Comments on: Web 2.0 in limbo? Let’s get a grip

By: Aidan Henry

Aidan Henry — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:48:47 +0000

The potential cost of launching a new web venture nowadays can be close to 0, if you discount human labour and leverage free software/tools/platforms. For this reason, I don't see an Internet bubble in sight. I wrote about it all here:

http://www.mappingtheweb.com/2008/03/20/there-i...

Cheers,
Aidan

By: Aidan Henry

Aidan Henry — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:48:47 +0000

http://www.mappingtheweb.com/2008/03/20/there-i...

Cheers,
Aidan

By: mathewi

mathewi — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:18:03 +0000

Wow -- I'm impressed that you were able to dismiss the past 100 years
or so worth of economic progress so quickly. Nice work. "All of
these created a few new big businesses -- and also lots of failed
businesses." That pretty much describes every technology ever
invented since the industrial revolution.

Your comment reminds me of Warren Buffett's famous saying about how
the airline industry has been a net destroyer of capital since the
Wright Brother first flew at Kitty Hawk. The upside? We get to fly
places instead of taking boats and cars.

By: Seth Finkelstein

Seth Finkelstein — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:45:17 +0000

"I had a feeling you would be dropping by, Seth."

And, see, it wasn't different this time! :-)

Again, you're confusing one component with an overall process. That's a very standard evangelist ploy, Since the laws of mathematics haven't changed, to a good approximation, the net results will never be different.

150 years ago, were their railroads like [BigName]? 100 years ago, was there TV and radio like [BigName]? 50 years ago, was there cheap air travel like [BigName]? All of these created a few new big businesses - and also lots of failed businesses. It's never different, in that there's always people running around saying that this time it's different.

By: evan barton

evan barton — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:53:28 +0000

i think that you and the mashable guy are focusing on
the wrong angle. with the exception of a handful of
very successful companies, most web 2.0 shops are
small fry. here's the problem: the CPMs utterly blow -
and unless you're a onesie, twosie shop and can keep
expense way low, it's tough to make a buck. more power
to anyone who can do that but then you're not talking
about the next google here. second point, in a
recession, who do you think is going to get whacked
first? that's easy. advertising-dependent startups.
i'm not saying the web 2.0 landscape will get
decimated but let's not close our eyes to what's
happening on the ground. also,.lots more enterprise
companies are getting into the space and they have
staying power just in case the economy heads south.
saw this post apropos...http://www.news.com/8301-10787_3-9929415-60.html?tag=nefd.top