[slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices
I am pleased to announce that Logitech is acquiring Slim Devices, and I am glad to have the opportunity to share the news here in our forum before the official press release goes out. We have been building a relationship with Logitech for quite some time. As we got to know their executive team, it became clear that there was a compelling opportunity for us to work together to bring Slim Devices products to the mainstream market. As you may know, Logitech recently launched the Wireless DJ music system, and also produces Harmony remote controls, which many of our customers already use with their Squeezeboxes. This is an opportunity for us to introduce Squeezebox and Transporter more quickly to a lot more people. Slim Devices will benefit from Logitechs brand, their retail channel, their expertise in developing quality hardware, and their existing portfolio of complementary products such as speakers and remotes. Logitech believes this will be a fast growing segment of their business, and we are looking forward to making that happen. One of the most exciting things about this opportunity is Logitechs enthusiasm for our open development model, and the way we collaborate as a community to improve our products. We plan to expand this model as we continue to develop great new software and hardware. SlimServer will continue to be available free of change under the GPL, and we will participate in these forums in much the same way. All of our employees have accepted new employment offers, and we will remain in our Mountain View location. Dean, Patrick and I expect to stay for the foreseeable future. Ill be here on the forums if you have any questions, and as always, welcome your feedback and ideas. Best regards, Sean -- seanadams seanadams's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices
Sean, Dean and all at SD, Congratulations! I wish you all the best in this new relationship. I vividly remember your first year at MacWorld SF. Lots of enthusiasm in that booth! Had never heard of a SliMP3, but I bought one from Dean. Still have it of course and it is working well. The next year I got to chat with Dean again, met Patrick and bought the new SD remote. Last year another chance to speak to Dean and ended up with an SB3. I really like the design of the SB3. So, where will I find you guys this January? SlimDevices booth, or Logitech booth? Plze don't show me the Transporter! Not sure that my wallet can take the hit! -- Scott -- ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
With the acquisition of Slim Devices, Logitech is building on our foundation of innovation in digital music and home-entertainment control to address an emerging market," said Guerrino De Luca, president and CEO of Logitech. "Our focus is on people who want to listen to and control their digital music, anywhere in the home. Slim Devices brings expertise in both network-based music delivery and high-quality audio, and a committed community of developers. Slim Devices complements Logitech's existing technology and human-interface strengths, helping to ensure that we can deliver to music lovers the promise of the digital home." -- fast.cash 'fast cash' (http://www.win-fast-cash.com) fast.cash's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=23681 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
So I think I know one impact of the change I stopped by yesterday to pick up a Will Call item (the Slim HQ is like half a mile from my place). There was an extremely sexy 997 Turbo out front. If that was part of the result of the acquisition then kudos. :) -- Meatwad650 Meatwad650's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9725 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Meatwad650 wrote: > There was an extremely sexy 997 Turbo out front. I don't think Logitech paid that much, it was annouced at only $20 Million or so. Of course, there is a photo in the archives of Sean's Mercedes triple parked in a handicap space, so perhaps he's addicted to fast cars. My wife much preferred that I get fast cars than fast young women. ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Oh that's the standard Logitech company car... everyone gets one. Mike -- mvalera Michael Valera Online Communities Manager Logitech Streaming Media Systems slimdevices.com mvalera's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11086 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Pat Farrell;228638 Wrote: > Meatwad650 wrote: > > There was an extremely sexy 997 Turbo out front. > > I don't think Logitech paid that much, it was annouced at only $20 > Million or so. > > Of course, there is a photo in the archives of Sean's Mercedes triple > parked in a handicap space, so perhaps he's addicted to fast cars. > My wife much preferred that I get fast cars than fast young women. Guess your wife does not know that fast young women follow fast cars like ants to sugar. :) -- m1abrams m1abrams's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=850 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
m1abrams wrote: > Guess your wife does not know that fast young women follow fast cars > like ants to sugar. :) Don't you dare say that. ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
mvalera;228642 Wrote: > Oh that's the standard Logitech company car... everyone gets one. Well, while I do love my .:R32 I think that car is in the ubersex realm. As Ali G would say - much respect. -- Meatwad650 Meatwad650's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9725 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
