Network Effect's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/159136/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/149921-the-fine-line-between-profits-and-theft?source=feed#comment-595467 595467 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:05:37 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/147278-states-starting-to-realize-amazon-tax-won-t-save-them?source=feed#comment-576905 576905 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:30:25 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/147278-states-starting-to-realize-amazon-tax-won-t-save-them?source=feed#comment-576794 576794
The Internet has, over the last couple years, gone from a technology that is having a net increase of jobs and unique revenue streams on our economy to one that is having a net decrease. It is creating massive consolidation across all industries and all geographies, all at the same time. However, the world has never seen this pace and breadth of consolidation all occuring at the same time, and it is starting to have a devastating effect on our economy and the world economy. I'm a big believer in the Internet and its ability to help our society. Over the long run, and up until this point, it has and will continue to make the world a much better place. But, we have crossed over - right now, we are in a period where it is hurting rather than helping. So whether the Amazon tax is the right solution or not, I don't have an opinion. But I agree with what they are trying to do. They are trying to save jobs by creating a solution where more businesses can succeed, and that in my opinion, is what the world, and America needs right now - we all need more businesses that can succeed so we can all have jobs. And it's not just the local retailer itself or its employees that are being killed. It's the commercial real estate company, the insurance company, the cleaning company, the hardware store, the sign company ... etc, etc, etc. There are a whole ecosystem of industries that are being affected by the fact that much fewer consumers are actually going to stores to purchase items.

I understand the counterargument about evolution and progress, and the "this philisophy would have prevented us from developing the automobile because it put horse and buggy companies out of business". I am simply suggesting that the pace and breadth of consolidation created by the Internet is too large at the moment for our society and the economy to handle. You can apply the same philosophy that the government uses to block two large companies from merging. Too much consolidation of power is bad for the economy, society, and eventually the consumer in the long run, even if it is obtained through legal and fair practices. There is a balance, and at the moment, we are out of balance in my opinion. Like I said, just walk down the street and look around. Are you truly happy with this new equilibrium?]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:30:42 -0400
The Internet has, over the last couple years, gone from a technology that is having a net increase of jobs and unique revenue streams on our economy to one that is having a net decrease. It is creating massive consolidation across all industries and all geographies, all at the same time. However, the world has never seen this pace and breadth of consolidation all occuring at the same time, and it is starting to have a devastating effect on our economy and the world economy. I'm a big believer in the Internet and its ability to help our society. Over the long run, and up until this point, it has and will continue to make the world a much better place. But, we have crossed over - right now, we are in a period where it is hurting rather than helping. So whether the Amazon tax is the right solution or not, I don't have an opinion. But I agree with what they are trying to do. They are trying to save jobs by creating a solution where more businesses can succeed, and that in my opinion, is what the world, and America needs right now - we all need more businesses that can succeed so we can all have jobs. And it's not just the local retailer itself or its employees that are being killed. It's the commercial real estate company, the insurance company, the cleaning company, the hardware store, the sign company ... etc, etc, etc. There are a whole ecosystem of industries that are being affected by the fact that much fewer consumers are actually going to stores to purchase items.

I understand the counterargument about evolution and progress, and the "this philisophy would have prevented us from developing the automobile because it put horse and buggy companies out of business". I am simply suggesting that the pace and breadth of consolidation created by the Internet is too large at the moment for our society and the economy to handle. You can apply the same philosophy that the government uses to block two large companies from merging. Too much consolidation of power is bad for the economy, society, and eventually the consumer in the long run, even if it is obtained through legal and fair practices. There is a balance, and at the moment, we are out of balance in my opinion. Like I said, just walk down the street and look around. Are you truly happy with this new equilibrium?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/145848-how-the-internet-is-wreaking-havoc-on-media-companies?source=feed#comment-567047 567047 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:59:13 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/145848-how-the-internet-is-wreaking-havoc-on-media-companies?source=feed#comment-566434 566434 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:31:10 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/145478-palm-the-miss-of-2009?source=feed#comment-563269 563269 ]]> Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:23:41 -0400 ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/144633-apple-amazon-on-to-something-big?source=feed#comment-557747 557747
Amazon has the ability to win the logistics game. They should focus on being a service provider to the ecommerce industry and start going after companies like FedEx and other logistics players. Retail, in the long run, will only be a loss leader for them, but they can have a great business as a service provider to other retailers. But this will take quite a long time.

Google, I'm afraid, is on the downside of the mountain. They don't control any relationship between the buyer and the seller. They just help them find each other, which is not a business model that has a moat around it. A lead generation business model will always lose to a transaction processing one. If Google's business model required from the beginning that you become a Google customer to use its services, then they might be able to win quite a few games over the long run (eBay, Paypal, etc). But, unfortunately for them, they didn't. Their business model is not a walled garden, so there is no moat around it.]]> Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:20:07 -0400
Amazon has the ability to win the logistics game. They should focus on being a service provider to the ecommerce industry and start going after companies like FedEx and other logistics players. Retail, in the long run, will only be a loss leader for them, but they can have a great business as a service provider to other retailers. But this will take quite a long time.

