Yahoo, Google and why I hate Slashdot
May 19th, 2005As I’ve said before, Yahoo has a good thing going. People like to talk about Google and while Google is lovely (especially their maps), their one service that makes them real money is very very commoditizable (pssst – its ad revenue in case you didn’t know).
This is very related to what I observe on Slashdot and why I can barely stand to read it anymore. For instance, the post on Ballmer saying that Google might disappear in 5 years. Basically, he said what I just said above. Yet there is level of thinking there that falls way below “critical.” These guys don’t dominate the software world for no reason at all. Another prime example is the perception of the Slashdot “community” on Java.
Things come and things will go. Those who keep thinking critically and keep their egos out of the way will stay.
Perception is a powerful thing though…
May 23rd, 2005 at 9:11 pm
You linked to Apple’s website behind the text “things will go.” I think you’re really wrong if you think Apple isn’t going anywhere. Its upward rise has been two years in the making and will continue into the unforeseeable future. Besides you, I can’t think of any of my friends, who range from casual computer users to nerds, who haven’t “converted” to Apple and now use an iBook or PowerBook. Moreover, the very phenomenon of the iPod is enough keep Apple in the running as one of the top consumer tech companies in the ensuing years. Don’t make the /. mistake (though they seem to love Apple these days) and make universal claims from your niche market.
Sincerely,
An Apple Zealot.
Just kidding.
I love you, Dan.
As a friend.
May 23rd, 2005 at 11:23 pm
Well said mr. netzooid.
May 26th, 2005 at 9:43 am
Yeah, word of Apple’s demise is vastly overstated. Apple has shown itself to be more adaptable than the big boys (re: Dell, HP, etc) and they’ve got a huge leg up in the online music biz, which will grow expontially for the foreseeable future. I know you’re off iTunes but it’s still the 800-pound gorilla of the industry and its direct tie-in with the gotta-have-it iPod will keep Apple ahead of the pack there. Even if iTunes suffers a huge market share slide, the fact that the industry will continue to grow means that revenues will continue to explode as well.
Apple’s computer division will continue to plod along. I disagree with Jon that it will eventually eclipse their current 2-3% market share (5% is probably the ceiling for the foreseeable future), but there are more than enough Apple cultists and business apps that just work better with Apple to keep Apple around.
And as long as Google keeps working towards “Don’t be evil” they’ll hang around. In some ways, Ballmer’s an idiot.