mvalera;228642 Wrote: > Oh that's the standard Logitech company car... everyone gets one. > > Mike I must have been sick this day.hahahah -- Anoop M. Anoop M.'s Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=8996 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Meatwad650 wrote: > > As Ali G would say - much respect. You mispelled respek. - Marc ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Hi guys, I read all of the stuff you wrote on these pages, and all I can say is ''Time will see''. The big company that acquires the small one doesn't necessary mean a drop of quality; Logitech surely has a lot of resources to spend in this project, and Slimdevices has a killer application to sell. I'm very interested in this situation, cause I'd like to buy the Transporter, which is available only if imported (a lot of useless costs, specially in Italy), but there's no official distribution outside the U.S. Logitech is obviously a new entry in this sector, it sells music-related products but nothing like the Squeezebox, not to mention the Transporter. But it owns good satellite companies that produce high quality material, and it means a lot. Just look at the brand 3dConnexion, with its pointing devices: I have the small SpaceTraveller, and it's absolutely a rock (even the box that comes with it is perfect). Well, a few years ago this gadget cost 600 $, US only, today the same article costs 200 $ worldwide available, no quality loss (it's still a piece of metal with the jog wheel upon it). So if Logitech wants to mantain this price/quality balance they only have to open the market, assisting SD for sells and perhaps adding a good remote in the box. I don't mention the software cause I'dont know it yet, but the opensource community did a great job improoving it first, so tomorrow they could have to develop a lot more, maybe supported by a Logitech team. -- bobore bobore's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9969 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Well guys, I think make the most of the Honeymoon period, as for the Harmony Remote the Honeymoon is over. For the gory details of key (and documented) function removal 'click here' (http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/board/message?board.id=remote_software&message.id=1048). -- stevieweevie stevieweevie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4338 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
On the face of it that does seem extremely concerning. At least with a Squeezebox/SB3 we can always roll back. I'm glad that I'm happy enough with the product i have now. MC -- ModelCitizen Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too? Transporter > Naim NAP 250 > PMC OB1s. http://www.last.fm/user/ModelCitizen ModelCitizen's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=446 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
I just bought a Harmony 1000 and it's the buggiest piece of you-know-what I've ever had. Basic, advertised functionality does not consistently work. Programming is unreliable. It's frankly pathetic. And, as a poster aludes to above, Logitech seems to have a penchant for removing functions to keep their support costs down. I sure hope the knowledge transfer of how to build multi-function, reliable products is going to go from Slim to Logitech instead of the reverse. Slim has been incredibly responsive and hands-on with problems. Perhaps the open source model truly is the wave of the future. -- makingmark makingmark's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2343 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
makingmark;183861 Wrote: > I just bought a Harmony 1000 and it's the buggiest piece of > you-know-what I've ever had. Basic, advertised functionality does not > consistently work. Programming is unreliable. It's frankly pathetic. > And, as a poster aludes to above, Logitech seems to have a penchant for > removing functions to keep their support costs down. > > I sure hope the knowledge transfer of how to build multi-function, > reliable products is going to go from Slim to Logitech instead of the > reverse. Slim has been incredibly responsive and hands-on with > problems. Perhaps the open source model truly is the wave of the > future. I picked up an 890 a couple of months ago, while being a major improvement over the pile of remotes I had, I wish they would make the UI a bit more straight forward. They seem to be clinging to the wizard method that MS convinced everyone to use back in the late 90's was the perfect UI for everything.. it's not, for something as complicated as a remote configuration, you're better off using a custom tabbed/tabled UI. I also was disappointed to find out that the XML functionality that was supposed to exist is gone now. -- SuperQ SuperQ's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2139 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
This is very worrying. I have a logitech 880 & the new software has just screwed up my config. I cannot even revert back because it's all on line. I was going to buy a Transporter to add to my 2 SB3's but this has convinced me to go elsewhere for a good DAC. -- demijar demijar's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10426 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
