how we have changed

Stumbled across a 1997 website that asks why internet advertising doesn't work. It seems strange now that the web was once a place where commerce was struggling, let alone the internet being a place devoid of advertising, but it once was.

The internet now seems to run on advertising, which is I think a good thing. Much like network television, internet advertising - and I'm referring to legitimate internet advertising here - plays it's part in keeping things free. And keeping it free keeps people coming back.

Not that everyone seems to quite be there yet. The Herald insists on seeking a fee to read the latest dross from Deb Coddington, Stuff neglects to place many articles on it's pages, key retailers fail to entice customers into the stores by neglecting to display product information - and those that do keep it light.

We've come a long way with online advertising since 1997 - but we're not done yet.

google takes aim

Google has 'made available' to the public it's answer to Microsoft Excel, Google Spreadsheets. judging from the screenshots, and news from the unofficial Google Blog, it looks like it could challenge Excel easily. If it can process macros, I'm sure they will have a complete set of formulas by the time they go alpha.

Which nearly makes a Google Office Suite complete, with mail, calendar, and word processing already in the picture. It won't take much to allow Writely to create presentations, the business world desperately needs an alternative to Powerpoint.

The major plus for all users is the price, can't get better than free, and freedom from the hassles of upgrades and add-ins, especially when sending the file to other users.

While Google now has the wherewithal to go for the jugular in the home user market, small and large enterprises may find Microsoft their only option. Technical support is one major issue, as is security. Web versions of MS Publisher and Access will be interesting at best, although challenging the under-used Infopath considering the expense to license every user could be a goer.