Comments on: Distribution 2.0: The shelf wars are over

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:50:58 +0000

I don’t miss shrink-wrapped software but the inefficiencies of that distribution model sometimes benefitted consumers, in as much as there had to be a certain level of demand before something was available, and a level of demand implies something worth having. Now I can have anything but spend ages trying to find independent reviews of competing products to pick winners.

On the flipside, web app’s are excellent when you have a minimal or occasional requirement that would never have justified buying shrink-wrap, but you can pay as you go at a good price. And I think the services you can get now *do* rival installed software in many areas. Still, horses for courses.

By: » Weekend Reading - January 17, 2009 | StartupNorth

» Weekend Reading - January 17, 2009 | StartupNorth — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:03:57 +0000

[...] your heart during this Nuclear Winter: FreshBooks’ Mike McDerment on Distribution 2.0 Winners & Losers. Wellington Financial topped up their Fund III with $25M for a total $150M. And, Wellington’s [...]

By: It’s All About Earning a Buck | CloudAve

It’s All About Earning a Buck | CloudAve — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:41:55 +0000

[...] different. Sure traditional channels are much less important than previously – a fact discussed by Mike from FreshBooks, the fact that software sold off-the-shelf is gone – but channels [...]

By: Mike McDerment

Mike McDerment — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:19:14 +0000

@chris – totally agree – all this is *great* for consumers.

By: Chris Schmitt

Chris Schmitt — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:00:03 +0000

Placing product on shelves via the ‘old’ software distribution model is very costly and inefficient so I’m glad to see it go. Plus you don’t necessarily get the best product.

I think the biggest losers are the retailers who will see a high margin product line go away (not unlike what’s happened to music stores). The big software makers will have to adapt and I think they have for the most part – Microsoft and Adobe for example, sell a ton of software online.

The big winners are the consumers who now have access to far more innovative and useful products. Moreover, these products have to earn their way into the consumers home or business by providing good value.