[kolya3]

You and I are both in the HN bubble. We expect Google to kill products and Google doesn't expect us to "become part of the community." We are not the market. However, the general consumer, the one this is aimed at, loves Google. Their experience is with the search box and maybe Gmail both of which serve consumer needs perfectly. Consumers don't remember or know Reader and every other app Google killed so their reaction to this product will be different.

[mattmanser]

New tech like this needs early adopters, which is us.

[kolya3]

I think you are right when it comes to a product like Google docs - it's complicated enough that a consumer would look to the early adopters. However, this Helpouts product is simple enough for a consumer to understand that they dont need to ask their technically minded friends whether they should use it. All Google has to do to bring the users in is include a link to it on the search results page. "Were you looking advice on yoga? Click here to talk to a real person."

[MarcScott]

If Google is sensible then it'll exclude "us" from being early adopters.

In the early days of Google+ trying to find anyone on the newly formed social network that wasn't part of the tech community was impossible.

If we become the early adopters then all this will be good for is advice for setting up a VPS and debugging javascript. I doubt they're trying to create the world's largest IT support system.

[DaveWalk]

Spot on analogy with Google+. Wasn't it true for Wave as well? The top comment is comparing the service to a friendlier Stack Exchange / IRC...yours is a good counter argument.

[user24]

and we are the people that non-techies ask about which services to use.

[dannyr]

Tell that to Pinterest.

Pinterest took off without "us".

Not all new tech needs to go through "us" to be successful.

[snom380]

Consumers often talk to early adopters, and they are less likely to try out and invest time in new products when those early adopters are lukewarm.

Don't forget that a Google has killed off a lot more than Reader. Some have been integrated into Google+, but not always and not always well.