re: RE: Re: UKNM: The next stage in the game - ?????

[Ben Scott-Robinson]

I think we should differentiate between Open, the development platform (a hideously 

expensive proprietory setup similarish to Macromedia Director, and used across Europe by a 

large number of satellite and cable companies), and Open.... (four dots) the ex-BIB 

conglomerate who have paid a rather large amount of money to provide the content for the 

BSkyB interactive offering.


Not the same thing...


that's all



> ** Original Subject: RE: Re: UKNM: The next stage in the game - ?????

>

** Original Sender: Steve Johnston <Steve [dot] JohnstonEntranet [dot] co [dot] uk>

> ** Original Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 18:00:27 +0100


> ** Original Message follows... 


>

> > -----Original Message-----

>

> From: Clay Shirky [clayshirky [dot] com (mailto:clayshirky [dot] com)]

> 

> > I'm sure you're right about it bringing interactivity to a new group

> > of people - the devices we have are far too difficult to use. I don't

> > think new devices equal new protocols, though. New devices will have

> > to interoperate with the existing net or they will fail. If Open

> > doesn't get a real web browser, it won't be around in 6 months time.

> 

> On the 6 month prognosis for Open, I beg to differ. I reckon that Open

> is reaching a great many people already who have never gone near an

> internet-enabled PC. Sure, it is slow, but it's media rich; it has

> limited offerings, which are growing; but more than anything, it is out

> there big style and it is bloody easy to use. I can't believe I am

> saying this but, Open is delivering a stable, user-friendly environment

> that is reaching a lot of people. It is safe for a long, long time (in

> internet time) yet. I was sceptical, until my 62 year old father bought

> the soundtrack to Notting Hill from Woolworths though it - you should

> see the trouble he is having with the iMac my mother bought three months

> ago.

> 

> Give *me* a choice and the TV access I want will *have* to be Web

> enabled. But if you don't know what you're missing.....

> 

> As a qualifier Clay, as I know you are picky about this stuff (no

> sarcasm intended), I am basing these opinions on my own experience, that

> of my father and in the knowledge that there are around 1,000,000

> return-path-enabled Open set-top boxes already in consumers homes.

> 

> Steve Johnston

>

steve [dot] johnstonentranet [dot] co [dot] uk

> Mobile +44 (0)7901 853273

> Office +44 (0)1491 878787 


When the going gets weird,

The weird turn pro.


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