. Obviously I don't want to get into some kind of "App Store" situation: with dozens of similar and largely poor-quality Apps clogging-up my "bandwidth" – in all senses of that word.

    Stuff on the 'web is never "free". Much of it appears like the NHS (in the UK) "Free at the point of delivery", but someone somewhere has invested time, money, enthusiasm etc to produce it.
    I believe it is essential that we support developers financially – they've got to eat too (even if it is only Pizza!). The issue is however what model we use. Personally I don't care for advert-based systems, so I'm happy to pay a fair price. A quick look at Adobe's UK pricing shows what an "unfair" price looks like.

  • http://www.paraesthesia.com Travis Illig

    I think paid add-ins are fine and, actually, inevitable. It's just like any other software. I think it'll potentially lead to a richer add-in ecosystem where someone with development skills sees an add-in they like but don't want to pay for (or want more features in) and an open source/free add-in will begin. Sort of like Adobe Photoshop vs. GIMP.

    The only thing that worries me about paid add-ins is whether the authors charging truly understand what comes along with getting paid. Folks like me will expect full support and fast turnaround – if there's an issue I come across and I report it, you don't get to say, "Sorry, I'm on vacation for a week, I'll get to you when I come back." I paid. Part of that payment is an implicit contract that you'll support me (unless you clearly state otherwise prior to my paying). It sounded from the article like Rick Drasch gets it; do all the others?

  • Michael

    Of course developers can charge what they want, and if so inclined they should be compensated for their work. How anyone could argue those points, is beyond me.

    As for me, however, I have a definite limit to what I am willing to pay for an add-in for anything, and that limit is arbitrarily set to $10. Anything more, and I can live without it.

  • snowdins

    I see now that Lights Out costs 22 bucks? I do not see the value in paying 22 dollars just to put my computer to sleep after a backup.

    Whats keeping someone else from creating a free add-in that does this feature and more?

    • DrewE

      Well if you do not have the need then don't worry about it.
      I DO have the need. I only want my machines to be running when needed.
      This is THE BEST WHS add-in that I have seen yet. It combines the functionality that took FOUR (4) other add-in into one. Make WHS a GREEN system like NO OTHER.
      My WHS Server ONLY runs when any PC is up OR when the backups are being done. Other than that they are powered down saving as much electricity as possible.
      If you don't need this because all of your machines should be running or you handle this differently, more power to you. BUT for anyone who wants to conserve power, this is the way to GO.

  • DaveD

    Snowdins, I find it rather distasteful when an add-in developer such as yourself has the nerve to criticise what is probably the most useful piece of software available to the Windows Home Server platform when you clearly have very limited knowledge of it's overall functionality. This software has saved me more than the cost of purchase in energy bills alone and contrary to your statement it does not merely provide a mechanism to turn off a client.

    P80 on the other hand is a security nightmare and provides little functionality not presented by other add-ins. In fact it's most useful features depend on the Autoexit add-in. Men in glass houses should not throw stones

    • snowdins

      Wow! Thats a fantastic response! Keep flinging stones buddy!

      I know what Lights Out does and does not do. However I find that the price tag is high. I spent a nice chunk of money on a energy monitor for my home, so you can save me any comments on spending money to save money. I was responding to this article and to others that felt 5-10 dollars was a good price for add-ins. I agree that this is a good price, I do not agree that 22 is.

      P80 won second place in 2 readers polls. I guess your comments about little functionality and security problems are based on ?, or perhaps your insinuating that the users of WGS and the other forum are not that bright? P80 was also demonstrated at a PC conference in Japan by a MS Japan WHS Manager. If P80 was crap then why would it be recognized as anything but.

      I am unaware of any security nightmare that exists. If you know of one, then you are the only one.

  • DrewE

    Yes GOOD software does have a price.
    GREAT software is always better and the developer can ask what ever they want.
    They will know if they hit the right price point by the number of license requests they get.
    It is perfectly normal and good that WHS is getting to this point.
    I hope the market grows and grows and grows because this is a GREAT solution for the home and small businesses where there is NO IT expert there that needs to pet the system on a regular basis to keep it up and running.
    Yes the pay for add-ins need to add enough value that makes them worth their price.
    The BIG companies should allow the trail version runs first. I have had two such products that were too much for my machine and it is better to find out before I buy. I saves both myself and the company time and trouble. If I had paid for the software first and found out that it was NOT ready for the normal WHS machine I would have to fight to get my money back. With the 'try first' I can attempt to contact the company first if there is a problem and if they don't respond to a potential customers problems then they will be just as bad if not worse with the paying customers.

    Put your best foot forward. First impressions last longer.

    I thank ALL of the WHS add-in developers for their work, keep up the good work and show us what we are missing and why we need your add-in.