Sun: Java, Java, Java, heya {a little tribal dance}. Great for wristwatches and toasters as well as larger devices. And don't forget, the network is the computer.
Microsoft: Hey, we've discovered standards! Just look at the pledges posted on our site! We will code no new html feature before submitting it for review to the W3C (disclaimer: we did not say we would wait for consensus). The future is, indeed, dynamic html -- a different flavor than Netscape's, of course. Oh, and Java is a nice language and all, but, well, ...actually, it sucks: it only runs on 42% of platforms, and that number will not improve because of the combinatorial nature of new hardware configurations.
Oracle: None of that really matters, as long as you use our databases for the backend servers, and the NC for insertion into every home. The computer is the network.
Apple: Ummm, authoring tools! Rhapsody! Focussing on our strengths! Errm, servers -- yah, that's it, servers! Industry momentum! Uh, Java platforms! We know what we are doing, really!
Web authoring and site production tools vendors: {scramble, scuffle, scoot, shove} If you don't use our (No, ours! No, ours!) latest wizzy tools, your site will be terminally dull and unsexy. You won't get any dates, and neither will your company. Don't fall behind! Don't risk being uncool! Hey -- you -- don't walk away! ... {sulk}
Proprietary authoring and production tools are not ready for prime-time: they all produce imperfect html unsuitable for universal browser consumption. Every serious production site customizes or rolls their own tools (mostly based on public domain offerings), and writes or at least edits html by hand.
Out | In |
---|---|
Cool | Relevant |
Complex | Simple |
More | Less |
Out | In |
---|---|
Enigmatic | Obvious |
Fashionable and buggy | Slightly restrained and very dependable |
Whirlygigs everywhere | Carefully contained animation |
Large, slow graphics | Carefully selected and optimized graphics |
Excessive frames | Frames only for navigation & advertizing |
Plethora of plugins | HTML |
Supporting tool vendors | Supporting the purpose of the site |
Proprietary tools hype | Public domain and custom tools |
Endless hierarchies of pages | Local search engines |
Designer fonts | User-selected browser fonts |
Subscriptions | Targeted advertizing banners |
Propagating new content | Aggregating/repurposing content |
Naked links (no description) | Progressive disclosure |
Content quantity | Content quality (ruthlessly edited) |
Multimedia hype | Multimedia disappointment (bandwidth) |
Upstream partnerships to increase traffic | Downstream partnership to distinguish content |
Web site as wall (reduce customer service $) | Web site as door (invite contact) |
Corporate product propaganda | Links to independent reviews |
Deciding what users want | Finding out what users want |
Generic references | Branding |
Crisis management | Expectation management |
Ignoring browsers that are not the "big two" | Supporting all browsers, with different pages automatically served |
Presentation imbedded in content | Presentation separated from content |
Cascading style sheets (css1) | Templates, macros, and doc object model |
Cookies | Database of registered users |
WinNT hype | Unix, Win95, Mac |
Writing commerce/esd apps | Outsourcing to a commerce service |
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