Daily Deal: Java Developer Course Bundle
from the good-deals-on-cool-stuff dept
Java as a programming language has gone in and out of fashion over the years. It never really came anywhere near its originally stated "promise" of being a single programming language ("write once, run anywhere") for the web, but that doesn't mean that it isn't an important language to know. Especially in a mobile world, understanding java is a key for programming Android apps or developing internet connected gadgets (the cool kids like to call this "the Internet of Things"). No matter what, if you're programming stuff, it's good to know Java. It's also easy to learn and use and has a lot of open source libraries so you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Today's Daily Deal features 90% off of the Java Developer Course Bundle. Spread out over 6 courses with over 70 hours of instruction, you can become a Java wiz in very little time.Note: We earn a portion of all sales from Techdirt Deals. The products featured do not reflect endorsements by our editorial team.
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Filed Under: daily deal
Reader Comments
The First Word
“Re: Re: Re: I don't understand
I think the deals are perfect and presented properly.I purchased the "Learn to Code 2015 Course Bundle" and in reviewing it myself, it starts off basic enough that it is excellent for my kids to get started on.
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Not endorsed, just spamvertising?
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Re: Not endorsed, just spamvertising?
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These offers are extremely sketchy
I know TD needs to find ways to keep the doors open, but I really wish they would do it a different way.
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Re: These offers are extremely sketchy
Why? So far, we've actually gotten a great response to them (and I've even purchased some myself). The company that we're working with tries to find deals that match with the interests of the community, and for the most part they've done a really good job. What is your concern about the deals?
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Re: Re: These offers are extremely sketchy
It cheapens you and diminishes your voice.
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Re: Re: Re: These offers are extremely sketchy
How so? I'm really confused by this statement? Would you prefer we shut down or had to lay off our writers?
This isn't what techdirt is for, none of these deals are exclusive (and most aren't that good), and it's literally embedding someone else's shopping mall in your site.
What do you think Techdirt is for? As I said, so far, many, many people seem to appreciate these deals based on the purchase numbers. So it appears that a very large segment of our community disagrees with you. Yes, a number of other similar sites also do work with Stack Commerce, but they do source unique deals for our site as well.
I'm just confused about what your specific complaint is? That we're offering good deals to our community?
It cheapens you and diminishes your voice.
How so? I'm legitimately confused by this sentence. It makes no sense to me. How could offering deals diminish our voice? You do realize that not being able to afford to keep this site running would diminish the voice entirely, no?
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Re: Re: These offers are extremely sketchy
The failure of these people to be able to complete a sale is what is going to reflect badly on Techdirt.
I'm going to be annoyed if I can't get the 2015 Code course.
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Re: Re: Re: These offers are extremely sketchy
Yes, I had no problem. I just created an account and paid using my credit card. No problem. We have many, many successful sales, so the problem you're experiencing seems to be more narrowly focused.
I keep getting payment failures, and the suggestions I get for fixing the problem tell me that either the staff operating this thing don't know how payment systems work, or that the payment processor does not know how payment systems work. (3 different cards used, errors in all cases.)
Can you provide more information concerning what suggestions were made to fix the problem? Again, many people have not had any problems -- so hopefully things can get sorted out for you pretty quickly.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: These offers are extremely sketchy
I have also been advised to try different devices and locations. I've tried a PC running Linux and a couple of Android phones. I've used a VPN to appear in the next time zone. I've used the guest network at the office.
According to the bank that it is easiest to get information from, Stack Social is sending a zero charge through, which the bank approves, but I get a "cannot be processed" error from the web site.
Is this helpful?
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Do you think your readers can't find these deals elsewhere? What value to TechDirt readers does this provide that they can't get elsewhere? Where is the uniqueness of service in this?
If Techdirt had an exclusive, or even limited marketplace, that would be different. If they were deals sourced by readers, that would be different. If the deals were better than could be found elsewhere, that would also be different.
But none of this is different. It's just the same affiliate-based embedded/linked marketplace scheme that's been being used for years, and it still offers end consumers no real benefit. It's just more middlemen and Techdirt readers expect better.
If not having this marketplace will remove Techdirt from the Internet, then something else is wrong and in need of fixing, Mike.
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Re:
Calling it a "cash grab" is pretty ridiculous, don't you think? We turn down all sorts of advertising that is aggressive and annoying. This actually provides real benefits for users and helps us make some money to keep the lights on as well. What is really your problem with it?
