On: Tesla Model S Sales Exceed Target

[switz]

So we're entering a phase of micropayments on material objects now? In-app payments, but for your car. I'm not sure how I feel about it, to be honest.

[ryderm → switz]

It's not too different from adding an exhaust or new stereo. Not really the same as in-app payments.

[monitron → ryderm]

It is different because in this case, the upgraded "parts" are already present in the car!

[anonymfus → monitron]

For example, there are already many cars with ESP, software limited to ABS.

[twoodfin → anonymfus]

Not for long: In the U.S. at least, electronic stability control is now mandatory.

[glogla → monitron]

So it's like zero-day on-disk DLC. There's no way customers might get angry about that.

[HeyLaughingBoy → switz]

This is absolutely nothing new.

15 years ago I worked for a major manufacturer of high-end office equipment. One of the "upgrade" hardware features the machine had actually shipped with each machine. When a customer ordered it, the service technician only had to enter a code in a Diagnostic screen to enable the hardware.

I had the task of implementing that feature and at first it seemed like a bit of a scam. After some thought it made perfect sense, though. Because of manufacturing costs, it was far cheaper to build each machine with the extra hardware than have the field tech install it. Besides, probably 90% of customers purchased it anyway.

[YokoZar → switz]

I doubt the expense would be particularly micro ;)