Nokia's N-Gage - Savaged By Online Opinion

Thanks to CNN for their column discussing how the Internet has changed the way 'bad' products are viewed, with reference to Nokia's N-Gage 'mobile game deck'. The columnist argues: "Ten years ago you might have quietly withdrawn [an 'awkward' product] from store shelves", but times have changed: "The Internet provides an instant, widespread referendum on products... And the Net crowd, for obvious reasons, tends to eye high-tech products. But the things that do get interest, usually negative, watch out." He then gives the immensely popular, N-Gage-related Side Talkin' site as an example of this backlash, quoting a Nokia spokesman as saying of the site: "It's better to have some reaction than no reaction at all."

Comments

What older gadgets could this have affected?

[MBraynard]

Before the net, you got 90%+ of your info about a product from the manufacturer's marketing machine. Now the balance has changed.

Think back a few decades about some of the crap you may have bought. Then think about - had you been able to read instant online opinion about the gadget - you may not have purchased the product.

Virtual Boy? NeoGeo? Would VHS have lost to Betamax?

The Internet has only changed the time it takes

[Trillian_1138]

I think the Internet has only changed the time it takes for bad products to be viewed as 'bad.'

"Back in the day" people might have bought lousy products initially, but after The Word eventually got out, people didn't continue buying them. Staying with the topic of videogames, the Sega Saturn didn't need the Internet to die. Nor did Virtual Boy (dear god, it didn't need help to die...)

There have been topics in the past about how text messaging and cellphones are killing opening weekends for movies because the 'bad word' gets around faster. It's causing bad movies to be known for their badness earlier but, eventually, people will learn products aren't good.

Even in the days before the 'net.

-Trillian