demijar;183890 Wrote: > I was going to buy a Transporter to add to my 2 SB3's but this has > convinced me to go elsewhere for a good DAC. There's no evidence to say that the Transporter or the SB3s have been changed in any way at the moment. The forums would be overflowing with anger about this if this were the case. Well, more than usual anyway. But not a single mention. -- Mark Lanctot "It's like, you know, a New Age religion, but with better treble response." - Jon Heal Mark Lanctot's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2071 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Mark Lanctot;184005 Wrote: > There's no evidence to say that the Transporter or the SB3s have been > changed in any way at the moment. And if you are happy with them as they are (which I am) then there is no reason to "upgrade" to any limited functionality Logica might see fit to introduce in the future. In addition, all the downloads of past software/firmware are readily available on the Slimdevices download site. MC -- ModelCitizen Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too? Transporter > Naim NAP 250 > PMC OB1s. http://www.last.fm/user/ModelCitizen ModelCitizen's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=446 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
The great Logitech just replaced my wife's fancy diNovo keyboard. Somehow the spacebar was less than responsive (very fast typist). This is not a $20 keyboard. Anyway, support was stellar. Not even an RMA they just shipped me a new box (mouse, keyboard, mediapad). -- bobharp Bob Harper bobharp's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=600 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
I'm very happy with my Harmony 880. The pc interface does admittedly leave a lot to be desired (why can't I bypass the wizard???), but with a smallish amount of tinkering time it is now controlling my system very effectively. I haven't yet tried Logitech's support for the few remaining niggles, but am optimistic at the moment. Max makingmark;183861 Wrote: > I just bought a Harmony 1000 and it's the buggiest piece of > you-know-what I've ever had. Basic, advertised functionality does not > consistently work. Programming is unreliable. It's frankly pathetic. > And, as a poster aludes to above, Logitech seems to have a penchant for > removing functions to keep their support costs down. > > I sure hope the knowledge transfer of how to build multi-function, > reliable products is going to go from Slim to Logitech instead of the > reverse. Slim has been incredibly responsive and hands-on with > problems. Perhaps the open source model truly is the wave of the > future. -- max.spicer What do we want? Smoother Analog VU with FLAC! When do we want it? At the soonest possible convenience to the hard-working yet undervalued Slim Developers. ;-) max.spicer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=23 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
demijar;183890 Wrote: > This is very worrying. I have a logitech 880 & the new software has just > screwed up my config. I cannot even revert back because it's all on > line. I was going to buy a Transporter to add to my 2 SB3's but this > has convinced me to go elsewhere for a good DAC. This is why I have a Squeezebox, but bought a MX-500 instead of a Harmony: I am WILDLY suspicious of devices that depend on companies' continued future competence, goodwill, and existence for future operation. If Slim dies or goes evil, SlimServer is still open source, so last-good versions will still be available and future development will probably still happen. But when Harmony goes evil, you're scrod. (Of course, I just bought a Tivo Series 3, which goes against this premise, but better possible future evil than the sure and certain evil of a Motorola DVR, there...) -- mkozlows mkozlows's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=62 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
My first visit to the Slimdevices site for sometime and I was greeted with the 'Slimdevices - a Logitech company' logo, what a shock, I wasn't aware this takeover had happened. I was about to order a new squeezebox, but this has stopped me in my tracks. Low-end mass-market meets high-end well-engineered, what an awful mix. How can attaching 'a Logitech company' to the Slimdevices logo do anything other than damage the Slimdevices brand? If the next firmware update brings a Logitech logo to my Squeezebox it'll be relegated to my junk peripherals box... and you know what's in there. -- _markh_ _markh_'s Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10820 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Did you read my post 5 posts up? There's no indication to say that the SB3 has changed in any way since the Logitech takeover - which happened 6 months ago, and the sky hasn't fallen yet. Also, you don't have to upgrade your SB3 if you don't want to. Since the software is open-source, Logitech can't really discontinue offering older versions - even if they did, there's nothing to prevent someone putting them up on another site. -- Mark Lanctot Mark Lanctot's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2071 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
that reaction seems extreme and unwarranted. why not wait until you actually see something to complain about? i actually think this will help SD, in many ways. -- MrSinatra www.LION-Radio.org Using: Squeezebox2 w/SS 6.5.2 (beta!?) - Win XP Pro SP2 - 3.2ghz / 2gig ram MrSinatra's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2336 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
_markh_;189621 Wrote: > If the next firmware update brings a Logitech logo to my Squeezebox > it'll be relegated to my junk peripherals box I'll take it. -- Kyle Kyle's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2541 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
