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by ebob
And there's very little room for editorial content in sourcing advertising. You too could buy the advertising space for whatever you want.
I'm certainly no fan of MicroSloth (ask one who knows), but in the case of the banner ads plastered all around us here in TR (for "OFFICE" XP), we should know that these are not editorials by TR supporting OFFICE XP, they're just advertisements from "our dear friends in Redmond".
by generalist
It is marketing blitz time and every form of media is innundated with XP advertising and/or propaganda. (Attend one of their roll out meetings and get free software! (But I already have what they're offering, more or less...))
Personally I findthe discussions about XP and the licensing details to be a sign that TechRepublic isn't a "minion of Microsoft". I also suspect that there are a number of MS employees who look for such things and report the flak to the proper levels of MS. (Hi MS! Now that I have your attention, could you please fix...)
Of course, there is always the "favorite vendor" factor to consider. It you have a vendor whose products you like a lot, they can't do too much wrong.
by epepke
First off, lest this be considered kvetching against TechRepublic, let me say that I think TechRepublic is great.
However, TechRepublic is in the business of making money, and so is Gartner, who owns them (the last time I looked). Though it is depressing, most of this involves the other stuff, the stuff that is normally said to walk.
In nicer words, money is made primarily off of the *mythology* of IT, with the substance a distant second. When Microsoft says that XP is going to solve all the usability problems, or that the registration scheme won't inconvenience anyone who isn't a pirate, or that .NET will support a bunch of languages simultaneously, we all KNOW that before it happens some very hot places will become very cold.
None of this, however, matters AT ALL except to a few odd craftsmen and artisans. What matters is the mythology and the social games it provides. This is purely based on belief and practical psychology.
In other words, the promises by Microsoft (or whoever) matter far more than whether they have any basis in fact. Games, however, only work as long as everybody pretends they aren't games.
I don't see how TechRepublic could afford to come across as puncturing the balloon. Instead, they do what they can, which is to provide a forum. I have seen cases where TechRepublic surveys have gotten into the legitimate press.
Infuriating us is really good reverse psychology to build up the head of steam. They can report it, but they can legitimately say "Hey, it's not us; it's our members."
by gatherer
Jump on, enjoy the ride!
Short OS lifecycles generate revenues for the producer, but draw more attention to the product brand and less to business problem solving. The arrogance of brand promotion is getting in the way of my need to build a consistent, growing business foundation. I want to grow a business with a solid infrastructure and changing operating systems every 2 or 3 years is quite irritating. When does it stop?
Software is not food to be consumed on a regular basis. I suggest folks burn as many CDs with current software and OS's and hunker down - slow the change enough to synchronize with the brick-n-mortar growth cycle. I vote with my dollar, and by buying more software, I become the producer?s slave. Eventually, ifthe producers use this against the buyers, relationships will be of the need-hate variety. I believe the species is alive and populating. It appears that OS producers have taken the same tact as the oil companies ? ugly benevolence.
We've become addicted to the "new software" syndrome and want to buy more bells and whistles to satisfy the desire to have more. The software factories and 5th avenue know how to prick desire and fuel hunger. We chow down without a thought of what we are eating or where we are going. Mesmerized by this ability to get a glowing object to someone faster, we have been seduced, distracted and deceived by the new, improved world just around the corner - "Rental-Software," "Leased-Software." Why own if you can be "automatically" upgraded through your new lease program? My desire is to decrease additional expenses by growing a business that works, not accruing more system expenses payable by monthly/annual rates.
by admin
I just can't wait until every home users box has the ability to spoof ip's.....
.. Yeah, Right.
by admin
I haven't noticed any "anti-hacker" ad banners here for a while. If this was intentional, a BIG thank-you! to Tech Republic! I appreciate having a professional forum without this mis-guided bias.
:)
by generalist
Want to bet that the anti-hacker ads will appear shortly before one of the big anti-virus organizations comes out with a new release? (I'd say that is a sure thing.)
The same ads will appear after some big name organization gets hacked and has millions of credit card numbers stolen.
Disasters, and advertising promotions, drive the world at times. It makes you wonder about things...
by admin
by admin
by generalist
I like your idea of buying as many copies of an OS and software as possible and digging in. While I'm not against change, I dislike being forced into it by what I call the 'latest and greatest syndrome'.
When you think about it, the 'latest and greatest syndrome' is kind of like the military buildup associated with the Cold War. If YOU upgrade, then I am threatened so I have to upgrade. If I upgrade, then you are threatened so you have to upgrade.
Perhaps we should consider disarmamenttalks so that the weapons makers lose part of their market? It could be done if groups of organizations and individuals would agree to standards and stick to them.
by loraine
I'm willing to run something, but I need you to be more specific. What are your issues with it? Do you want to write a column about it? If so, email me at lawsonl@techrepublic.com
Loraine, IT Manager Community
by dragon katie
Lets see what needs to be changed abotu tech republic.
1- articles showing up in my mailbox in the newletters that were written in the last quarter rather than last year.
2- follow through on this whole tech points thing if only so people shut thehell up about it and talk about tech stuff again
a. come up with a system that works for everyone with the tech q&a
b. either get rid of the thing that says the points are going to be worth somethign or make them worth soemthing .
3- add an ability so idiots can post 900 messages in a day to move conversations filled with nonsense to the "hot topics"
4- ability to deltes ones own posts so that they can correct mistakes of any level.
5- some new content
6- better downloads
7-more downloads
now by no means am i a writer i dont even play one on tv but i do think this is something that needs to be discussed and figured out. like some i come here becuase i wish to learn and grow in my profession, unlike others i am not a guru of the upmost knowledge, and thankfully i am also not like those who are here cause they are bored and post 500 messages a day (can you tell this is a pet peeve)
climbing down from my soap box
Kate Foti
by admin
"3- add an ability so idiots can post 900 messages in a day to move conversations filled with nonsense to the "hot topics"
That needs addressed, the current system is exploitable, however, it's also not working very well right now anyway, and Iassume they are busy on the functions they already have.
Also, if this is really a "tech talk" only discussion board, they should say that. One of the reasons I go here is the community, to see what others are doing, and I have read the instructions. They say it is intended to be a "coffeehouse" atmosphere. I like that. If we are joking on one thread and you don't like it, think of sitting at another table (or thread in this case) and having a serious one. The Q&A is almost (if not entirely) always serious. Personally, I like both. Sometimes I need some humor with someone who understands what I am talking about. Still, there are definately some tables I let others enjoy even though I don't want to join them.
Just my 2 cents.
by dragon katie
by generalist
Ah! Those people who abuse the system, perhaps to test their hypothesis as to how something makes the 'Hot Topics' lists.
I think the first case I saw of that was a few weeks ago. I can't remember the name though.
by admin
hehehehee.
Seriously though, I didn't intend to cause this extensive thing DragonKatie is talking about though.
:)
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