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Amazon Goes Wiki
StWaldo writes "Amazon.com has added a 'ProductWiki' to some of their item pages. Wikified items seem to be limited to certain categories, DVDs being one un-wikied realm. Adding Wikiness to the site is just the latest in new participatory activities Amazon has adopted, along with tags and customer discussions." From the article: "So Amazon's gradually allowing you, along with your Wish List, your purchases, your clickstream, and, if you sell anything on Amazon, how good your reputation is--to build up a pretty detailed database of what you like (or don't) and what's important to you. I don't know what Amazon will do with this--fortunately, it seems to have a pretty light touch with how it uses what it knows about you--or what it will allow us to do with all this data. But as it grows, it could become a pretty powerful profile."
I wonder if they will patent Wikis as well.
"Yields falsehood when preceded by its own quotation" yields falsehood when preceded by its own quotation.
How the fuck can this be called spyware? I would have thought that spyware is, by definition, software that spys on your behaviour. This is a wiki, a web page. It doesn't run on your machine, and users have to wilfully input the information. There's nothing secretive about this at all. If Amazon want to search your contributions for keywords or something, then fine. But then it's called data mining. Not spyware.
Firstly there *are* no 'local' stores any more - they're all part of big national chains.
Secondly, they all charge 25%-50% more than online charges, have fewer items available, and don't get me started on customer support - those idiots wouldn't know support if it hit them on the head.
I've had *far* better support from online retailers than I have ever had from 'local' stores.
Firstly there *are* no 'local' stores any more - they're all part of big national chains.
That's simply not true. I own quite a successful one, thank you.
Secondly, they all charge 25%-50% more than online charges, have fewer items available, and don't get me started on customer support - those idiots wouldn't know support if it hit them on the head.
25-50% more? I doubt that. They will be more expensive, sure, because they create good jobs, contribute to your economy, and give you a local place to get stuff. They're going to be more expensive. And, do you really NEED 100,000 different items to choose from? Are you buying 100,000 different items?
But, keep repeating what you're saying and one day you'll be right... there will be no more local stores.
The difference is that Amazon gives you options. You can turn off most, if not all of the features of Amazon. Amazon is also upfront about the data it collects and even provides handy little links to help items explaining what the data collected is used for. Amazon, to my knowledge, has never installed software on my machine.
Gator and Co use subterfuge and dishonest tactics to get programs installed on your computer. These programs are non-optional, disrupt other work that may be done on the computer, and are very difficult to completely remove.
The comparison is non-sensical.
Humorless sig goes here.
And, do you really NEED 100,000 different items to choose from? Are you buying 100,000 different items?
No, I'm buying 1 item. But I need the correct one item. That's why a large selection is useful.
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If you've bought a CD through Amazon.com which is copy controlled, this is a good opportunity to tag it as such by leaving a note in the wiki. For example, I did this here - nothing inflammatory, just a friendly note for others who are thinking about buying the CD. This is information that I personally would like to know before deciding to purchase a CD, and I expect some others here feel the same.
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You aren't paying attention: we are actually quite selective in our anti-patent rants. Mostly, it's software patents, patents on life forms and DNA sequences, and business method patents we rant against, that is, the kinds of patents that aren't granted in most of the world, the kinds of patents that didn't use to be granted in the US, and the kind of patents that hamper progress and innovation.
I'm sorry for you that you don't understand what a threat these kinds of patents represent to a democracy, to property rights, and to a free market economy. Just be happy that other people worry about that sort of thing.