Too much

There needs to be cohesion. I like Web 2.0 apps just as much as the next guy, but it’s about how they can simplify my life, not how “cool” it is. Just today I’ve heard of maybe ten different “Web 2.0″ companies that I’ve never heard of before, and of which I don’t have a clue what the heck they do. Here’s a clue guys: If I can’t figure out your app in under a minute, I’m not interested. This might be why 30boxes is so awesome: I started using it INSTANTLY. No waiting. I knew exactly what it was, and boom: I’ve pretty much changed my entire calendering system. This is despite it being Beta. Actually, you know what, I don’t even understand what the term means anymore. Flickr is still in Beta. GMail is still in Beta. It’s like an insurance policy. If the thing screws up, they can just say “Oh but it’s in Beta! It’s to be expected!” What was wrong with just “Oopsie! Made a mistake! Sorry!” or “We’re just improving things!” rather than hide behind the Beta banner? Or maybe it’s Beta for a reason and I’m just not getting it. Part of my apprehension of using Beta software is that in doing so, I’m no longer just a user, but a tester. And sometimes I may want to be one, to test stuff. But most of the time, I just want to use something and have it work.

Maybe I’m being hypocritical about this — I’ve pretty much handed my life over to GMail. It’s Beta. Should I be scared? Maybe make backups of it? How do go about making backups of GMail? The implications! How much do we want to be a part of an ever-evolving system and never see a final product? Is it about the journey and not the destination? Maybe the industry needs to stop trying to develop cool and interesting applications just because they think it’ll sell? Can money not be the bottom line? Also, is it possible to mingle in a launch party without trying to promote one’s selfish interests? Can it actually be possible to use a social networking application NOT to try to be more popular, but just to meet new people? Is it possible to utilize one’s blog not for self-promotion, but for self-disclosure? Is there life outside of the Internet?

I don’t have all the answers. But the answer to that last question is: Yes. Yes, there’s life outside the Internet. Even in the heart of Silicon Valley. And you’re a fool if you don’t live it.

It’s all just. too. much.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 10th, 2006 at 4:10 am and is filed under Rambling, Rants & Raves. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.