_markh_;189621 Wrote: > ? > > If the next firmware update brings a Logitech logo to my Squeezebox > it'll be relegated to my junk peripherals box... and you know what's in > there. Your Brain? -- konut konut's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1596 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
There was a pretty interesting article in yesterdays's Wall Street Journal, describing a similar acquisition and the problems that ensued. The industry was different (banking in the case of the article) but the envitable conflict of a mass consumer company trying to take over a high-end niche company is the same. Invariably, the mass consumer marketing company ends up saying it has better production methods and knows the customer better, with the effect of killing the culture that created the acquired business in the first place. Buy your SB's now, because they ain't going to get any better. -- cherryplinth cherryplinth's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5567 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
cherryplinth;192817 Wrote: > There was a pretty interesting article in yesterdays's Wall Street > Journal, describing a similar acquisition and the problems that ensued. > The industry was different (banking in the case of the article) So they were really talking about a service industry instead of a manufacturing business with physical products, but other than that, since the word "business" is in both, it is very similar. > > but the envitable conflict of a mass consumer company trying to take > over a high-end niche company is the same. Invariably, And this is always true because I use the word "Invariably". I also use the word "Envitable" which is a cross between Evitable (as in avoidable) and Enviable, just to confuse matters. > > the mass consumer marketing company ends up saying it has better > production methods and knows the customer better, with the effect of > killing the culture that created the acquired business in the first > place. > > Buy your SB's now, because they ain't going to get any better. If your premise was correct, then once a business reaches "mass consumer marketing," it is doomed to fail from then on and destroy any acquisitions it makes. Do you really believe that nonsense? Are your retirement investments structured to follow that belief? Ie, are you putting your money where your mouth is? -- snarlydwarf snarlydwarf's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1179 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
cherryplinth;192817 Wrote: > ... the envitable conflict of a mass consumer company trying to take > over a high-end niche company is the same. Invariably, the mass > consumer marketing company ends up saying it has better production > methods and knows the customer better, with the effect of killing the > culture that created the acquired business in the first place. Yes this is the stuff Dilbert comics are made of. I thought you might enjoy this fake Logitech mission statement: `The New Ventures Mission is to scout profitable growth opportunities in relationships, both internally and externally, in emerging, mission inclusive markets, and explore new paradigms and then filter and communicate and evangelize the findings.' from: _http://www.mit.edu/~jcb/humor/scott-adams-mgmt-consultant_ -- Skunk Skunk's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2685 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
snarlydwarf;192827 Wrote: > If your premise was correct, then once a business reaches "mass consumer > marketing," it is doomed to fail from then on and destroy any > acquisitions it makes. > > Do you really believe that nonsense? Are your retirement investments > structured to follow that belief? Ie, are you putting your money where > your mouth is? The rest of your reply stands up just fine, but this bit doesn't. Sure his comment was a wee bit strident and full of bad analogies and generalizations, but I don't think he ever claimed that a company was doomed to fail once it achieved mass-market appeal. His premise was that when a large mass-market company whose business processes are optimized for creating revenue buys a niche company whose business processes are optimized for creating a good product, the niche company's business processes are supplanted by those of the large company. The large company continues to make money (and survive) because that's what it's good at. The quality of the products suffers, but is more than compensated for by improved marketing, business connections, etc. Not that this isn't just another unsupported generalization, but there are certainly plenty of historical examples of companies (and even national economies) who survive quite a long time while producing nothing but crap. I tend to blame noncompetitive markets, monopolies, protectionism and racketeering for these examples, while he seems to blame this mass market appeal thingie. It's all theoretical at some level. I doubt any theory has enough predictive value to tell us what the Logitech purchase will or will not accomplish. -- CatBus CatBus's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7461 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
