Comments on: techcrunch for the open source desktop http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/ Ramblings on software, law, and the spaces in between. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:56:37 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Quim http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2224 Quim Sun, 03 Sep 2006 23:20:09 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2224 After thinking several hours (I had to drive 1.400km alone) I've decided to give it a try: http://desdeamericaconamor.org/blog/node/293 After thinking several hours (I had to drive 1.400km alone) I’ve decided to give it a try: http://desdeamericaconamor.org/blog/node/293

]]> By: Luis http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2187 Luis Sat, 02 Sep 2006 13:29:07 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2187 Paul: basketball is almost always on topic for me. ;) That sucked. On the plus side, I think that set up K better to win gold in China- this team will be seriously committed for the next couple years, and we'll be able to present a more effective international team (i.e., ditch Brad Miller, bring in more shooters, and perhaps play one good lineup and have an actual bench) next time. Paul: basketball is almost always on topic for me. ;) That sucked. On the plus side, I think that set up K better to win gold in China- this team will be seriously committed for the next couple years, and we’ll be able to present a more effective international team (i.e., ditch Brad Miller, bring in more shooters, and perhaps play one good lineup and have an actual bench) next time.

]]> By: Paul Stamatiou http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2172 Paul Stamatiou Sat, 02 Sep 2006 07:10:03 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2172 Off-topic but.. GO GREECE! Off-topic but.. GO GREECE!

]]> By: Lloyd D Budd http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2168 Lloyd D Budd Sat, 02 Sep 2006 05:11:08 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2168 Yeah, if you are not a cheerleader, you don't get the scoops. And that is what it is about - Hyper hyper! Dance dance! Yeah, if you are not a cheerleader, you don’t get the scoops. And that is what it is about – Hyper hyper! Dance dance!

]]> By: Luis http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2167 Luis Sat, 02 Sep 2006 04:47:23 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2167 Stephen: Interesting; I don't find the volume all that high- but then again, I just skim the pieces, since I'm not interested in most of it. Something of similar volume for the open source desktop might be overwhelming to me. (Then again, the sector isn't that active, so maybe not.) I find the analysis mostly decent- at least, typically I find it a decent first cut, even if I'd disagree with it. Then again, maybe that's why I'm a law student and you're an actual analyst. ;) In response to Lloyd's post on his site: Lloyd, I'd definitely select a slightly different and less-hype-y voice for an open source desktop site than we see at TechCrunch. But I don't really hold it against Tech Crunch all that much- it is an inherently hype-y sector and it would be pretty hard to avoid getting caught up in the cheerleading altogether. Stephen: Interesting; I don’t find the volume all that high- but then again, I just skim the pieces, since I’m not interested in most of it. Something of similar volume for the open source desktop might be overwhelming to me. (Then again, the sector isn’t that active, so maybe not.) I find the analysis mostly decent- at least, typically I find it a decent first cut, even if I’d disagree with it. Then again, maybe that’s why I’m a law student and you’re an actual analyst. ;)

In response to Lloyd’s post on his site: Lloyd, I’d definitely select a slightly different and less-hype-y voice for an open source desktop site than we see at TechCrunch. But I don’t really hold it against Tech Crunch all that much- it is an inherently hype-y sector and it would be pretty hard to avoid getting caught up in the cheerleading altogether.

]]> By: TechCrunch for the Open Source Desktop? at A Fool’s Wisdom http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2163 TechCrunch for the Open Source Desktop? at A Fool’s Wisdom Sat, 02 Sep 2006 01:26:33 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2163 [...] Luis Villa’s Blog » techcrunch for the open source desktop [...] [...] Luis Villa’s Blog » techcrunch for the open source desktop [...]

]]> By: Lloyd D Budd http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2160 Lloyd D Budd Sat, 02 Sep 2006 00:59:15 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2160 Things have changed somewhat in <a href="http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/09/01/8384325/" rel="nofollow">Techcrunch's business</a>. Things have changed somewhat in Techcrunch’s business.

]]> By: Quim http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2156 Quim Fri, 01 Sep 2006 21:59:06 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2156 Still thinking... I contacted them and I received a first quick reply with a doubt, a question, an observation and a request to keep them informed if the project goes on. Still thinking... Still thinking…

I contacted them and I received a first quick reply with a doubt, a question, an observation and a request to keep them informed if the project goes on.

Still thinking…

]]> By: stephen o'grady http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2152 stephen o'grady Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:56:04 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2152 interesting post, Luis. i actually read TechCrunch but rarely, b/c the volume of new stuff is simply too high - and i disagree with a fair amount of the analysis. there's so much Web 2.0 stuff that my eyes just glaze over after a while. interesting post, Luis. i actually read TechCrunch but rarely, b/c the volume of new stuff is simply too high – and i disagree with a fair amount of the analysis. there’s so much Web 2.0 stuff that my eyes just glaze over after a while.

]]> By: Luis http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-2142 Luis Fri, 01 Sep 2006 11:01:38 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/09/01/techcrunch-for-the-open-source-desktop/#comment-2142 Would be interesting to see if a skilled journalist + Google AdWords could make this pay :) I do think someone could do a decent job of this just as a hobby- you'd sacrifice the regularity of it, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. <ul> <li>Audience would be easy- frankly, the competition isn't very good, and lots of people want this. And this is a tightly connected group- if the site was good, word of mouth would spread very quickly.</li> <li>Interesting point about sources. I think one of techcrunch's strengths is that they do have a strong editorial voice, and don't just reprint press releases, so the fact that developers don't write is not much of a problem. That developers don't <em>promote</em> is a problem, you're right- techcrunch can just sit there and let news come to them, whereas a desktopcrunch would have to go out and pound the pavement.</li> <li>I get the sense that TechCrunch's business model is mostly advertising- see <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2005/11/18/advertising-on-techcrunch/">this post.</a> I don't think you really need much capital, beyond being able to feed the author- techcrunch spread completely by word of mouth, I believe. Quim, you may be interested in 37signals' '<a rel="nofollow" href="https://gettingreal.37signals.com/">Getting Real</a>', which is (in part) about starting a business in the Brave New World.</li> <li>You've noticed, I'm sure, linuxtoday's particularly shameless advertising approach. :)</li> </ul> <em>[Ed.: blah, looks like my stylesheet needs work; those should be bullet points.]</em> Would be interesting to see if a skilled journalist + Google AdWords could make this pay :) I do think someone could do a decent job of this just as a hobby- you’d sacrifice the regularity of it, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

  • Audience would be easy- frankly, the competition isn’t very good, and lots of people want this. And this is a tightly connected group- if the site was good, word of mouth would spread very quickly.
  • Interesting point about sources. I think one of techcrunch’s strengths is that they do have a strong editorial voice, and don’t just reprint press releases, so the fact that developers don’t write is not much of a problem. That developers don’t promote is a problem, you’re right- techcrunch can just sit there and let news come to them, whereas a desktopcrunch would have to go out and pound the pavement.
  • I get the sense that TechCrunch’s business model is mostly advertising- see this post. I don’t think you really need much capital, beyond being able to feed the author- techcrunch spread completely by word of mouth, I believe. Quim, you may be interested in 37signals’ ‘Getting Real‘, which is (in part) about starting a business in the Brave New World.
  • You’ve noticed, I’m sure, linuxtoday’s particularly shameless advertising approach. :)

[Ed.: blah, looks like my stylesheet needs work; those should be bullet points.]

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