There's always been something fishy about 37signals that I can't put my finger on. I respect what they've done but know that I definitely don't want to run a company like they do. Firstly, they charge for everything they possible can. This is not necessarily bad in and of itself but at some point they stop feeling like a product company. First and foremost they're a brand company. I can't help but think they'll sacrifice quality in any other area if it helps their brand out. That's probably not entirely fair, but it's the picture they've painted.
I just want to build cool stuff. I know brand is important but it seems silly to me to try and make a career out of blathering about how awesomely I build cool stuff and how much I just get it where so many others don't.
We tried basecamp for awhile but then grew out of it. Then we tried Highrise when it came out - found it pretty much useless. Lots of people heeded their call for simplicity and the fight against feature creep and that's a good thing. But when their own products begin to get lapped by competitors and the new stuff they are releasing isn't very useful, then there are problems. That said, I don't blame them necessarily for charging people for all this stuff; at $100/person, they probably actually wouldn't make very much money - they need to rent space, get some food, pay for A/V, etc. Going to a developer conference is one thing, but I'm not sure it would be worth a day to hear how someone is using a glorified web form as a collaboration tool.
My impression of them has always been that they are the Apple of webapps. They have style, grace, and a cult following. They also have a reality distortion field, will nickel and dime their customers, and if you don't get it then it's your fault you suck.
That's quite an interesting view. To be honest I loved 37Signals approach to web apps and how they initially shunned outside funding to build their business. Granted that they started out as a consulting company? then morphed into a product company(which is an ideal route if you don't take oustide funding) But these days I'm finding it hard to use Basecamp(although they claim they produce easy to use software) I hope that they don't lose their initial focus. Their business model is sound so is their choice of niche market. Hope they don't stray away from that successful formula.
I just want to build cool stuff. I know brand is important but it seems silly to me to try and make a career out of blathering about how awesomely I build cool stuff and how much I just get it where so many others don't.