Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Long term focus, short term skirmishes
So Google has rolled out another web app today, and to tell you the truth, I'm kinda bummed out by it. Though the reason is cause I was not able to play with it yet. I have however been mildly entertained by the vast difference of opinions that have been expressed online about it; having read that this is the beginning of the end for Microsoft to this is actually a benefit for Excel and will benefit Microsoft.
The fact of the matter is that this is indeed many things, none of which are a watershed moment, direct attack, or attack at Microsoft.
This is an exciting example of an internet company playing in real time, versus internet time. If you've never heard of 'internet time', lets just say that its a lot like dog years, multiply and time span by 7 and that's the rate at which such a company is expected to grow. That said, has anyone noticed that Google does NOT do this? They are taking a very slow, systematic and controlled approach in their attack.
Its rather brilliant I must admit, whether intentional or not, the fact is they are making a lot of people very nervous very quickly, but the nervousness quickly fades as the hype about a new product or another begins to fade. The result however is their deliberate (or perhaps not) and systematic attack at the cracks in the foundation of the industry - not any particular company.
For so long I have heard so many of the same companies who today are criticizing Goggle's' inferior product complain about MS (or other vendor) plugging so many features into any given program, of which not even 5% of which are actually used. Well boys and girls, you wanted that 5%, Google gave it to you.
Now bare with me for a second as I discuss another briefings, but rather remarkable program that Google launched some time ago, one that had a few great tricks but did not really 'revolutionize' anything other than providing a massive amount of storage space and a web-centric way of looking at things - that's right, the beloved Gmail.
When Gmail started, its main difference was not really its massive storage or its unique and wonderful labeling feature - I would argue that these where the RESULTS of their web-centric way of thinking of email, rather than a focus on features. What I'm trying to say, is that Google did not start of by saying 'lets take email and make it better', but rather 'what would be really great to have in an online email system'?
Semantics? I think not. Its the (current) soul of the company, its what other companies should really be afraid of. This is because for the most part, Google is not re-making, or simply webifying, the wheel - its reassessing our needs (ok, theirs and ours by extrapolation) based on just that our NEEDs not our desire to for a web-based version of the same re-heated soup.
Once they have their foot in the door however, the progress continues, and like the energizer bunny, it just keeps going and going and going. Has anyone noticed the sheer amount of additions that have been made to GMail since its launch? Chat, Multi-language spell checking, highlighting, contact book, etc, etc...
This happens with everything they launch, once the hype dies down a little a new feature comes along. From where I stand, this serves three main functions: 1) constant improvement of the system; 2) continuous media hype - be it loud or a whisper / wide-spread or niche focused; and 3) continuous training.
Of these, I think that number 3 is the most potent. Think about it for a moment. Did you get it? No? Fine. I'll explain. In short, it practically eliminates the learning curve, while at the same time increases the number of 'expert users' who would be available to help anyone out. Make sense yet?
Ok, I'll explain. On my PC, I have MS Office and Open Office. Which do you think I use more than the other - MS Office of course. There is just too much to re-learn in making a complete switch, and with each version that comes out, I will have to re-learn them again... not fun. But with an evolving program, I know that I will grow WITH the program, continuously; and if I am late to the game, I can always ask someone who did.
So back to my point, as I do recall having one, which is that Google's new spreadsheet is one of many beachheads that will have little impact in the immediate future, though overtime, will grow and flourish as more and more people slowly adopt the programs.
Mind you that Google is not playing for today or for tomorrow, but for the day after that. You think they are hiring all these brilliant minds in order to come up with tomorrow's next big thing? Think again, tomorrow's next big thing is typically a NEW OLD thing, and just what challenge does that hold for them? None. ¶ 6/06/2006 04:32:00 PM
The fact of the matter is that this is indeed many things, none of which are a watershed moment, direct attack, or attack at Microsoft.
This is an exciting example of an internet company playing in real time, versus internet time. If you've never heard of 'internet time', lets just say that its a lot like dog years, multiply and time span by 7 and that's the rate at which such a company is expected to grow. That said, has anyone noticed that Google does NOT do this? They are taking a very slow, systematic and controlled approach in their attack.
Its rather brilliant I must admit, whether intentional or not, the fact is they are making a lot of people very nervous very quickly, but the nervousness quickly fades as the hype about a new product or another begins to fade. The result however is their deliberate (or perhaps not) and systematic attack at the cracks in the foundation of the industry - not any particular company.
For so long I have heard so many of the same companies who today are criticizing Goggle's' inferior product complain about MS (or other vendor) plugging so many features into any given program, of which not even 5% of which are actually used. Well boys and girls, you wanted that 5%, Google gave it to you.
Now bare with me for a second as I discuss another briefings, but rather remarkable program that Google launched some time ago, one that had a few great tricks but did not really 'revolutionize' anything other than providing a massive amount of storage space and a web-centric way of looking at things - that's right, the beloved Gmail.
When Gmail started, its main difference was not really its massive storage or its unique and wonderful labeling feature - I would argue that these where the RESULTS of their web-centric way of thinking of email, rather than a focus on features. What I'm trying to say, is that Google did not start of by saying 'lets take email and make it better', but rather 'what would be really great to have in an online email system'?
Semantics? I think not. Its the (current) soul of the company, its what other companies should really be afraid of. This is because for the most part, Google is not re-making, or simply webifying, the wheel - its reassessing our needs (ok, theirs and ours by extrapolation) based on just that our NEEDs not our desire to for a web-based version of the same re-heated soup.
Once they have their foot in the door however, the progress continues, and like the energizer bunny, it just keeps going and going and going. Has anyone noticed the sheer amount of additions that have been made to GMail since its launch? Chat, Multi-language spell checking, highlighting, contact book, etc, etc...
This happens with everything they launch, once the hype dies down a little a new feature comes along. From where I stand, this serves three main functions: 1) constant improvement of the system; 2) continuous media hype - be it loud or a whisper / wide-spread or niche focused; and 3) continuous training.
Of these, I think that number 3 is the most potent. Think about it for a moment. Did you get it? No? Fine. I'll explain. In short, it practically eliminates the learning curve, while at the same time increases the number of 'expert users' who would be available to help anyone out. Make sense yet?
Ok, I'll explain. On my PC, I have MS Office and Open Office. Which do you think I use more than the other - MS Office of course. There is just too much to re-learn in making a complete switch, and with each version that comes out, I will have to re-learn them again... not fun. But with an evolving program, I know that I will grow WITH the program, continuously; and if I am late to the game, I can always ask someone who did.
So back to my point, as I do recall having one, which is that Google's new spreadsheet is one of many beachheads that will have little impact in the immediate future, though overtime, will grow and flourish as more and more people slowly adopt the programs.
Mind you that Google is not playing for today or for tomorrow, but for the day after that. You think they are hiring all these brilliant minds in order to come up with tomorrow's next big thing? Think again, tomorrow's next big thing is typically a NEW OLD thing, and just what challenge does that hold for them? None. ¶ 6/06/2006 04:32:00 PM
