 |
 |
Steve Gilliard, 1964-2007
It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog, passed away June 2, 2007. He was 42.
To those who have come to trust The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects and interest categories where others feared to tread.
Please keep Steve's friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.
Steve meant so much to us.
We will miss him terribly.
Ice Weasel: "Outsourcing"
Decisions, decisions
On Wednesday Google released Google Apps Premiere Edition, marking what might be the
first big splash into the developing SaaS (Software as a Service)ecosystem.
Coming on the heels of Microsoft's almost lackluster opening for Vista one need not wonder very long if Google's timing with a (sortof) alternative is coincidence or not.
On an almost irrelevant note, Friday Google stock closed at $470.62 and Microsoft at $28.90. Take a look at the last few years of both stocks' performance and you'll note a similar performance disparity.
One might opine that Microsoft has long been cruising on an established but slowly deteriorating position while Google has been building an ever-stronger one.
As usual, I have more questions than answers. Here are just a few:
-Will people gravitate towards software models they do not own, but basically rent, and all that it implies?
-How will Google counter the argument that software which is only available while you are online isn't nearly as useful as something that works anytime you boot up?
-What about security? When so much of what you do is only available through an online interface, how will this impact the security of documents for personal use and business?
- posted by Ice Weasel