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Hi everyone,

We built Penrose to help freelancers and other small businesses emphasize their profitability while estimating projects. The tool is flexible enough for virtually any service-based business--not just web-based.

We're currently in open beta and are anxious to hear what users think of the toolset we've put together, and more importantly what we can do better.

If you've got any questions or suggestions, please let us know here.


It definitely made me cringe, especially compared with something like Trunk Club: https://www.trunkclub.com/. For lack of a better: something about this site--right down to the hero image--makes me feel dirty.

The copy alone seems like it's either written by (or perhaps for?) the stereotypical adolescent male. Selling it as more of a concierge service would really make it more mature.

That said, I'm a "Guy" who actually enjoys shopping for clothes and dressing like an adult, so take my thoughts with a pinch or two.


I hate to be _that_ guy, but for someone who values the opinion of others as you apparently, do, using 'whom' on the internet isn't likely to win you over any friends. Let alone using it incorrectly...


No you don't. If you do, just don't be that guy :)


Eh, fair enough. He just struck three nerves on a Monday morning.

1. proselytism 2. grammatical solecism 3. inflating the value of a "downvote"

In hindsight, I should have kept my mouth shut. But hit those three before my caffeine deficiency has been addressed, and I'll likely find myself in _that_ role.


> 2. grammatical solecism

Is there any other kind? I will admit the whom-bomb was unpleasant.

OP: If the answer is not him/her the question is probably not "whom."


Unnecessary and distracting parallax features are quickly becoming the marquee and blink of this generation.


Is this in regard to UserOnboard.com? I don't like them either, which is why I didn't add them to the site.


Why not come out and say what you're too coy to say?


The only thing lacking here is the ability to navigate multiple inbox sections with the keyboard.

I use a very similar system (in fact the same, just with different stars) and hitting g + s then using j/k to navigate messages is so much faster than using a mouse/trackpad. It feels sort of barbaric.

I suppose this view gives me a nice overview, I just wish there were a hotkey to move from box to box.


Of course, I opened my mouth too soon; A quick google search revealed pressing the tick (`) navigates from box to box. I'm back, baby!


Can anyone provide some specific examples of how this is a "copy" of OSX? I am someone who sparsely used Os X and is admittedly anti-Apple.

I'm trying hard not to assume the people in the thread saying it's a copy are more than just Apple zealots but it's difficult when no one provides any evidence.


Watching the video, I identified:

1 login screen has a picture of a galaxy.

2 windows are white-themed, with rounded corners, and minimalistic buttons/scrollbars.

3 music player is reminiscent of iTunes with time bar and track info top-and-center, and large album art pane.

4 system settings window has radio-buttons-like-normal-buttons reminiscent of OSX system settings. Also has a search bar in the upper-right of the window, with minimalistic magnifying glass.

5 windows have no visual border on sides and bottom.

6 Dock.

7 Expose-style viewing of all windows.

8 top-of-screen menu, with system icons in upper-right.

As I said in a previous comment, Apple didn't invent many of these, if any. Many, perhaps all, of these points are simply good design. However, they all combine to make the GUI "feel" like OSX to me.

Furthermore, it isn't a "copy." You can certainly identify as many differences as similarities. It simply shares a certain design aesthetic.

The galaxy login pic at the beginning didn't help :P


Thanks for the response. I guess I'll have to really poke around with it and get a feel for myself.


Too bad the hardware is overpriced... Reflects bad on Ubuntu.


It's actually pretty expensive to build that powerful of a system in that format.


This is the crucial point. For the performance specs, the X51 is somewhat overpriced, even if you take into the account usual cut of a distributor. However, given it's form factor (it's basically the size of a game console), it's actually amazingly priced.


Agreed. I would normally not consider purchasing a pre-made desktop, but this form factor does make it quite tempting. I would not feel ripped off, whereas historically I always felt Alienware machines were a little overpriced.


My thoughts exactly. I don't think it's even possible to beat this by yourself, and I'm certainly the demographic that would try.


I spent about the price of the low end to upgrade my desktop to a AMD's current top 8-core... that doesn't include re-using my video card, case and hard drives. It's not a bad option at all. May actually get a couple of the lower end ones, as both my grandmothers are due for an update, and one of them needs to get away from windows (too much crapware gets installed).


This is Alienware we're talking about.


Additionally this is Dell-acquired Alienware.


I would think cheap, "eMachines" boxes are what would reflect badly on Ubuntu.


Why should it. Premium OS -> Premium price. Ubuntu is about free as in freedom, not free as in beer. ;)

Actually I think, Dell has a real chance to get better margins with Ubuntu. They can position themself as the computer company for open-source users and maybe even as an Apple alternative is the mass market - impossible with Windows.


Just a note, I think Ubuntu is marketed as an open source OS, the OSI definition says it has to be freely distributed. Strangly enough it's free software that is free as in freedom, not as in free beer, open source is free as in free beer (according to OSI).


No, open source does not have to be free of charge, according to the OSI. The first clause clearly says:

"The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software"


Extremely sorry, now I feel really stupid.


Where do you see that in the open source definition (http://opensource.org/osd)?


That was not my point. My point was that an Ubuntu computer may have the same price as a Windows PC or maybe even more expensive, because you become a better value for your money.


Funny, I downloaded Ubuntu free of charge last month. I know you have to click differently, but given their failed attempts to monitize, who can blame them.


My statement about OSI was wrong, but Ubuntu is free of charge and will always be. Canonical can't charge for software they have only partly written.


If you do your research Dell/Alienware is actually very competitively priced. Most people discount the service, which is tech-onsite and parts for 1 year.


It's competitively priced compared to computers which are delivered with Windows and thus have that price included.


The shovelware on those systems actually offsets the cost of windows licenses, and sometimes to the point that they make more than windows licenses.. I'm assuming this doesn't come with that.


I don't recall seeing any shovelware or bundles on my Alienware, besides the "gamer" goodies which I'm sure appeal to some.


>And let us simply draw the curtain of charity over the Cake PHP results.

Something about that phrase "Let us simply draw the curtain of charity..." resulted in an immediate spittake. Coffee everywhere.


I went to J-school. I have the benefit of holding a degree from one of the most prestigious schools in the world.

I've been out of school for six years and have yet to find a single job, in spite of the half-dozen successful internships with various mega-media corporations.

*A single media job.


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