But today, in 2004, AOL is a failing ISP as mentioned earlier. And they seem to be losing subscribers and honestly the prospects for growth look dim. So the only thing that can really justify acquisition is iff MS-AOL > MS + AOL.
Agreed.
I'm not really sure what MS-AOL would really do well. You cite a large subscriber base and an outlet for content, but MS's primary business is software, not content. If you suggest that AOL users are MS's target audience for software (computer-impaired folks), then I agree. But this task can easily be accomplished by advertising or "strategic partnerships": AOL could use the cash.
I can't imagine Microsoft ever coming to a strategic partnership with AOL. I have to wonder what would come with purchasing AOL. Would it come with AIM? Netscape? Nullsoft? (Winamp, et al.)
It's also conceivable that MS + AOL would be able to partner with Time Warner, or whomever, to achieve the unfulfilled goals of AOL Time Warner. MS+AOL itself isn't a complete solution for Microsoft's media delivery ambitions, but it's the infrastructure and the software.
Unfortunately, this makes excellent sense for Microsoft. When they put together MSN around 1994, it was obvious that they were trying to get in on this action. MSN never succeeded in terms of its weak user base.
Microsoft already has the cash on hand, and AOL Time Warner stock has dropped about 75% since the merger was completed.
This suggests that they're only trying to acquire AOL, not AOL Time Warner - so this wouldn't be the complete media content delivery yadda yadda that they want. However, AOL has a large subscriber base and serves as an awesome potential outlet for Microsoft's content.
oh yeah. the last thing i need to address from my phone is a longer TLD.
rcpt to: path@sprint.mbolie^H^H^H^H^H 501 5.5.6 You're an IDIOT CRAP! 501 5.5.7 That doesn't work either. rcpt to: path@sprunt.mlobie^H^H^H^H 501 5.5.8 Nope. Not even close. rcpt to: path@sprint.mobil 501 5.5.9Try Exxon
I had been using coffee, as well as water, as my preferred headache cure for quite a while.
However, caffiene withdrawl also creates headaches, and the article is a little on the vague side to suggest otherwise.
Most of the other news (antioxidants, tannin, good for the liver, and asthma relief) are pretty awesome, though. Again, I'd rather see this in more details - and I can't find any English links referring to dietician Chiara Trombetti.
Definitely good news for nerds and latte addicts everywhere.
Today I received a phone call from VU's Eric Hayashi, Executive Producer of the new Larry game. He said that there had been "considerable turnover" of people involved and they were regrouping. He also said they wanted to restart negotiations with me in order to get me involved, possibly as early as next week. Stay tuned to this page.
They've done that. It didn't work out in the long run. Though I understand where you're coming from in making that suggestion. We thought it would work too.
The OEM market, where they sell their suite for maybe $20, is the only one they are competing in. And even then, Dell often ships MS Office Small Business.
I used to do Technical Support for WordPerfect way-back-when. It was always a better product than Word on its own. As someone else stated, people do swear by the product (law offices are a HUGE market for them, as is the US DoJ).
The price that Corel is offering it for does not suggest that they want it to be a significantly less expensive alternative to Office, and that's too bad. The only way they can reasonably expect to gain market share is by a combination of name and price.
That said, I'm not sure who they're marketing this too. The article doesn't suggest it's anything more useful than OpenOffice (improved compatibility with Microsoft Office? they've been touting that since WP8!), and OpenOffice still has a hard to beat price.
I can't imagine there's anything here to win back market share. Sorry Corel.
At the risk of oversimplifying, the one constant that I see affecting stress in my job and those around me is expectation.
As technology improves, the expectations placed are higher. Even if the facilities aren't there to achieve them, I'm being asked more seemingly insurmountable tasks.
Then again, being asked to "secure" a network....*grumbles*.
I'm sure lots of people notice barely-modified versions of classic songs showing in commercials. Marginal changes to lyrics ("I'm walking on sunshine, and don't it feel good" - minus the "whoa oh" part) or "New Every 2" versus "New Attitude" are enough to consider it a different work, and not copyright infringement.
I have NOT heard or seen this commercial. I do know that these small changes are enough to be legal. I don't know how much the words may/may not have been changed to speak to that much.
If the song is unchanged, does anyone know if Fair Use might be able to be applied here?
Article is already out of date.
on
Search Beyond Google
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
I've always been a google fan, but this article is essentially dated on its release, given the fact that the Yahoo! switch has already occured.
I do hope Google can continue its innovation, and reduce much of the annoyance of bad results through blogs.
I'm suprised more attention wasn't given to the Google IPO, and what affect that might have on the "relatively small" 1000 person company.
I'll probably get modded down, because no one of either gender every listens to me, but.....
Since many major online games (UT, Quake, etc) offer granularity of servers, I imagine there's probably alredy "girls only" servers and other private interest group servers just the same (password protected, et al).
It seems natural. We already have television networks (several) specifically for genders. Chat rooms for certain interests.
