April 22, 2004

Questions...

Ok so I've read a few of the questions that I recieved after releasing 0.3 and here are some answers.

  • I am working on text meetings support. It will come soon(TM).
  • I am also working on the entire message view system (not just display capabilities) so I will hopefully be rolling out a chat logging feature along with the new message view.
Now for a few questions of my own.
  • I'm considering enlisting some help with Mercury, I'm looking for either Java programmers with experience with the Sametime toolkit, or I'm looking for experienced (fairly) Cocoa/Obj-C developers. No someone who might fit? Do you fit? If so contact me at mercury at idavidson dot net, with a short description of your experience.
  • I'm not trying to put anyone off, but I'm currently having to consider moving Mercury from its current freeware/donationware model to a shareware model. This project started because I had a need for a Mac Sametime client, I no longer have that need (new job) and now I've got to be able to justify the amount of time I'm spending on it. So what would you pay for Mercury? This goes for individuals or companies.
  • The last question is would anyone out there like to purchase an 800 Mhz Powerbook G4 (1 GB, 40 GB HD, Airport)? If your interested make an offer (mercury at idavidson dot net), I don't really have a specific number in my head so the first one I see that I like I'll probably take.

Posted by developer at April 22, 2004 01:51 PM
Comments

Hi,

I've been trying to use Mercury through a IPSEC VPN, via a satellite link. The effective throughput is probably around 50K. Mercury client is unusable here, due to the very large number of background exchanges with the network (why the constant DNS lookups? Why does typing in the response window require an exchange with the sametime server every 10 letters or so? this causes chronic 2-3 second "freezes" in character echo while typing)

It would be a big help in usability over slow links if you can find ways to limit the number and timing of these exchanges.

Thanks
Joe

Posted by: Joe Dallatore at April 26, 2004 11:29 AM

I'd pay 50 bucks for it. I would guess that I'm on the high side of what people are willing to pay though. I just need group chat capabilities and of course stability needs to be better but it's pretty good now. I'm also on the side that would prefer to see you dump support for older OS's if (10.2) if it meant that you could release features faster.

Tim

Posted by: Tim Ellis at April 27, 2004 11:35 AM

I'd pay 20 about where it is now and up to 30-40 with a fuller set of capabilities. In either case, I'll pay. I need this functionality and yours is one of two options available. I will end up with the one that offers the best deal, of course, but right now I believe you are ahead. Feel free to email me if you want more info or comments. Keep it up, we will pay if it is reasonable.
:)

Posted by: Alemany at May 4, 2004 06:17 AM

I'd pay $25 for it as it is now, $50 if it had the full text-meeting support.

Posted by: markj at May 4, 2004 11:47 AM

Running out of time to work on it eh? I see you're looking for help on the project as well.

You should seriously consider open sourcing the project at http://sourceforge.net/

Once you get a few other developers included who actually DO have the time to work on it, you won't have to worry about it anymore and you can check back every now and again to make sure the program progresses in the direction you want.

I am involved in a couple projects at sourceforge, so if you want some tips on getting a project set up, feel free to email me: gostcoder at yahoo dot com or send me an iChat/AIM: gostcoder

Good vibes be with you

Posted by: Tomis at May 6, 2004 09:00 AM

I would pay between $25.00 to $50.00 for this software. It is working well and as a company standard for IM traffic, it is a tool open to me that permits me to use my Mac at home while maintaining functionality for work. I don't have to have a PC in the house. Die hard Mac man here!

Posted by: ed at May 7, 2004 11:54 AM

When will we hear more of or be able to try the Adium plug-in?

Posted by: JW at May 17, 2004 05:28 PM

I would certainly pay for it as well.. I would pay $20-25 for the way it is now and upwards of $40 for more functionality.

Permit/deny visibility lists would be a big plus for me.

Thx

Posted by: Tom Nosella at May 18, 2004 01:58 AM

I just started using Mercury today and have noticed that only some of the Exchange groups that I've added on my Windows client at work show up in Mercury on my Mac at home. Anyone else seen this? Tips on how I can get around it? I would definitely be prepared to pay a reg charge if it is working smoothly, but not being able to retain the groups is a big problem for me.

Posted by: Heath Perryman at May 18, 2004 09:48 PM