You gotta pay to play
Backpack launched today, the next useful tool from the creative folks at 37signals. You might describe it as a stripped-down wiki plus personal information manager that exists solely on the Web. I had the fortune of trying it out a few days before launch and have come to the conclusion that it doesn’t fit my current work/lifestyle. The number one reason why this is so is the price/feature ratio.
The free version is paltry (though I notice they’ve sweetened it slightly just in the last three days.) You get the ability to create five distinct pages of to-do lists and notes along with 10 active reminders. That’s it. If you upgrade to the next level, which costs $5/month, you get 20 pages, 100 active reminders, 40MB of file and image storage space, and no ads. (The free version will have ads eventually.) The top level goes for $19/month and grants you 500 pages, 300 active reminders, and 250MB. At this level, you’ve got a useful application, but $19/month? That’s a hefty price to pay for individuals who just want to stay organized. It may be more suitable for small teams.
Perhaps I don’t get it yet (and maybe I’m a little cheap), but Backpack just doesn’t add up. I admit to getting caught up in the hype and expected a bit more. I would have preferred a free trial of the premium level in order to get a taste of the advanced features without first having to pull out my credit card.
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