Now, with all that said, I can't say I mind competing with/losing to a girl. I don't understand the need for specific major competitions specifically for females. In fact, I'd imagine that 'being a male' as a requirement for a competition would probably result in legal action.
Up until about 5 years ago, I was a punter like that outlined in the story. It was highly encouraged.
The Metrics in use favored talk time, quality, then solve rate. Solving the problem was never the preferred resolution.
I spent 30 minutes on the phone with a highly foreign support rep who pronounced Ohio like 'Oreo'. My satisfaction with the entire call (not necessarily just the rep) was quite low. I will never buy another product from this company unless under some duress.
What I wonder is why technical support is such an administrative afterthough for a product. Good support seems paramount in ensuring a repeat customer. I've heard several customer services paradigms, as well as actual statistics, supporting the case that it's easier and less expensive to keep existing customers than to advertise and attract new ones.
Yes, I realize outsourcing is cheaper. Yes, I realize it's even cheaper to those to whom English is often a second language. However, I'd like to talk to some sort of peer while I'm on the phone, as I'd feel more comfortable with the support experience.
Since this is a hardware part that I will probably replace within 3 years for the better/faster/same priced combo, I am confident that purchase won't be made from the same company.
"People should do what they can to limit their exposure to as little as possible, especially in relation to electrical appliances that are used very close to the body."
No, not even this is going to get women to give up their vibrators.
http://www.iccohio.com - ICC Ohio - has added "Offshoring" as one of their core competancies and selling points.
I would imagine that, unless you've dealt with offshoring previously, that someone you can communicate with is the most important thing, and then holding the company doing the offshoring to the deadlines and deliverables of your project.
That said, I have no interesting or useful business ideas.
Slashdot Mirror
But today, in 2004, AOL is a failing ISP as mentioned earlier. And they seem to be losing subscribers and honestly the prospects for growth look dim. So the only thing that can really justify acquisition is iff MS-AOL > MS + AOL.
Agreed.
I'm not really sure what MS-AOL would really do well. You cite a large subscriber base and an outlet for content, but MS's primary business is software, not content. If you suggest that AOL users are MS's target audience for software (computer-impaired folks), then I agree. But this task can easily be accomplished by advertising or "strategic partnerships": AOL could use the cash.
I can't imagine Microsoft ever coming to a strategic partnership with AOL. I have to wonder what would come with purchasing AOL. Would it come with AIM? Netscape? Nullsoft? (Winamp, et al.)
It's also conceivable that MS + AOL would be able to partner with Time Warner, or whomever, to achieve the unfulfilled goals of AOL Time Warner. MS+AOL itself isn't a complete solution for Microsoft's media delivery ambitions, but it's the infrastructure and the software.
Unfortunately, this makes excellent sense for Microsoft. When they put together MSN around 1994, it was obvious that they were trying to get in on this action. MSN never succeeded in terms of its weak user base.
Microsoft already has the cash on hand, and AOL Time Warner stock has dropped about 75% since the merger was completed.
This suggests that they're only trying to acquire AOL, not AOL Time Warner - so this wouldn't be the complete media content delivery yadda yadda that they want. However, AOL has a large subscriber base and serves as an awesome potential outlet for Microsoft's content.
But is it a scary thought? Oh hell yes.
-m.
oh yeah. the last thing i need to address from my phone is a longer TLD.
rcpt to: path@sprint.mbolie^H^H^H^H^H
501 5.5.6 You're an IDIOT
CRAP!
501 5.5.7 That doesn't work either.
rcpt to: path@sprunt.mlobie^H^H^H^H
501 5.5.8 Nope. Not even close.
rcpt to: path@sprint.mobil
501 5.5.9Try Exxon
ad nauseum.
Interesting.
Although when I'm decaffinated, i'm almost always in a state of headache.
Good for me to consider, because that tells me something else might be up.
Thanks!
-m.
I had been using coffee, as well as water, as my preferred headache cure for quite a while.
However, caffiene withdrawl also creates headaches, and the article is a little on the vague side to suggest otherwise.
Most of the other news (antioxidants, tannin, good for the liver, and asthma relief) are pretty awesome, though. Again, I'd rather see this in more details - and I can't find any English links referring to dietician Chiara Trombetti.
Definitely good news for nerds and latte addicts everywhere.
-m.
Since you brought up Microsoft and EV1...
There is a Case Study on Microsoft's web site here. This discusses the addition of several Windows-based servers to their Linux environment.
So, are they bed buddies? You bet.
-m.
From allowe.com (dated 1/12/04)
Today I received a phone call from VU's Eric Hayashi, Executive Producer of the new Larry game. He said that there had been "considerable turnover" of people involved and they were regrouping. He also said they wanted to restart negotiations with me in order to get me involved, possibly as early as next week. Stay tuned to this page.
The one with lame message decoding? ASCEND, and stuff?
yeah, i remember that. more trouble than it was worth.
-m.
FWIW, Sierra does have a Leisure Suit Larry sequel coming out this year.
Link HERE. Screenshots and everything.
