There’s a new blog post today, from Geoff, about the MVP program.
My favorite item on his three-point summary is the second one and I really hope you will help us facilitate great communication in both directions between the users and Xojo Inc. If you’d like to know more, please ask any of the MVPs and we’ll answer anything we can!
Personally, I don’t see a difference between the MVP’s role and what Paul was initially hired for.
Honestly, comparing any of us to @Paul Lefebvre would be like comparing the bat boy to Derek Jeter. (Paul will get that reference.)
I am looking forward to a new evangelist for Xojo since Paul got the job upgrade.
And a replacement for Javier as well
I see what you’re saying but I’ll give you a frank and simple reason why they’re very different: we’re not employees. We’re not bound by things that an employee might normally be bound by and we’re free to speak our minds. We’re community representatives, if you will, we’re go-betweens and we’re here to try and help in a number of ways, as Geoff’s blog describes. For me, an important part of this is the communication between us and the company. I’ve felt frustration in the past at times (I’ve been using this thing since 1998 on my 233 Mhz Bondi Blue iMac) but I really appreciate this positive attempt at improving things between us users and Xojo Inc.
Everything I’ve seen so far has made me feel positive about this and I know the other MVPs feel the same. If you want to talk about something in-depth about this whole thing, feel free to PM me.
If Xojo truly listens to the MVPs, that could promise great future for the company, and for it’s customers.
In particular, I am elated Jeremie Leroy is part of that panel because he, unlike the others, truly understands mobile, which I strongly feel is the new frontier.
All too often I felt in past discussions that much too few members of this forum understood the true need to embrace mobile as the next platform. Right now, iOS and Android each represent more in sold units than any PC or Mac laptops and desktop combined.
The usual “I wish Xojo did not do iOS and Android because I only do Mac (or PC)” is retrograde at best, and pitifully short sighted.
I just wish they had chosen a different term than “MVP”. It makes the rest of us seem, well, less.
It’s likely modeled after the Microsoft MVP program, MVP Communities
Fun fact I learned the other day, if you’re special enough to be part of Microsoft MVP you can get free code signing certificates.
I do wish they had included a plugin developer like Christian or Bjorn as well
In 20 years Xojo never really listened to customers. It was always “we know best”. Point 2 isn’t really needed at all.
Point 3 is the important one. They waste so much time on solving problems that aren’t there.
[quote=472530:@Gavin Smith]There’s a new blog post today, from Geoff, about the MVP program.
My favorite item on his three-point summary is the second one and I really hope you will help us facilitate great communication in both directions between the users and Xojo Inc. If you’d like to know more, please ask any of the MVPs and we’ll answer anything we can![/quote]
I like this whole premise and appreciate Xojo trying something new here.
I understand your perception of the role. This technique on behalf of a company is not new. Many times the value is minimal in the long-term. I wish the MVPs the best of luck. Only time will tell. Not being an employee is not an advantage in my experience with this type of communication/feedback scenario.
Agreed. I’m feeling positive about it though and we’ll give it our best shot.
Of course, only time will tell if the MVP program has any beneficial results. But I’m betting it will. The 5 persons picked for this program have been active participants in this forum providing useful help to many people without negativity or condescension. Successful people like these 5 would not have joined the program if they felt it would be a waste of time.
Xojo just went through a difficult experience with a new release. They now are putting something in place to help avoid this from happening again. What’s not to like?
[quote=472570:@Beatrix Willius]In 20 years Xojo never really listened to customers. It was always “we know best”. Point 2 isn’t really needed at all.
Point 3 is the important one. They waste so much time on solving problems that aren’t there.[/quote]
Exactly what i was thinking. No. 3 is what Xojo really needed. I really hope that Xojo listens to them so they can take a more “real world” aproach with this new bigger set of opinions.
OK, good.
But where is what the user needs ?
In the 15 or so years I’ve been using Xojo/Real Studio/Real Basic I’ve never had an issue with being listened to by the team at Xojo & in particular @Geoff Perlman. “we know best” = 'we have a vision" and that vision is where I’m hoping to add value.
@Wayne Golding: well, that explains a lot about the MVP.
Perhaps if users had been listened to, API 2.00 would be a lot less pedantic, and a lot more down to earth. Frankly, “Opening” and a lot more like that could have been done without.
But hey, I have often been accused of being negative. I obviously should not be listened to.