I would place buy buttons with a blurb about your money back guarantee at the top right of the page. Ideally I want to know most of the information that will influence my purchase above the fold or get to it easily via links.
I agree with keeping it PHP for now. Take a Lean Startup approach and think of this as your MVP. When you have actual users they will help you decide what other languages/technologies you can use to improve performance etc. but don't optimize prematurely. PHP will be just fine.
I think this can still be considered an intermediate MVP that can be tested. The goal of lean is to eliminate waste, so there is a risk that an MVP with working code has no demand whatsoever.
One drawback to this approach is that it may give you false negatives. What if you landing page copy doesn't work or your AdWords copy is wrong? As with all lean/custdev hacks ymmv. Bottom line is you need to find customers to talk to, otherwise everything is an assumption.
Great example of taking on an existing market that needs an injection of innovation. Programmable thermostats are easy to install (I installed mine years ago) and can save you lots of money if used properly, but their UIs are terrible. Lots of buttons and inherently unintuitive. I'm surprised I remember how to reset the filter replacement alert.
There is a market need certainly, but is their target market big enough to support the business? I think if you can encourage users to adopt these based on the cost savings then the odds will be better. Lots of home owners will be interested in saving money on their utility bills. Just make sure the UI and features enable users to make efficient use of their HVAC systems. There will definitely have to be a campaign to educate consumers as to why they need this product.
This article shows how difficult it is for many to accept the idea that an individual would choose an entrepreneurial path over a 'regular job.' Why would anyone take the risk?
We take risks, but they are hopefully calculated and well thought out, not reckless. What good is life without taking some risks, especially if you are confident in yourself and your abilities?
"Laws, everything's a chance, isn't it?" - Tom Cullen, The Stand
Excellent interview content-wise, and a very professional looking production. I didn't even mind the ads; it reminded me of listening to Mike & Mike on ESPN radio :) Lean definitely makes sense, and I will be checking out more of your site.
The application asks the questions that you must be able to answer to be successful. What are you building? Who is your competition? It's like a streamlined business plan. Even if you weren't applying to YC this application would be an effective way to pick apart a startup idea.
The big question: how long will it take for this form of manufacturing to achieve the cost effectiveness of current methods? The bottom line for everyone, including consumers, is cost. Don't forget about quality control.
Let's also not assume that we will always be the most innovative. We have to make sure that the current and next generation of students get the quality education they need in math and science to keep us dominant in Tech. Interesting article but lots of assumptions and unanswered questions.
Two great things to note about this video:
1. Jobs puts a good amount of time thinking about what he is going to say. Many presenters would just start speaking, some would ramble, even just a little. Pauses can be a good thing in a presentation for both the speaker and the audience.
2. Start with the customer experience. Absolutely.