Perhaps offtopic, but people are complaining about humor-oriented games being MIA. And damn, I miss the Space Quest series.
....looking forward to another inane copy protection scheme where I could play dress up with Sam and Max.
i don't think that was healthy for me at that age.
*kicks off high heels*
-m.
NASA TV
They've done that. It didn't work out in the long run. Though I understand where you're coming from in making that suggestion. We thought it would work too.
The OEM market, where they sell their suite for maybe $20, is the only one they are competing in. And even then, Dell often ships MS Office Small Business.
-m.
It certainly was for a long time. I can't speak to that any more.
Moreover, when California's legal page numbering scheme changed, Corel quickly had a walkthrough to change it.
WordPerfect also had a seperate 'Legal' version, including Black's Law Dictionary, and a few other features to make lawyers happy.
-m.
Corel has owned WordPerfect since 1996. That's 8 years, or about the average length of a US marriage.
WordPerfect was previously owned by the Wordperfect Corporation out of Utah, then Novell, then Corel. Corel has since been purchased outright.
I used to do Technical Support for WordPerfect way-back-when. It was always a better product than Word on its own. As someone else stated, people do swear by the product (law offices are a HUGE market for them, as is the US DoJ).
The price that Corel is offering it for does not suggest that they want it to be a significantly less expensive alternative to Office, and that's too bad. The only way they can reasonably expect to gain market share is by a combination of name and price.
That said, I'm not sure who they're marketing this too. The article doesn't suggest it's anything more useful than OpenOffice (improved compatibility with Microsoft Office? they've been touting that since WP8!), and OpenOffice still has a hard to beat price.
I can't imagine there's anything here to win back market share. Sorry Corel.
-m.
although not quite that bad, it's close.
thank goodness i'm not an employee here.
At the risk of oversimplifying, the one constant that I see affecting stress in my job and those around me is expectation.
As technology improves, the expectations placed are higher. Even if the facilities aren't there to achieve them, I'm being asked more seemingly insurmountable tasks.
Then again, being asked to "secure" a network....*grumbles*.
*unplugs internet connection*
+++
NO CARRIER
I'm sure lots of people notice barely-modified versions of classic songs showing in commercials. Marginal changes to lyrics ("I'm walking on sunshine, and don't it feel good" - minus the "whoa oh" part) or "New Every 2" versus "New Attitude" are enough to consider it a different work, and not copyright infringement.
I have NOT heard or seen this commercial. I do know that these small changes are enough to be legal. I don't know how much the words may/may not have been changed to speak to that much.
If the song is unchanged, does anyone know if Fair Use might be able to be applied here?
I've always been a google fan, but this article is essentially dated on its release, given the fact that the Yahoo! switch has already occured.
I do hope Google can continue its innovation, and reduce much of the annoyance of bad results through blogs.
I'm suprised more attention wasn't given to the Google IPO, and what affect that might have on the "relatively small" 1000 person company.
-m.
I'll probably get modded down, because no one of either gender every listens to me, but.....
Since many major online games (UT, Quake, etc) offer granularity of servers, I imagine there's probably alredy "girls only" servers and other private interest group servers just the same (password protected, et al).
It seems natural. We already have television networks (several) specifically for genders. Chat rooms for certain interests.
Now, with all that said, I can't say I mind competing with/losing to a girl. I don't understand the need for specific major competitions specifically for females. In fact, I'd imagine that 'being a male' as a requirement for a competition would probably result in legal action.
-m.
Up until about 5 years ago, I was a punter like that outlined in the story. It was highly encouraged.
The Metrics in use favored talk time, quality, then solve rate. Solving the problem was never the preferred resolution.
I spent 30 minutes on the phone with a highly foreign support rep who pronounced Ohio like 'Oreo'. My satisfaction with the entire call (not necessarily just the rep) was quite low. I will never buy another product from this company unless under some duress.
What I wonder is why technical support is such an administrative afterthough for a product. Good support seems paramount in ensuring a repeat customer. I've heard several customer services paradigms, as well as actual statistics, supporting the case that it's easier and less expensive to keep existing customers than to advertise and attract new ones.
Yes, I realize outsourcing is cheaper. Yes, I realize it's even cheaper to those to whom English is often a second language. However, I'd like to talk to some sort of peer while I'm on the phone, as I'd feel more comfortable with the support experience.
Since this is a hardware part that I will probably replace within 3 years for the better/faster/same priced combo, I am confident that purchase won't be made from the same company.
-m.
Imagine a Beowulf Cluster of Earths!
"People should do what they can to limit their exposure to as little as possible, especially in relation to electrical appliances that are used very close to the body."
No, not even this is going to get women to give up their vibrators.
http://www.iccohio.com - ICC Ohio - has added "Offshoring" as one of their core competancies and selling points.
I would imagine that, unless you've dealt with offshoring previously, that someone you can communicate with is the most important thing, and then holding the company doing the offshoring to the deadlines and deliverables of your project.
That said, I have no interesting or useful business ideas.
Try here:
http://www.monsterindia.com/