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Think Different About WordPress
In this article, (Chief Technology Officer at CrowdFavorite) Chris Lema starts by recapping the old PC vs. Mac glory days:
Apple was solving the computing problem in a certain way – it brought hardware and software together to deliver an experience. Microsoft was approaching it differently, allowing several hardware vendors to get involved while it delivered software.
Then he drops this bombshell:
At this point you might be wondering why I wasted two hundred words on that old [computing] war that was over years ago. Well because I see it happening all over again... [Other platforms] are all offering hardware (hosting) and software (editing platforms) bundled together. WordPress is offering software that runs on tons of different hardware (hosting).
He goes on to argue that Wordpress is "winning" because it "runs everywhere".
That's a bit like saying that McDonalds has "won" the hamburger market. But, while the market may have chosen McDonalds, when I want a great burger, the winning choice would be an award-winning burger from Chris Madrid's.
The market has chosen the Toyota Camry as the "winning" car. But what if you feel the need for speed? I'd go with Tesla in that case. What about off-roading during your plein air trips? You definitely don't want a Camry for that use case. Maybe a Range Rover.
In recent years, if we were to judge by the market, it would appear that Thomas Kinkade had "won" the art market. But I, personally, would much rather enjoy works by Richard Schmid....or numerous other fine artists whose works speak volumes to my heart.
You see, Chris and I have different definitions of winning. [1]
The biggest solution, as determined by an overall market, is often not the best solution for every use case.
Let's unpack the analogy further: I agree with him on this point: WordPress is the Windows of websites, with all the good and bad the comparison to Windows entails. Not only because it "runs everywhere", but also in it's attempts to appeal to the masses and tries to be everything for everybody.
If we think about the differences in the DNA of Apple and Microsoft, we see that instead of trying to be everything for everybody, Apple tried to, in Chris's words, "bring hardware and software together to deliver an experience."
And for creatives and those who were willing to "think different", that was the winning choice. A Mac was (and is) often a far superior choice. While Windows may have solved, imperfectly, more problems for more people, Apple solved, nearly perfectly, the problems of a small, but extremely important, minority.
So you have to ask yourself, do you want to solve, imperfectly, your artist website needs with a huge beast that, because it's very goal is to appeal to everyone, is guaranteed to be perfect for no one?
Or do you want to work with a company that, like the Apple of yore, brings hardware, software and world-class support together to deliver an experience? That, dear artist, is our goal at FASO. And, that, is what we've built.
We strive daily to perfectly solve for the needs of the visual artist. [2]
And while the WordPress advocates of the world may define "winning" as powering the most websites, we define winning as powering the best websites for the worlds best artists.
Sincerely,
Clint Watson
FASO Founder, Software Craftsman and Art Fanatic
PS - At FASO, our mission is to inspire the world's artists, collectors and art lovers by connecting them with each other and with great art. If that idea resonates with you, we encourage you to join us and all of the enlightened artists who "think different".
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Footnotes
[1] In terms of pure market share - Wordpress is "winning". Fortunately, in the pursuit of our mission, the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many.
[2] I realize nothing is ever "perfect", but nevertheless, we strive anyway.
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