Whether it is because the business model is terrible (they make all of their money on ads) or the app can't possible have users (it looks horrible and I can't figure it out), the end result is the same - less competition and more breathing room to have a shot at succeeding.
I'm not buying at the IPO but I'll be keeping a close eye on the stock and how Spectacles works out (waiting for a pair now.)
That said, if you don't understand a company, man, you should stay far, far away from investing in it.
And I don't use DropBox. I use Google Drive. For free.
Where's that Dropbox IPO at anyways?
tl;dr you better really know what you're investing in. If you don't know, don't invest even if you miss out on the next "big thing".
I thought it was a poor means of communicating and though the snaps were just noise that I didnt need.
I jumped onto Facebook's IPO but snapchat I definitely wouldn't touch.
Facebook sees snap as a threat and they literally ripped snapchat in whatsapp "status".
I can't say that it will beat Facebook but I'm willing to bet it will be more valuable than twitter. I will buy if it's share price is not too hyped.
And in some cases, they have vested interests in the success or failure of these companies.
That being said, at Internapalooza this year, the longest line there was for SnapChat and every young person seemed enamored with them. And I remember a time where everyone was screaming that Facebook would fail because of it's lack of profit or that Twitter was the next Facebook/Google.
This is all a long way of saying that no one knows what the hell they are talking about when they discuss these companies. Whether that's posters on HN, financial talking heads, or even successful people in Silicon Valley. If you have some advantage on the market, and can predict the correct valuation of Snapchat, then:
1. Put your money where your mouth is. Buy or short the IPO.
2. It's probably wise to not share your take as it relinquishes the advantage you think you have on the market.
3. Hope you stay solvent longer than the market stays irrational.
Just remember, these same "experts" said that no one needed DropBox when they had wGet.