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September 10, 2004
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http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1081-20-37-22237-122725-1
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In This Edition
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David Coursey
1. Plaxo Reconsidered
2. The Commoditization of Enterprise Software
3. Authentication is Not a Spam Killer (But It Sure Helps)
4. Tim Draper is Wrong--Again
5. My (Mis)Understanding of Linux
6. VOIP Topic Center
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David Coursey
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1. Plaxo Reconsidered
After years of bad-mouthing Plaxo, this week I've changed
my tune. Heck, I'm even using the free service myself.
What's changed? Read my column and find out.
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1081-20-37-22237-122728-1
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2. The Commoditization of Enterprise Software
My colleague, Jim Rapoza this week lauded enterprise
software companies that are making downloadable try-before-
you-buy versions of their applications available to would-be
customers. Likewise, software-as-a-service companies
offering free trial accounts are winners in Jim's eyes.
He's right, of course, but the availability of trial
enterprise apps is more than just a customer-friendly
development. Indeed, boxed software and online services are
replacing many of the totally custom installations that used
to be the core of the enterprise software business.
I think this is a trend that ultimately works to the benefit
of small start-ups and boxed software companies like
Microsoft. It may hurt the IBMs and Oracles of the world.
I want to think about the commoditization of enterprise
software and its implications. I'll get back to you with a
report.
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1081-20-37-22237-122731-1
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3. Authentication is Not a Spam Killer (But It Sure Helps)
There are people who believe being able to confirm the
sender's identity will stop spam. Nothing, of course, will
stop spam completely, but being able to easily trash
messages from known spammers will help. Sender
authentication could also stop spammers from hijacking the
e-mail identities of honest people (like you and me) and
sending their trash with our names attached.
I am supporting a proposal to create an industry-wide
repository of "reputation" information, allowing the
spammers to be separated from the rest of us. Read my blog
to learn more.
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1081-20-37-22237-122734-1
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4. Tim Draper is Wrong--Again
Tim Draper is a respected venture capitalist. He is rich
enough to be a political player. A few years ago, he single-
handedly funded a California initiative that would have
provided tuition vouchers to the parents of schoolchildren.
The proposal was soundly defeated.
I used to work for Tim when he was chairman of the company
that published Upside Magazine. I like Tim and respect him,
but that doesn't keep him from being wrong.
My colleague, Chris Nolan, reports the Tim believes
re-electing W is the best move for tech workers. She also
notes that the tech industry is split pretty much evenly
between Democrats and Republicans.
This is not a good year to be voting special interests. The
issues are much larger than what is or isn't good for
technology workers, though I am not sure the GOP is a win
there, either.
President Bush's ideas for an "ownership society" are an
attack on the notion that government exists to play a
beneficial role in people's lives. It would remove what's
left of the safety net that exists for the less-fortunate
among us--and for people like you and me who become ill or
unemployed. Rich Tim doesn't have to worry about this, but
we sure as heck do.
I get in trouble when I write about politics, but the choice
we make in November could be more important than any
presidential election in our lifetimes.
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1081-20-37-22237-122737-1
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5. My (Mis)Understanding of Linux
I got an e-mail this week from a German reader responding to
my ongoing skepticism of Linux as a desktop operating system
suitable for everyday users.
The message read, in part:
"Please, don't write about things you don't know enough
about. You gave a very wrong perspective on things and don't
seem to quite understand the progress that's being made nor
the working model. Linux is much better then you think,
because technically it's better implemented.
"Progress is very speedy right now, and a well-configured
Linux (that's the key) can do much more powerful things,
work faster, and look better. You cannot compare yesterday's
Linux to Windows. It's a quick moving train. All the
features planned for Longhorn, including the now removed
database file system will be in Linux first. Linux rocks
Windows now, and it will definitely rock it tomorrow, no
question."
While I am not sure I agree with everything the writer said,
I understand his point. But Linux people tend to miss
complexity when they see it. Once you are in their world,
everything makes sense, at least most of the time. But it's
still not easy to cross from our world into theirs, and that
difficult transition is what makes even the best of today's
Linux desktops a poor choice for mass consumption.
Everyone I know who isn't a Linux fan finds the operating
system and its desktop GUIs to be at least perplexing and
sometimes downright hostile. And that's the vast majority of
people I know. It's not that Linux is bad or good, it's just
that the UI has a ways to go before it will be easily
approachable by people who really don't want to be using
computers at all.
Add to this a lack of commercial applications and Linux will
continue, for the foreseeable future, to be a poor choice
for most user desktops. Certainly, it will find use as a
platform for Java desktops and thin-client computing, but
most of those users are unlikely to see a Linux GUI.
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1081-20-37-22237-122740-1
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6. VOIP Topic Center
Having followed the integration of computers and telephony
for nearly two decades (TeleCompaq, anyone?), I am very
interested in all things VOIP. I've been spending some time
over at eWEEK.com's VOIP Topic Center, which I recommend.
It's a good place to start and an easy way to stay on top of
this important technology.
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1081-20-37-22237-122743-1
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And that's it for this week.
Contributing Editor David Coursey actually had a TeleCompaq,
a mid-1980's invention that put an 8086-based PC, monitor,
modem, and speakerphone (with dedicated speed dial buttons)
into a single box. Way ahead of its time. If you had a
TeleCompaq or just want to keep in touch, drop him an
e-mail. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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