Do you think your readers can't find these deals elsewhere? What value to TechDirt readers does this provide that they can't get elsewhere? Where is the uniqueness of service in this?
As noted already, some of the deals are seen on other sites, but many are not. And the fact that in the first two weeks multiple *thousand* people have bought into deals, it seems like many in our community find these deals special enough to make them worthwhile.
You still haven't explained what your problem is with these deals or what the problem is.
If Techdirt had an exclusive, or even limited marketplace, that would be different. If they were deals sourced by readers, that would be different. If the deals were better than could be found elsewhere, that would also be different.
Some of the deals *are* exclusive. Some are not. But given that many of our readers do not frequent some of the other sites that have these deals, many seem to find it helpful to have them here as well. What, again, is wrong with that?
Would having totally exclusive deals be better? Sure, but that would also require a full time staff dedicated to just that. And we're not about to do that, nor would the return on that be worth it.
But none of this is different. It's just the same affiliate-based embedded/linked marketplace scheme that's been being used for years, and it still offers end consumers no real benefit. It's just more middlemen and Techdirt readers expect better.
That's just wrong on multiple levels, and the response from our community (beyond a few complaints in the comments) shows so.
If not having this marketplace will remove Techdirt from the Internet, then something else is wrong and in need of fixing, Mike.
We've been quite clear that we've basically lost nearly all of our ad revenue in the past few years thanks to some of our public activism on certain issues. We ran a crowdfunding campaign last year, but there's only so much of that we can do. We only just started with Stack Commerce, but so far the response has been fantastic in terms of people using it -- which suggests your concerns are not felt by most people here. And, yes, it likely could be the difference between the site remaining in its current form or not.
We avoid intrusive things like pop ups or interstitials that don't seem to have any benefit -- even though that's where all the ad dollars are these days. But this appeared to be an approach that provided a real benefit to our community -- and many of them agree, based on purchase data alone.
If you don't like these, all you have to do is not read the one post per day, which many in our community seem to actually enjoy. Is it so troubling to you?
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Plenty of people click links to buy things online. The fact that they're clicking your links doesn't mean that you're providing those people a service that they can't get elsewhere, it just means that you got to them with your Stacksocial marketing over someone else's.
You're not doing anything new, special, or even marginally different than lots of other sites are doing. I'm shocked that you don't see that this is going to end in the exact same way as every other cobranded e-commerce play has in the past.
Congratulations on becoming an unnecessary middleman, Mike. Something you've always thought was terrible is now something you're proud of.
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Re:
You're correct. I may have misspoken that there are current deals that are exclusive to our site. But in the past, there have been exclusive deals on other sites and we expect that to happen in the future as well.
Plenty of people click links to buy things online. The fact that they're clicking your links doesn't mean that you're providing those people a service that they can't get elsewhere, it just means that you got to them with your Stacksocial marketing over someone else's.
No, you are simple wrong here. It means that people in this community value the offering. Again, why does this bother you so much?
You're not doing anything new, special, or even marginally different than lots of other sites are doing. I'm shocked that you don't see that this is going to end in the exact same way as every other cobranded e-commerce play has in the past.
If it fails then it fails. Right now it's not failing. Why does it bother you so much?
Congratulations on becoming an unnecessary middleman, Mike. Something you've always thought was terrible is now something you're proud of.
(1) We have never been against middlemen, as we've noted over and over again, so you're wrong. We're against *gatekeepers*. Nothing in what we're doing here makes us a gatekeeper. (2) And, again, if we were truly "unnecessary" people wouldn't be buying. But they are.
So, again, I ask you WHY DOES THIS BOTHER YOU SO MUCH? I find it telling that you won't answer that simple question. You just keep attacking. I get it. You don't like Stack Commerce. Many people are quite happy with it. So what's your real beef?
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Re: Re: Problem is the content, Mr Masnick.
I'm being candid. YOU NEED GOOD CONTENT.
Not the same stuff everyone else has
only re-written days later.
Just pick ANY topic that peeves you and
write about it -- with all the passion
that economists are famous for... Oy.
Anyway, that's my advice.
(* I lost carriage returns here hence
the odd formatting. Bad omen, I guess.)
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Re: Re: Re: Problem is the content, Mr Masnick.
