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Dan Bricklin: Democratizing the Web

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bricklin-for-everyone dept.

securitas writes "This NY Times story featuring Dan Bricklin discusses the social impact of the Web on small businesses (Mom and Pop shops) and how the Web is leaving some behind. Bricklin wants to change that and make creating Web sites as easy (*cough*) as using a PC."

9 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. It already is as easy as using a PC by netsavior · · Score: 2, Informative

    Frontpage, Geocities Page builder, etc etc why do you think those who refuse to try are left behind? because those that do try have a webpage (although most are crappy)

  2. Thanks Google! by FsG · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the no-need-to-register version of the article, thanks to Google:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/06/business/busines sspecial/06LOHR.html?ex=1052884800&en=ea31bf9e5b8a 61be&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

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  3. before anything else by ramzak2k · · Score: 3, Informative

    NYTimes username:freethepress123 password:freethepress12

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    Siggy Say, Siggy Do
  4. Re:Check the picture on the story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    They created Visicalc for Apple II first. Well before the IBM PC and that is where they made a significant breakthrough.

  5. Re:Check the picture on the story by selan · · Score: 2, Informative

    That sounds right. They created VisiCalc for the Apple II. The IBM PC version came in 1981.

  6. Re:800 pound gorilla by bitmason · · Score: 2, Informative

    >Actually, there's no use for most businesses to have a "web presence".

    I have to disagree. Just about ANY business depends on attracting new customers in addition to servicing your current customers. A "web presence" doesn't need to be a full online catalog. It doesn't even need to be particularly dynamic. It can be as simple as information about services/products and hours if you're a store.

    Let's say you're a small landscaping business that would like to attract some new customers. Wouldn't having a simple web site be useful just in case people are searching for a landscaping service in town X on the web (as people increasingly do).

    It can be as simple as a single attractive page -- an online business card if you would.

  7. Re:Small shops? by TopShelf · · Score: 3, Informative

    eBay already seems to have done a bang-up job in this area. There is a huge community of small businesses that have an online presence within eBay, many of which do better online than they do in their retail storefront (in particular antique and collectibles shops). This guy is hardly breaking new ground...

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  8. Not Complacency by TubeSteak · · Score: 2, Informative

    the failure rate of small businesses.
    33% after 2 years
    50% after 4 years
    60% after 6 years
    http://www.sba.gov/advo/stats/sbfaq.html
    " Owners of about one-third of the firms that closed said their firm was successful at closure"
    lots of small businesses close for reasons other than $.

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  9. Re:democratizing USA ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Bullshit. I've read the full texts of several executive orders and they do much more than you assume. Executive orders have the rule of law, and bypass Congress entirely except for the dispositionary clauses. Bush doesn't just ban abortion because it would cause massive upheaval - and considering backlash, the power of executive orders would be shown to the public. Presidents are normally hesitant to use EO's because of the negative press they may receive - accusations of totalitarianism, etc.