http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/04/whos_top_of_the_tech_chart.html en-gb 30 Fri 08 Jan 2010 03:14:04 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/04/whos_top_of_the_tech_chart.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/04/whos_top_of_the_tech_chart.html?page=16#comment5 Nice article Rory.I have just been researching the new Yahoo search offering, for an post i'm writing over at www.theideasblog.comIt seems to me that the 'Big 5' are becoming increasingly difficult to second-guess. What I mean is, just 18 months ago, no one would have expected Nintendo to even be in your list. They developed a games system that lacked the 'next gen' graphics that all the 'experts' thought game players wanted - yet they are a super-star success!I have books on Search Engine Optimisation from just four/five years ago that don't even mention Google; they were such minor players at the time.I'm just wondering who will be in this list in 12 or 18-months time.The people behind Twitter perhaps?The Rev3 network?What do you think? Sun 27 Apr 2008 18:45:26 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/04/whos_top_of_the_tech_chart.html?page=13#comment4 As far as future success of the big five is concerned it seems to me that attention should be focussed on what might be termed intermediate processes. For example film is (was) an intermediate process enabling the user to transform reality into a viewable record. Hot metal type was a similar intermediate process. There are many other examples. Most software bought and installed on PCs or Macs could be considered intermediate processes as the functions they perform could be done remotely by client servers. Similarly, storage and backup do not have to be local to the users machine. Hence I believe any manufacturer that relies on selling hardware, data storage or software that depends upon the assumption that it has to be available locally to the user is vulnerable to change. The Wii concept is brilliant. It depends for its function, and enjoyment, on physical movement by the user with the added advantage that if you overdo it the controller flies from your hand and breaks, so you have to buy a new one. I cannot see that it can be easily replaced by remote functionality. Microsoft is I think vulnerable to the intermediate effect. I can and have already downloaded Sun Open Office which is pretty good for free. Does all I need from MSOffice but I'm not a power user so if it is not as good as MSOffice, OK. So where am I going with this. If Microsoft/Google/Apple/Yahoo can provide me with a virtual machine, HD movies TV and VOIP phone on their servers with fast secure wireless internet access I'd probably be prepared to pay a price that would recognise that I never needed to update my software or operating system or worry about backups. Might even provide a nice solution to spam, piracy and spyware infections. Microsoft combined with Yahoo might be able to do this. Sun 27 Apr 2008 15:08:28 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/04/whos_top_of_the_tech_chart.html?page=10#comment3 I'm confused as to why only the 'big name' consumer tech companies are mentioned in this chart. What about companies like Oracle, Sun, IBM, Cisco? Are these companies not as crucial as Nintendo in driving forward the web age?And why is Microsoft always talked about as if it's simply a web portal and the manufacturer of Windows Vista? Microsoft powers the majority of corporate IT infrastructure worldwide, and this forms its core business model. Google poses zero threat to this whatsoever, so why join in on predicting Microsoft's downfall?Come on, Rory, is this blog about populist gossip or the real issues in the technology scene and the real companies that drive it? Sat 26 Apr 2008 11:31:32 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/04/whos_top_of_the_tech_chart.html?page=6#comment2 The Nintendo wii is a novelty scam. I owned one and it got boring pretty quickly. The xbox 360 is now cheaper than the wii, and the quality of games on the 360 is incredible compared to the wii. Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, GTA IV currently the best games. Apple will keep growing until Microsoft can make Vista mainstream. XP is too good at what it does to bother upgrading, currently Dx10 is the only real reason to go for vista. Sat 26 Apr 2008 10:30:05 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/04/whos_top_of_the_tech_chart.html?page=3#comment1 I never really appreciated Apple till I bought a PC. Sat 26 Apr 2008 00:20:32 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/04/whos_top_of_the_tech_chart.html?page=0#comment0 The Wii is amasing. Im not into console gaming but a few friends who are have converted from sitting for hours mindlessly playing their playstations to actively playing and interacting wit the Wii. It might not be for hardcore gamers, but they are a small minority.Apple, well i still dont like their products, to bland looking and they have a smug image. Overpriced and dull. Fri 25 Apr 2008 15:50:17 GMT+1