Comments on: Don’t be afraid of Google http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/ A blog on entrepreneurship, user experience, and web innovation. Published by Fred Oliveira. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:19:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Ryan Nichols http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3933 Ryan Nichols Thu, 31 Aug 2006 07:38:39 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3933 In addition, Kiko had a much poorer interface for most of it's life. It's a bit better now, but it suffered from bad usability for a while. Google or not, if someone comes along and has something that just plain works better, unless you have a stranglehold on the market, you'll feel the hurt. In addition, Kiko had a much poorer interface for most of it’s life. It’s a bit better now, but it suffered from bad usability for a while. Google or not, if someone comes along and has something that just plain works better, unless you have a stranglehold on the market, you’ll feel the hurt.

]]> By: Natalie Ferguson http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3806 Natalie Ferguson Tue, 22 Aug 2006 22:21:00 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3806 Kiko are selling because they couldn't get a business model together in order to compete with Google - who doesn't need one for their calendar at present. That is not a good way to compete with Google, they will win every time on offering free products with no business model, because they can hold out longer. It's a pity, but Google is turning into a buyer, not a maker, so the current options are to do something better than Google (and everyone else) and a) sell it to Google or someone else or b) make money off it. Kiko are selling because they couldn’t get a business model together in order to compete with Google – who doesn’t need one for their calendar at present. That is not a good way to compete with Google, they will win every time on offering free products with no business model, because they can hold out longer. It’s a pity, but Google is turning into a buyer, not a maker, so the current options are to do something better than Google (and everyone else) and a) sell it to Google or someone else or b) make money off it.

]]> By: Xavez http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3801 Xavez Tue, 22 Aug 2006 12:56:15 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3801 @Rob: agreed. Never judge a personality by an opinion, or what was it again? ;). Nevertheless, I totally agree with Fred here =). @Rob: agreed. Never judge a personality by an opinion, or what was it again? ;).

Nevertheless, I totally agree with Fred here =).

]]> By: yashke.com » 21-08-06 PrzeglÄ…d sieci http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3788 yashke.com » 21-08-06 PrzeglÄ…d sieci Mon, 21 Aug 2006 14:26:09 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3788 [...] Frederico Oliveira  [...] [...] Frederico Oliveira  [...]

]]> By: Rob http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3783 Rob Mon, 21 Aug 2006 08:50:38 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3783 I think describing someones opinion as "a little dumb" is... well a little dumb. I think describing someones opinion as “a little dumb” is… well a little dumb.

]]> By: Narain http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3770 Narain Sun, 20 Aug 2006 16:57:56 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3770 I agree with you Fred. I have my respects for Paul, yet you are spot on in terms of the advice. Google is not going to be the defacto everywhere on the web, yes they do have some fantastic reach and TechMeme and TechCrunch will speak everything & anything google does followed by a million people. Do something which solves the problem. Many Web 2.0 startups blindly follow the drawn path and they dont bring any variation or niche audience along with. Sometime back i dunno whether it was Guy or Robert Scoble who said the 58K something TechCrunch subscribers are not the users. He is right on his view. The actual customers are not the TechCrunch followers. I am not denying about the influence of TC, yet the real users spread out there are not TC guys. Solve one problem, and solve it perfectly and get "Real Users" Free is good for social networking ;) but for solid apps, Free is not the way to go. I agree with you Fred. I have my respects for Paul, yet you are spot on in terms of the advice. Google is not going to be the defacto everywhere on the web, yes they do have some fantastic reach and TechMeme and TechCrunch will speak everything & anything google does followed by a million people.

Do something which solves the problem. Many Web 2.0 startups blindly follow the drawn path and they dont bring any variation or niche audience along with. Sometime back i dunno whether it was Guy or Robert Scoble who said the 58K something TechCrunch subscribers are not the users. He is right on his view. The actual customers are not the TechCrunch followers. I am not denying about the influence of TC, yet the real users spread out there are not TC guys.

Solve one problem, and solve it perfectly and get “Real Users” Free is good for social networking ;) but for solid apps, Free is not the way to go.

]]> By: Fred http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3766 Fred Sun, 20 Aug 2006 00:39:53 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3766 I did, Paul, but even though I respect your opinion, I still believe there's no market Google can't be beaten on. Maybe that's wishful thinking, but then again, all great companies are born from that feeling of greatness that accompanies a good idea and a great implementation. I believe even though Google's way may be powerful, albeit narrow, they can still be beaten by smart people. Thats the main point of this article. (And don't take my criticism personally, I have always respected your opinions and took your advice, but this particular article of yours, I just can't agree with) I did, Paul, but even though I respect your opinion, I still believe there’s no market Google can’t be beaten on. Maybe that’s wishful thinking, but then again, all great companies are born from that feeling of greatness that accompanies a good idea and a great implementation.

I believe even though Google’s way may be powerful, albeit narrow, they can still be beaten by smart people. Thats the main point of this article.

(And don’t take my criticism personally, I have always respected your opinions and took your advice, but this particular article of yours, I just can’t agree with)

]]> By: Paul Graham http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3763 Paul Graham Sat, 19 Aug 2006 23:07:23 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3763 Did you read my actual post or just the single quote DHH reproduced out of context? That advice about staying out of Google's way was followed immediately by a whole paragraph explaining that Google's way was in fact very narrow, and that in anything except that narrow subset of applications, they could be beaten. Honestly. Did you read my actual post or just the single quote DHH reproduced out of context?

That advice about staying out of Google’s way was followed immediately by a whole paragraph explaining that Google’s way was in fact very narrow, and that in anything except that narrow subset of applications, they could be beaten.

Honestly.

]]> By: Goncalo Fonseca http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3754 Goncalo Fonseca Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:49:42 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3754 Say no more... ;-) Say no more… ;-)

]]> By: Effair | Billet | Kiko, Google, Flickr, Zooomr et la compétition http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-3741 Effair | Billet | Kiko, Google, Flickr, Zooomr et la compétition Fri, 18 Aug 2006 23:32:32 +0000 http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2006/08/google-fear/#comment-3741 [...] Ensuite, David de 37signals réplique sur le blogue de la compagnie que c’est faux et que Google ne rend pas toute résistance futile. Ces propos sont ensuite repris par Fred de Webreakstuff dans son billet “Don’t be afraid of Google”. How are you supposed to do anything (in any area), if you’re afraid of a giant competitor? And thinking about it, wasn’t Google just a couple of guys some years ago? Were they afraid of competition? [...] [...] Ensuite, David de 37signals réplique sur le blogue de la compagnie que c’est faux et que Google ne rend pas toute résistance futile. Ces propos sont ensuite repris par Fred de Webreakstuff dans son billet “Don’t be afraid of Google”. How are you supposed to do anything (in any area), if you’re afraid of a giant competitor? And thinking about it, wasn’t Google just a couple of guys some years ago? Were they afraid of competition? [...]

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