Comments on: Tis A Season To Copy

By: Om Malik on Broadband : » Does Tech Matter?

Om Malik on Broadband : » Does Tech Matter? — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 20:09:54 +0000

[...] Folks over at Roeder-Johnson, a SV public relations firm decided to survey some of the key Silicon Valley players — venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, journalists and analysts — and found that nearly 91% of those surveyed agreed that “unique technology is crucial to the success of start-up companies today?” Interesting, given the mash-up times of today, though I have too many different opinions on this subject. One respondent, a venture capitalist, wrote: “Relatively speaking, unique technology is less important now than five years ago. Today, companies appear to be valued on their market success (as evidenced by customers and revenue) rather than purely on ‘game changing’ technology.” Another, a repeat entrepreneur, volunteered: “The value of unique technology is based on what the company is trying to do. It’s all about fulfilling the customer need which can be done with technology, service, packaging, or existing technology…. All are valid ideas for company creation….Dell is quite successful without unique technology and there are many others.” [...]

By: Om Malik on Broadband : » Google GMail Gets RSS Clips

Om Malik on Broadband : » Google GMail Gets RSS Clips — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 07:29:58 +0000

[...] Meanwhile, the feature creep, and similarities between GYM are too much for you, then read Bubble Generation’s latest rant about Yahoo. Oh they are not alone Umair. After all Tis a Season To Copy! Anyway what is Yahoo? I asked that question a couple of days ago? [...]

By: Om Malik : » Babble not Bubble 2.0*

Om Malik : » Babble not Bubble 2.0* — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 22:52:34 +0000

[...] Looking forward, there are some signs that make you go… oh! oh! [...]

By: Pat Riordane

Pat Riordane — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 15:58:11 +0000

You know who’d be the perfect Google blogger? John Paczkowski. I think he fits Om’s “worth his sarcasm” requirement to the T. And he’s already well on his way to writing about Google full-time anyway. Check out the “Google Morning Silicon Valley” post here:
(link)

By: Jeremy Zawodny

Jeremy Zawodny — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 10:15:56 +0000

Is Starbucks brewing Coffee 2.0? ;-)

By: gibarian

gibarian — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 09:53:58 +0000

Oops, forgot to remove the call to my visitor-tracking script…you might wanna remove that.

By: gibarian

gibarian — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 09:51:42 +0000

So, did you ask for a cup of Fair Trade coffee?

By: Get Fact

Get Fact — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 09:47:26 +0000

Yahoo! IM supports voice communication before there’s even Skype.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 09:41:23 +0000

Good point! Yahoo! should be building Yahoo! 2.0 but I am very glad to see that Microsoft and Google are trying to all out do each other. This is great for the consumer. While I doubt that Googl Talk will win in IM and Voice, I know it is making the folks at Skype paranoid, which will motivate them to keep innovating. The same counts for Yahoo! mail when Google launched Gmail. So, the consumer wins. Perhaps the shareholders loose because the big three are not investing their resources appropriately.

By: Kimo Crossman

Kimo Crossman — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 05:59:15 +0000

Check out the Starbucks at
350 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA

It’s an almost club-like environment experiment that Starbucks tried.

By: Vijay

Vijay — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 03:55:21 +0000

Om,

I am wondering that why Microsoft/Yahoo have not yet copied the Google Answers service. Or is it that it exists but I am not aware( or not popular).

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 03:44:25 +0000

Gotta try the eggnog latte extra hot!

By: Om Malik

Om Malik — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 03:16:50 +0000

chirag, i guess you are echoing what i really said. i too wonder if these folks are missing the point and forgetting what made them great.

bytheway my next trip will involve going to that starbucks in canterbury

By: David

David — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 02:47:05 +0000

“I’m hoping that story about their being a Starbucks built into Canterbury Cathedral was a joke”

Jesse,

No joke, the Starbucks is located precisely there (at the main gate). And the thing of it is, my reaction as I approached was similar to yours, even though I was then (and still am) an investor in the stock. I should have been overjoyed, but I recall thinking then, “This is wrong, even sacrilegious!” The company built at least this outlet with exceptional taste and care and consideration.

I whiled away several magical hours. I felt transported to a different time. I suspect I am not the sole person who feels that way in this particular Starbucks.

The truth of it is that Howard Schulz (the company’s CEO) is on to something. I scoffed many years ago when I first heard of this concept, but he did something different:
1) Instructed ALL his employees to ALWAYS make eye contact with each customer at ALL times, and
2) Learn and memorize the customer’s name early, and use it often,
3) Make each store an extension of a living room (cozy, comfortable), and encourage people (customers) to linger.

These notions are radically different from the norm. I do not require special treatment, but as a human I do like to feel I belong somewhere. It is easy and cheap to tire of the Starbucksization of the known universe… and yet and yet, they obviously do something amazingly well. And better.

What does any of this conversation have to do with broadband? Damned if *I* know! :-)

By: Supr.c.ilio.us: The Blog » Open(canOfWhoopAss)

Supr.c.ilio.us: The Blog » Open(canOfWhoopAss) — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 02:45:59 +0000

[...] Actually, Jay Zee (hey, if Om can do it, so can we!), it’s called Kicking Yo’ Ass. Old School Style, I might add. [...]

By: Liam Morrison

Liam Morrison — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 23:38:43 +0000

reminds me of a little verse I composed back in July..well not composed, but you’ll see what I mean :)