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I don't understand
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Re: I don't understand
I don't, because this kind of 'immersive' advertising HAS ALWAYS drawn criticism on every site I've ever seen it used on. Criticism that leads to heated arguments with the site owner, and eventually comment deletions, closed or 'on approval only' comments, and sometimes even member bans. Having the look and feel of a Techdirt article (instead of a banner ad) is a double-edged sword that cuts both ways. Yes, it can and will make money, but it also can and will divide and destroy communities.
Techdirt already had it's share of haters and trolls, and now this embedded advertising will give them a ready-made stomping ground, a new entry point to divide and conquer.
Even honest debate can be a problem. How will Techdirt handle it when someone keeps pointing out better deals that are available elsewhere? At the very least, the laudable goal of keeping an open, uncensored comment section will be put under strain.
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Re: Re: I don't understand
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Re: Re: I don't understand
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Re: Re: Re: I don't understand
I purchased the "Learn to Code 2015 Course Bundle" and in reviewing it myself, it starts off basic enough that it is excellent for my kids to get started on.
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The only value that's getting added is from the consumers to you. They aren't getting anything through this that they can't get anywhere else. You're not helping them, they're helping you. Which is great, and I'm glad Techdirt can stay afloat.
These are the reasons that it bothers me so much, Mike:
Instead of asking for help, you handed it off to a third party.
There's no value added for the consumer.
The advertising is not good content.
There's no connection made.
You're putting goods and services on your site that you can't endorse.
You're extracting money from transactions you're not directly involved in.
If these are things you have to do in order to keep TechDirt in its current form, then maybe its current form isn't worth protecting.
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Re:
No. The value is in making people aware of deals they might not otherwise see. You may disagree because you see them on other sites as well, but plenty of people don't.
Instead of asking for help, you handed it off to a third party.
These are not mutually exclusive. We have asked for help and taken that as far as it can go. We can also work with partners in interesting ways that *ALSO* provide benefits for our community. As is the case here.
There's no value added for the consumer.
If that were true there would be no sales. But there have been many. That indicates that many people find the value in being informed about these deals from us.
The advertising is not good content.
Again, if that were true, people wouldn't be buying, but they are. Still, this is a point that we're trying to think more about in terms of how can we make the content better. But, on the whole, given how many people are buying, it appears that a lot of people think that the content is plenty good.
There's no connection made.
I'm not sure what you mean by this. Can you expand? Must *everything* we do involve making a direct connection?
You're putting goods and services on your site that you can't endorse.
That's a valid criticism, but also a practical one. We have turned down some of the suggestions from StackCommerce that we thought the community here wouldn't like. But we also don't have the time/resources to go out and test every product. That's why we're working with a partner. It feels like a reasonable tradeoff, but I recognize some disagree. We'll continue to pay attention to this and see what can be done.
You're extracting money from transactions you're not directly involved in.
But we are. We're making people aware of those deals. That's always how referral deals have worked and it's a completely legitimate process. We make money in exchange for directing people to the deals that they find valuable enough to make a purchase.
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Expect some grumbling; it's only natural that any site that makes a name for itself as a consumer watchdog is going to be facing a bit of a dilemma when showcasing products and services that exemplify the very things that were railed against in the past and attracted an audience of skeptics that did likewise.
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Re:
I can assure you that you're wrong on multiple accounts. We actually spent MANY MONTHS last year talking to three separate VPN companies about special deals for Techdirt and it was nearly impossible. It involve MANY emails, multiple phone calls and all came to naught. MANY, MANY hours wasted that could have been spent on something more useful and valuable.
As for last week's deal being a "stinker" -- it appears many people disagree. It was, by far, the biggest seller. No, the provider is not perfect, but many, many people found it good enough. Plenty of people were able to value the pros and cons of the deal. No it's not the VPN you should use if you're going to be leaking secrets about the US government. But if you just want to protect yourself from prying eyes at the nearby Starbucks, it's about as cheap as you're going to find. To many, that's "good enough" -- and a key part of understanding value is understanding when something is good enough for the purposes you need.
Expect some grumbling; it's only natural that any site that makes a name for itself as a consumer watchdog is going to be facing a bit of a dilemma when showcasing products and services that exemplify the very things that were railed against in the past and attracted an audience of skeptics that did likewise.
Yes, we expect (and welcome) some grumbling, and we're doing our best to address it. But part of that is understanding the true nature of the grumbling, so that's what we're trying to do here with this discussion.
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Re:
If you can figure out how to make that into a deal, I'm all for it... :)
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Finally working, and now I can't even connect to tell them that much.
What a crazy week.
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Query
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