1Password has gotten way, way better than it was a few years ago in my opinion. Tons of new features and the redesign a couple years ago was a big improvement.
How was it a step backward? I have noticed zero downsides to 8 compared to the previous version. I'm comparing the current version to the last version 7 I used. This electron hate is such a headscratcher for me.
Generally speaking, Electron apps are larger and slower than their native cousins. I just checked on my M1 Mac, and between the Safari extension (which somehow consumes more memory than the app itself) the main app, and various helpers / renderers, it clocks in at 410 MB of RAM. I'll give you that it's also acting as an SSH Agent, but that still seems rather large for the functionality.
Personally, I noticed a slowdown in responsiveness immediately when switching from 7 to 8.
It's clocking in at 120MB on my machine and launches instantly. I don't get this blind hate for Electron, it has made software runnable on more platform than ever with less development resources.
I hear this, and I believe people, but it leaves me in a confused state because I don't understand. I (think) I've used them all, and the only password manager that is in the same class or better is bitwarden, which is also web/electron.
After LastPass lost it I shopped around and avoided 1Password precisely because it looks and is marketed like typical feature-oriented apps powered by VC valuations and growth metrics. I do not like trigger happy product management near critical single-purpose software. It’s already quite challenging, because pw managers need (1) offline support (2) a sync protocol that’s virtually bug free and (3) state of the art crypto/security and (4) wide cross platform support.
I prefer such an app to sit basically dormant until there’s a new industry development (like passkeys) to keep up with the times. And even then, those features should only be added thoughtfully with a defensive mindset to ensure stability going forward.
So tldr, your stated benefits are in fact the very reason a lot of people don’t like it.
I don't understand this sentiment. I'm not attacking, I'm trying to understand.
So if there's opportunity for a feature that adds real value for many people to an application without it affecting the core of the product, it shouldn't be added? I can add passwords and unlock websites just as quickly with 1Password as I could 8 years ago. Why does adding other useful, related features make a difference?
Because they keep on changing the product at the same time. If they added value and left what worked still working, it'd be great. But they change things, and it's buggy, and the UX is worse, and I just want the nice productive utility I had a few years ago.
You say you can do things as fast as you could eight years ago -- but I can _not._
It’s based on experience that more features tend to break functionality, change user workflows and changes in product strategy, sometimes even companies get acquired or shut down things.
Of course, these things can happen to any product in theory, but with experience I’ve developed a bit of a radar for what kind of company is behind a product based on their design, website, marketing etc.
> Why does adding other useful, related features make a difference?
Like what? I’ve had the same experience with 2 pw managers for probably a decade, and the only noticeable change has been passkeys. Note that for me it’s personal use only though.