Comments on: Back to school http://twopointouch.com/2006/websites/back-to-school/ web 2.0, blogs and social media Mon, 30 May 2011 20:58:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Getting to know you at twopointouch: web 2.0, blogs and social mediahttp://twopointouch.com/2006/websites/back-to-school/#comment-331 Getting to know you at twopointouch: web 2.0, blogs and social media Sun, 27 Aug 2006 18:52:17 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/08/14/back-to-school/#comment-331 [...] Personally, I can’t abide text chat. Not enough time for me to think (email) and no real-life presence (phone). However, my new series, This-Guy-Emailed-Me-About-His-New-Product (as in this and this), continues apace. [...] […] Personally, I can’t abide text chat. Not enough time for me to think (email) and no real-life presence (phone). However, my new series, This-Guy-Emailed-Me-About-His-New-Product (as in this and this), continues apace. […]

]]> By: Marc - Stuck @ the Marriotthttp://twopointouch.com/2006/websites/back-to-school/#comment-222 Marc - Stuck @ the Marriott Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:15:39 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/08/14/back-to-school/#comment-222 > Unfortunately, vision and business savvy have to go in parallel. It's very unfortunate that I out of all people have to say this. :) Marc >

Unfortunately, vision and business savvy have to go in parallel.

It’s very unfortunate that I out of all people have to say this.

:)

Marc

]]> By: Ian Delaneyhttp://twopointouch.com/2006/websites/back-to-school/#comment-216 Ian Delaney Tue, 15 Aug 2006 23:56:04 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/08/14/back-to-school/#comment-216 The Silicon Valley VC Paul Graham said to me that if you find service that you can do that makes people come to you, then you'll always find a way to make money out of it sooner or later. Is that rubbish? Seems to have worked for Netvibes, eh. The Silicon Valley VC Paul Graham said to me that if you find service that you can do that makes people come to you, then you’ll always find a way to make money out of it sooner or later. Is that rubbish? Seems to have worked for Netvibes, eh.

]]> By: Alexhttp://twopointouch.com/2006/websites/back-to-school/#comment-214 Alex Tue, 15 Aug 2006 20:15:04 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/08/14/back-to-school/#comment-214 David, It's not that we don't want to make it big. It's that we're more concerned with helping students succeed (and if we succeed at that, then obviously our website will succeed as well). My point was that we're not in this just to make money, it's not why we started and it's not why we keep going. David, It’s not that we don’t want to make it big. It’s that we’re more concerned with helping students succeed (and if we succeed at that, then obviously our website will succeed as well).

My point was that we’re not in this just to make money, it’s not why we started and it’s not why we keep going.

]]> By: David Cruickshankhttp://twopointouch.com/2006/websites/back-to-school/#comment-210 David Cruickshank Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:26:52 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/08/14/back-to-school/#comment-210 That's interesting Marc. There are a few reasons why you might say that it has the signs of an amateur attempt in the startup context: a) light on features; b) light on design; c) their honesty about lack of commercial intent; d) ... For me, it's (c) that gives it away. Many startups that have become huge successes on the web have launched light on features (and in fact many say that is the right way to do it - waiting for user feedback to drive enhancements) and light on design (eBay and delicious seemingly never bothered with this side that much). If they'd not said "We aren’t worried about making a profit from mynoteIT" I would have thought they could give it a push if they wanted to and grow a very nice and loyal user-base /community following. What's interesting is that the technology is really the easy bit. It's the disciplines of marketing and selling and growing that differentiate this student 'toy project' from a viable business opportunity. Perhaps they just don't believe in it enough or don't want to work hard at disciplines they are not familiar with. That’s interesting Marc. There are a few reasons why you might say that it has the signs of an amateur attempt in the startup context: a) light on features; b) light on design; c) their honesty about lack of commercial intent; d) …

For me, it’s © that gives it away. Many startups that have become huge successes on the web have launched light on features (and in fact many say that is the right way to do it — waiting for user feedback to drive enhancements) and light on design (eBay and delicious seemingly never bothered with this side that much).

If they’d not said “We aren’t worried about making a profit from mynoteIT” I would have thought they could give it a push if they wanted to and grow a very nice and loyal user-base /community following.

What’s interesting is that the technology is really the easy bit. It’s the disciplines of marketing and selling and growing that differentiate this student ‘toy project’ from a viable business opportunity. Perhaps they just don’t believe in it enough or don’t want to work hard at disciplines they are not familiar with.

]]> By: Marc - Stuck @ the Marriotthttp://twopointouch.com/2006/websites/back-to-school/#comment-207 Marc - Stuck @ the Marriott Mon, 14 Aug 2006 14:21:23 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/08/14/back-to-school/#comment-207 Not a toy but a 'toy project' What I mean is that, it doesn't have the posture of a great startup in the making but it's a great toy project. It's missing one or two ingredients that would make it ta great startup in the making, one of them being the timing they chose. They could have waited a bit more to develop the idea further. That's why I feel it has the signs of an amateur attempt (in the startup context .. the tech side since the tech side looks well crafted) I'm actually in LA now and my stupid WiFi connection is not working... So much for universal hotspot coverage. Can't wait for WiMax. Not a toy but a ‘toy project’

What I mean is that, it doesn’t have the posture of a great startup in the making but it’s a great toy project.

It’s missing one or two ingredients that would make it ta great startup in the making, one of them being the timing they chose. They could have waited a bit more to develop the idea further. That’s why I feel it has the signs of an amateur attempt (in the startup context .. the tech side since the tech side looks well crafted)

I’m actually in LA now and my stupid WiFi connection is not working… So much for universal hotspot coverage. Can’t wait for WiMax.

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