Google, I'm afraid, is on the downside of the mountain. They don't control any relationship between the buyer and the seller. They just help them find each other, which is not a business model that has a moat around it. A lead generation business model will always lose to a transaction processing one. If Google's business model required from the beginning that you become a Google customer to use its services, then they might be able to win quite a few games over the long run (eBay, Paypal, etc). But, unfortunately for them, they didn't. Their business model is not a walled garden, so there is no moat around it.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/144446-a-second-opinion-on-palm-pre-s-app-numbers?source=feed#comment-556440 556440 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:58:59 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/143804-palm-pre-shoots-to-rival-the-iphone-launch?source=feed#comment-550878 550878 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:42:18 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/143804-palm-pre-shoots-to-rival-the-iphone-launch?source=feed#comment-550875 550875 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:40:47 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/140886-e-readers-the-fun-is-just-starting?source=feed#comment-528706 528706 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:39:36 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/118853-is-apple-poised-to-move-into-the-living-room?source=feed#comment-377512 377512 Xmas 07 - iPhone 3G
Xmas 08 - iPhone as gaming platform via App Store
Xmas 09 - App Store as media delivery platform for AppleTV, Kindle-type device (books, movies, tv, newspapers, magazines, blogs, social networking, etc)

Etc etc etc. App Store is a revolutionary platform and ecosystem. Watch for this latest app (the local restaurant ordering application) to take off. And many, many, many more. Industry after industry after industry ...
]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:03:32 -0500 Xmas 07 - iPhone 3G
Xmas 08 - iPhone as gaming platform via App Store
Xmas 09 - App Store as media delivery platform for AppleTV, Kindle-type device (books, movies, tv, newspapers, magazines, blogs, social networking, etc)

Etc etc etc. App Store is a revolutionary platform and ecosystem. Watch for this latest app (the local restaurant ordering application) to take off. And many, many, many more. Industry after industry after industry ...
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/117949-why-i-remain-short-amazon?source=feed#comment-373307 373307 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:45:09 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/117949-why-i-remain-short-amazon?source=feed#comment-373286 373286 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:35:35 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/117713-amazon-is-looking-like-starbucks-of-yore-too-expensive?source=feed#comment-371636 371636 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:05:32 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/117647-the-skype-is-not-falling?source=feed#comment-370910 370910 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:18:06 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/116419-apple-poised-for-a-near-term-pop?source=feed#comment-366260 366260 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:10:52 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/116420-apple-sec-investigation-rotten-to-core?source=feed#comment-366238 366238 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:42:45 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/115901-will-ebay-spin-off-paypal-and-skype?source=feed#comment-363480 363480 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:54:31 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/115279-the-iphone-as-the-ultimate-study-machine?source=feed#comment-359053 359053 Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:06:00 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/114252-is-microsoft-ready-to-throw-in-the-towel-on-zune?source=feed#comment-352785 352785
... do people still think Jobs really sees Apple TV as a hobby or is that starting to look more like a smoke screen? Just like the App Store wasn't going to be a profitable part of the iPhone business, right?
]]> Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:38:04 -0500
... do people still think Jobs really sees Apple TV as a hobby or is that starting to look more like a smoke screen? Just like the App Store wasn't going to be a profitable part of the iPhone business, right?
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/110438-apple-analysts-reality-check-bear-rally-is-over?source=feed#comment-327164 327164
- This is exactly why the stock market is a joke. The fact that people in the business that are regarded as analysts are working the agenda and spreading propoganda for the benefit of their investors rather than saying what they believe to be the truth is ridiculous. We're in a "Let's put some lipstick on this pig" market now - almost 100% pump and dump and smash and grab. In the last 10 years (the actual transition came in the last two years), the most amount of money in the market transitioned from investing to trading. There are still large players out there that invest, they just aren't big enough en masse to influence the price of a stock. The largest group of players are trading, and stocks trade whatever way the most amount of money in the market is trading. When the most amount of money started trading on things other than fundamentals, fundamentals stopped being what determined a stock's price. Things like technical analysis, and outright fraud and manipulation, are what drives stocks's prices today. Until the biggest money in the market transitions back to investing rather than trading, the stock market will continue to be a con man's game. Individual investors are playing with a marked deck. They can only win if they know how the dealer is betting; it no longer matters what they know about a company. It only matters what they can find out about how big money is going to trade.]]> Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:56:17 -0500
- This is exactly why the stock market is a joke. The fact that people in the business that are regarded as analysts are working the agenda and spreading propoganda for the benefit of their investors rather than saying what they believe to be the truth is ridiculous. We're in a "Let's put some lipstick on this pig" market now - almost 100% pump and dump and smash and grab. In the last 10 years (the actual transition came in the last two years), the most amount of money in the market transitioned from investing to trading. There are still large players out there that invest, they just aren't big enough en masse to influence the price of a stock. The largest group of players are trading, and stocks trade whatever way the most amount of money in the market is trading. When the most amount of money started trading on things other than fundamentals, fundamentals stopped being what determined a stock's price. Things like technical analysis, and outright fraud and manipulation, are what drives stocks's prices today. Until the biggest money in the market transitions back to investing rather than trading, the stock market will continue to be a con man's game. Individual investors are playing with a marked deck. They can only win if they know how the dealer is betting; it no longer matters what they know about a company. It only matters what they can find out about how big money is going to trade.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/110067-apple-s-walmart-deal-will-effectively-kill-google-s-android?source=feed#comment-325488 325488 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:23:49 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/109068-online-holiday-sales-up-but-is-it-enough?source=feed#comment-320463 320463 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:26:05 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/108973-rimm-in-motion-for-share-price-collapse?source=feed#comment-319757 319757 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:04:58 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/108586-microsoft-and-ebay-team-up-desperate-or-brilliant?source=feed#comment-318783 318783 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:29:53 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/108466-iphone-vs-netbook-which-will-be-the-biggest-gaming-machine?source=feed#comment-317873 317873 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:49:20 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106957-exploiting-the-downside-of-the-markets?source=feed#comment-310710 310710 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:13:03 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106167-should-apple-consider-buying-yahoo?source=feed#comment-307072 307072 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:57:53 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/103894-apple-rumors-mac-upgrades-and-iphone-production-drop?source=feed#comment-297953 297953 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:32:58 -0500