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Opera CEO Prepares to Swim across the Atlantic

Posted by Hemos on from the stop-submitting-this-stupid-story dept.

rRogta writes "Previously reported on slashdot here, Opera CEO boldly promises to swim across the Atlantic should the new Opera browser be downloaded a million times in the first four days after it's release. Well, they reached their goal and in this press release it says he's now preparing for the long swim."

9 of 432 comments (clear)

  1. don't you think.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    this is one of the big problems with 'good' software. we always try to promise about 500000% more then we can deliver.

  2. I call shenanigans! by REggert · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From TFA:

    Jon is assisted by Opera's PR manager who will be rowing alongside the adventurous CEO in the company inflatable raft on the trip across the Atlantic as an act of guilt after making the CEO's statement public. The fearless crew is currently on its way to an undisclosed location in the Oslo fjord to begin the long journey toward America in the true spirit of the Vikings before them.

    The author busted his cheek with his tongue, I think.

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  3. Re:How the heck? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A good semi-dry suit would do it. Just a wet suit with decreased water flow through it, for colder water. The problem is that he's gonna need a life-jacket too, because there's no way he's swimming that much.

  4. Re:What about sales? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As ad revenue is part of their business model, I don't see why.

  5. Re:Tragedy in the making by digidave · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "It could take days, or weeks"

    Or months. Have you any idea how big the Atlantic Ocean is?

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    The global economy is a great thing until you feel it locally.
  6. Re:What about sales? by physicsphairy · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Given Opera's business model, shouldn't he have tied this stunt to sales rather than downloads?

    In a word, no. That would make a horrible salespitch. I'm not going to fork over money for a product I would not otherwise buy just to vote yes to the swim!

    On the other hand, a download is not big deal. And once I download the product, I might be like "Hey! Cool!" and decide to buy it. Even if not, at least the product is getting some good exposure.

    Deriving sales from stunts like this is rarely straight forward.

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    When things get complex, multiply by the complex conjugate.
  7. They're planning on a loooong trip by hugesmile · · Score: 4, Insightful
    From TFA:

    The next update on the remarkable and heroic journey will be available here on Tuesday, April 25, at 10:00 am CET (04:00 am EST).

    Tuesday April 25 is a year from today!

  8. Prediction by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There'll be a boat next to him. Around the 5th km, he'll give up, and say: "Well, at least I tried". Then he'll become an Icon of "you never know until you try", and a whole marketing campaign will rise from this.

  9. Re:not sure about that by delta_avi_delta · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'll give you a clue - you can stick your hand into an oven at 100 degrees very safely, but you can't stick your hand into a pot of boiling water :)