Saturday, October 20, 2012

The Next Big Thing In Software: Never Me


I was never trying to do the next big thing in software.

In 1999 when I was a founding member of a dot com that did pretty good - $25 million raised round two - it was trying to create a community online.

A little after when I was pitching VCs on my own, what I had in mind is what the Chromebook is today, only the price point is not right yet. But then I was not thinking touch as a possibility at all.

The nuclear winter happened. A few years later when I moved to NYC it was with the Chromebook concept in mind.

I got pulled into doing full time political work on a volunteer basis, in Nepal and in America. They were both historic opportunities. I did raise 100K as was the first goal, but my political enemies in the city made sure the idea got scuttled. They killed it. And the Great Recession happened.

After that I started thinking in terms of microfinance, for profit high tech microfinance. Advising or rooting for or even joining the teams of others don't count. A few dot coms fall in that category.

Today I am squarely in Clean Energy, one of the next big things like nanotech and biotech. I will also do sales, and I hope to pick up microfinance down the line. When it comes to software, I am a great user, I'd like to believe. But I never was a guy trying to do the next big thing in software.

I came to New York wanting to do hardware. I am glad Google picked up the slack. I want Google to also do globally wireless gigabit broadband. That is the only way it can become a trillion dollar company.

As for me, let me worry about hydroelectric dams in Nepal.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Chromebook: $249 A Much Better Price Point

$199 would have been better still. $199 ad free, $100 ad supported.


Google launches 11.6-inch ARM-based Samsung Chromebook: $249, ultra thin and light, 6.5-hour battery, 1080p video
The new Chromebook, for everyone
Google Unveils New $249 Chromebook by Samsung
Samsung/Google's new ARM-powered Chromebook looks like a MacBook Air, costs just $249
Google announces new Samsung Chromebook, available for $249 on Monday (hands-on video and photos)
Google wants new $249, ARM-based Chromebook to be your second computer
New Google Chromebook Has a Great Price: $250
Google's thin 11.6-inch ARM based Samsung ChromeBook with 100GB of online space is finally compelling at $249 (Video)
Nope, Google's $249 Chromebook totally didn't rip off MacBook Air wholesale
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, October 15, 2012

Patent Wars Are Death, Agreed

Image representing Eric Schmidt as depicted in...
Image by Charles Haynes via CrunchBase
But Google was a pacifist in the Apple-Samsung battle. Was there any doubt that was a proxy fight with Google?

Eric Schmidt: Android-Apple Is the Defining Fight in the Industry Today
“These patent wars are death,” Schmidt said, noting that software is always overlapping, and that there are an estimated 200,000 patents covering the software industry. Schmidt said the impact is worse for small companies than it is for companies like Apple, Google and Samsung that can afford to protect their technolopgies. “I think this is ultimately bad, bad for innovation. It eliminates choices.” ..... “Facebook is attempting to become the world’s communications hub, and Amazon is attempting to become the world’s largest store.” .... Shouldn’t Microsoft be included in there, Mossberg asked? No, Schmidt said. “It’s a well-run company,” he said, “but they don’t make state-of-the-art products.”
Enhanced by Zemanta

Inbox More Complex Than The Web