CatBus;192859 Wrote: > The rest of your reply stands up just fine, but this bit doesn't. Sure > his comment was a wee bit strident and full of bad analogies and > generalizations, but I don't think he ever claimed that a company was > doomed to fail once it achieved mass-market appeal. No, it is, according to the poster, guaranteed to lose every cent it spends on acquisitions, which is exactly how most large companies expand. In this case, he believes the value of a SB will reach zero just because of the acquisition. > > Not that this isn't just another unsupported generalization, but there > are certainly plenty of historical examples of companies (and even > national economies) who survive quite a long time while producing > nothing but crap. I tend to blame noncompetitive markets, monopolies, > protectionism and racketeering for these examples, while he seems to > blame this mass market appeal thingie. It's all theoretical at some > level. I doubt any theory has enough predictive value to tell us what > the Logitech purchase will or will not accomplish. Well, I would worry if Sean said, "Oh by the way, we arent going to be reachable for a couple weeks as the new overlords insist we move to Switzerland to better meld into the corporate culture." I don't see that, though, and it is hard to force people into a culture when they are thousands of miles away. I only blame "screw the niche market, if it doesn't sell a million units, it isnt worth the time" attitude for compromising quality. The Logitech family of products, though, is huge. Certainly they have plenty of million-selling-keyboards-and-mice, but they also have items that sell at much lower rates, so their business strategy seems to be "something in every part of the spectrum" instead of just low end mass merchandise stuff. (though I spill coke and coffee on my keyboard enough to -want- a cheap $10 keyboard, some people are less messy than I am, and seem to like spending $200 on a premium keyboard... personally I have no idea why such a thing is useful... but they probably don't get why a SB is useful.) -- snarlydwarf snarlydwarf's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1179 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
That Logitech G15 is a damn fine gaming keyboard. -- NWP NWP's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3730 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
snarlydwarf;193034 Wrote: > No, it is, according to the poster, guaranteed to lose every cent it > spends on acquisitions I'm not finding where he says that. I do find where he says "killing the culture that created the acquired business", though. Can you see how one might interpret that as merely "the niche company's business processes are supplanted by those of the large company", with no dire financial implications? snarlydwarf;193034 Wrote: > In this case, he believes the value of a SB will reach zero just because > of the acquisition. Again, all I'm finding in the original post is "they ain't going to get any better". Can you see how one might interpret that as merely "the value of a SB will fail to increase", not that it will decrease? -- CatBus CatBus's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7461 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
About the loss of functionality in the Harmony 880 remote: if you check here, you will see there is a plan to reintroduce the functionality http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/board/message?board.id=remote_software&message.id=1048&view=by_date_ascending&page=5 I think Slimdevices customers (including myself) are used to having a very direct contact with the owners/developers of the company-this makes us feel "part of the family". Judging by some of the Logitech forums such "intimacy" is not really there (I guess that might have to do with the size of their customer base and the product offering) and is mostly mediated by moderators, who, however polite, are in fact extremely irritating "Dear so and so, we are grateful for your suggestions and will pass them on to the competent people" Brrr shivers down my spine). As long as the Slimdevices community will be allowed to continue developing its plugins/NAS implementations/techiegeeky discussions without a politically correct Big brother telling us what to say, how to say it etc etc etc, then all will be fine (the hardware must of course be of the quality we expect!). Failing that, I fear it will be mass migration... Just a couple of thoughts, Giacomo -- gbruzzo gbruzzo's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3633 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Dear Former Slim Devices: So you have been bought up by Logitech. Does this mean you will automagically start making the Slimserver better? I must admit I was unpleasantly surprised. For one thing I saw this morning a Logitech Logo float by on the screen of my Squeezebox. Now I suppose I was unsurprised when I saw it on the Slimserver. That is because I purposefully downloaded it from your website. But I don't recall upgrading my Squeezebox firmware. I suppose you have started silently upgrading it to accommodate Logos and whatever else you think might be good for me, along the lines of the Microsoft model of never-ending updates until it's time to buy the next version of the OS. I had a bad taste in my mouth the last time (which was also the first time) I bought anything from Logitech. The product was shoddy, hard to use, and had no recharger, so I was stuck buying batteries until I replaced it with a wired keyboard from Microsoft that turned out to be much easier for the typist. So it was with dismay that I saw the Logitech logo on my Squeezebox. I guess the dream is over. I have seen first-hand what happens when a small company is purchased. It depends on how convenient it is for the new owner let them go on as before. I've seen too many takeovers and none were good. I would not have bought your product if it had come from Logitech. I was attracted by the independent spirit and the idea that here was a company that did not bend to Bill Gates' command. But I expect to see you drop support for MP3 in favour of their flavour any time now, and see the Digital Copyright Secret Police appear in your software. Too bad. I was just about to bore you with a lot of advice and requests, which I can now feel free to give the next vendor of disposable plastic that comes at me from Silicone Valley. But I am disappointed. The likes of your former company will probably never appear again. Apprehensive Enthusiastic Squeezebox Owner -- Help Your Elected Officials SaveTheStreams -- one-eye one-eye's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6543 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
