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Non-Tech : The New Iomega '2000' Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Gottfried who wrote (3190)	10/17/1999 1:39:00 PM
From: Rocky Reid	Respond to of 5023

Sunday NY Times- WHERE ARE THE BUILT-IN ZIPS??!!! Today's Sunday NY Times is full of <$1000 computers that feature built-in CD-RW drives and no Zips. In fact, if anyone can point out any computer in today's Times that actually DOES have a built-in Zip drive, please let me know, 'cause I can't seem to find one! CD-RW has replaced Zip drives in all of the below computers: CompUSA flier: front page- HP 466Mhz system w/ CD-RW built-in - $679* page 2- NEC 500mhz system w/ CD-RW built-in - $649 Page 3- NEC 500mHz system w/ CD-RW built-in - $1149 NO ZIP BUILT-IN ANYHWERE! Circuit City flier: front page- HP 466mHz system w/CD-RW built-in - $729 page 9 - Compaq 500mHz system w/CD-RW built-in - $1349 NO ZIP BUILT-IN ANYWHERE! J&R- Money & Business Section back page (page 18): IBM 466Mhz system w/CD-RW built-in - $449 IBM 500Mhz system w/CD-RW built-in - $499 Compaq 500mHz system w/CD-RW built-in - $999 NO ZIP BUILT-IN ANYHWERE! FACT: CD-RW has been and is REPLACING Zip drives in computers. Zip is has been officially declining in Revenues. And now, Zip disk units are DECLINING year over year as well- evidence that the Zip market has fully matured and is now on its way downhill to the Old Technology Discount bins at your local CompUSA. *all prices after rebates

To: Gottfried who wrote (3190)	10/17/1999 2:43:00 PM
From: RedCrystal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5023

Gottfried, are some people paid to spin the discussion on an on-line-forum in a particular direction? Read the following NY Times article. The article focuses on spin doctors that counter negative criticism, but it is my guess that some people are paid to trash a company (or a particular stock). RC October 14, 1999 Incognito Spinmeisters Battle Online Critics When a Company's Product Is Under Fire, One Option Is to Plant a Defender in the Chat Room By REBECCA FAIRLEY RANEY The scene unfolds on the Internet every day: a pack of outraged consumers takes over the discussion in an online forum with heated criticism of some offending product, perhaps a brand of stereo speakers. Then someone asks, If these speakers are so awful, how could the company have moved from No. 10 to No. 2 in the last year? After that, the criticism in the forum fades. It would be fair to suspect, in a case like this, that the participant who raised the question that turned the criticism around worked for the company that made the speakers. In fact, a small industry is emerging among consultants who specialize in spinning online discussions to favor the positions of companies and interest groups. Shabbir J. Safdar and his business partner, Jonah Seiger, regularly adopt pseudonyms and participate in online discussions on behalf of some clients. Their firm, Mindshare Internet Campaigns, in Washington, specializes in running the Internet side of advocacy campaigns. It offers the spin doctor service as part of the package. You can read the rest of the article on the nytimes web site. nytimes.com