[whpalmer4]

Originally Posted by garrsmith

I guess what I can't understand is: If you have a product in the market that takes care of one platform (Mac). Then you have a platform without a product (IPAD). Then you choose to continue in your development of an existing product that you just updated to version 1.7 in June??? I didn't go to Harvard or MIT, but I know this isn't smart business.

The development of OP 2 has been ongoing for years; it isn't something they started after finishing 1.7. The feature set in OP 2 is also very important to making OP for iPad a useful product.

[garrsmith]

I understand. However, OmniGraffle for IPad can stand alone. So should Omniplan. The years is what has me concerned. What if it takes another 12-24 months to develop omniplan 2.0 for Mac?

[whpalmer4]

Originally Posted by garrsmith

I understand. However, OmniGraffle for IPad can stand alone.

It's a completely different animal, not used in anything resembling the same way that a project planning tool is used.

So should Omniplan.

Again, a different animal. While I am reasonably sure that it will be possible to use OmniPlan for iPad as a standalone app, just like OmniFocus, it will most likely be the case that it is a much more powerful tool when used in conjunction with the desktop app, just like OmniFocus.

The years is what has me concerned. What if it takes another 12-24 months to develop omniplan 2.0 for Mac?

That would mean that they had it in beta for at least 15 months. It's also the case that OmniPlan 2.0 for Mac is much closer than OmniPlan for iPad; there are bugs that need fixing, and some features that still need to be implemented or completed, but the bulk of the work has been done. They haven't even started mocking up an iPad UI for OmniPlan; it can't even display an existing plan, much less edit or create! If they were to drop everything related to OmniPlan 2 and concentrate on getting some sort of OmniPlan iPad app out, we'd probably be talking sometime this summer, based on the efforts involved in OmniGraffle, OmniGraphSketcher, and OmniFocus for iPad. My estimation is that it would be a less compelling product for many buyers than OmniPlan 2.0 because the only truly new functionality would be the ability to run on the iPad, unlike OmniPlan 2.0's raft of collaboration features which make it useful to a whole new set of people.

Here's a question for you: what possible upside is there for Omni in publicly committing to a timeline? Does that somehow help them deliver a better product? No. Does it make you happier if they give a date and it isn't the date you want to hear? No. Does it make people purchase the software in advance? No. Does it make you happier if they give a date (whether you like it or not) and they significantly miss it? No. Omni's stated viewpoint has been (for as long as I can remember) that if you need something now, and they can't sell that something to you now, you should buy something else that works for you, rather than waiting until when they think they'll have something. They are confident that they are building something good, and that sufficient numbers of copies will sell to make the project worthwhile, even if they aren't the first on the market. Some of the buyers will be people who bought something else first. That confidence is a good thing, because it gives them the ability to work until they think it is a product worth its price tag instead of rushing something out the door.

[garrsmith]

Your missing the point. I agree you don't commit to delivery dates you can't deliver. I agree confidence in your product and brand is job one. Next it is analyze your niche find your gaps and fill them. Now if I do as you suggest and buy another product until OmniGroup delivers the IPad product. It will cost $40 for SG and $50 for OP for IPad. So what sense does that make?

When you create a project, you define scope, your timeline, and your budget. These are the core elements of project management. You don't have to deliver the moon. Just a star to start with.

[whpalmer4]

Originally Posted by garrsmith

Your missing the point.

I'm still waiting for you to make one! You wanted to know if there was a definitive timeline for OmniPlan for iPad (no), but didn't like the answer. Then you wanted to know if there was a definitive timeline on OmniPlan 2.0's completion (no, again), and you didn't like that. Even though it was explained why there isn't a definitive timeline, and why OP 2.0 comes before OP for iPad, I'm the one missing the point.

I agree you don't commit to delivery dates you can't deliver. I agree confidence in your product and brand is job one. Next it is analyze your niche find your gaps and fill them. Now if I do as you suggest and buy another product until OmniGroup delivers the IPad product. It will cost $40 for SG and $50 for OP for IPad. So what sense does that make?

Here you are the one missing the point. Do you need a project planning tool like OmniPlan on your iPad right now? If you do, Omni's position is that you should go out and buy some competing solution, if you can, because they don't have anything to sell you right now. If there is an opportunity cost to not having such a tool, you'll need to compare that cost with the cost of whatever you choose to buy as a stopgap. If you are a professional project manager and you are willing to wait half a year so you can save $40 or $50, that tells me you do not currently have a pressing need for such a tool on your iPad. That's fine, maybe you'll buy one when OmniPlan for iPad ships.

When you create a project, you define scope, your timeline, and your budget. These are the core elements of project management. You don't have to deliver the moon. Just a star to start with.

Someone experienced with delivering software projects to a non-captive audience will recognize that there is a substantial cost, both up front and trailing, to any major software release. Rushing out a stripped-down OmniPlan for iPad so that people have something to play with (and likely complain about) while the real product is finished is not a winning approach. Unlike a typical airline, Omni is not interested in chasing after every last marginal customer or dollar, and I daresay the average level of customer satisfaction reflects that!

[Brian]

The discussion has gotten pretty theoretical at this point, guys - it's fine to continue, but maybe move it to the lounge?