oh, come on... why don't you wait and see first? its more than a bit paranoid to think mp3 is going to be dropped by SD. lord knows, i have my complaints with this product, but i had them b4 and after the logitech purchase. it does seem to me that since the purchase, there are more people working on it, and being more responsive to bugs. jmo. -- MrSinatra www.LION-Radio.org Using: Squeezebox2 w/SS 6.5.2 (beta!?) - Win XP Pro SP2 - 3.2ghz / 2gig ram MrSinatra's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2336 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
one-eye;206009 Wrote: > Dear Former Slim Devices: > > So you have been bought up by Logitech. Does this mean you will > automagically start making the Slimserver better? I must admit I was > unpleasantly surprised. For one thing I saw this morning a Logitech > Logo float by on the screen of my Squeezebox. Now I suppose I was > unsurprised when I saw it on the Slimserver. That is because I > purposefully downloaded it from your website. But I don't recall > upgrading my Squeezebox firmware. I suppose you have started silently > upgrading it to accommodate Logos and whatever else you think might be > good for me, along the lines of the Microsoft model of never-ending > updates until it's time to buy the next version of the OS. > > I had a bad taste in my mouth the last time (which was also the first > time) I bought anything from Logitech. The product was shoddy, hard to > use, and had no recharger, so I was stuck buying batteries until I > replaced it with a wired keyboard from Microsoft that turned out to be > much easier for the typist. So it was with dismay that I saw the > Logitech logo on my Squeezebox. I guess the dream is over. > > I have seen first-hand what happens when a small company is purchased. > It depends on how convenient it is for the new owner let them go on as > before. > > I've seen too many takeovers and none were good. > > I would not have bought your product if it had come from Logitech. I > was attracted by the independent spirit and the idea that here was a > company that did not bend to Bill Gates' command. But I expect to see > you drop support for MP3 in favour of their flavour any time now, and > see the Digital Copyright Secret Police appear in your software. > > Too bad. I was just about to bore you with a lot of advice and > requests, which I can now feel free to give the next vendor of > disposable plastic that comes at me from Silicone Valley. But I am > disappointed. The likes of your former company will probably never > appear again. > > Apprehensive Enthusiastic Squeezebox Owner > -- > Help Your Elected Officials SaveTheStreams Ho-hum - zzz... . -- haunyack Transporter -> B&K Reference 200.2 -> Vandersteen 3A Signature. RWA (Analog) SB3 -> Rotel RB 1070 -> B&W Matrix 805. Fridgidare -> Mirror Pond pale ale -> easy chair w/remote -> irritated neighbors. haunyack's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9721 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
The guy sounds like a troll to me. We've beaten this dead horse to a bloody pulp, I think. On 5/31/07, MrSinatra < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: oh, come on... why don't you wait and see first? its more than a bit paranoid to think mp3 is going to be dropped by SD. lord knows, i have my complaints with this product, but i had them b4 and after the logitech purchase. it does seem to me that since the purchase, there are more people working on it, and being more responsive to bugs. jmo. -- MrSinatra www.LION-Radio.org Using: Squeezebox2 w/SS 6.5.2 (beta!?) - Win XP Pro SP2 - 3.2ghz / 2gig ram MrSinatra's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2336 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
Thus far, from my personal experience, Slim/Logitech support remains STELLAR. Perhaps the OPPOSITE will happen, with the excellent customer service/work ethic of the Slim team, bringing Logitech UP a notch! -- sleepysurf squeezebox2 (with elpac linear psu) > benchmark dac1 > modwright swl 9.0se > belles 350a reference > ml summits. blue jeans cables. sleepysurf's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
one-eye;206009 Wrote: > Dear Former Slim Devices: > > I was just about to bore you with a lot of advice and requests, > which I can now feel free to give the next vendor of disposable plastic > that comes at me from Silicone Valley. `Apprehensive Enthusiastic > Squeezebox Owner > -- > Help Your Elected Officials SaveTheStreams This is the part that most of us are thankful for. -- konut konut's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1596 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech to acquire Slim Devices!
i think it sounds good! -- paranoid87 paranoid87's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11974 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
