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To: kai_kai who wrote (3312)	1/16/2000 8:19:00 PM
From: Edwin S. Fujinaka	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6018

Ann Winblad on ZDTV indicated that there was a major obstacle facing "old line" companies trying to develop an internet presence. She used the example of a big window covering company who did have a web site. They didn't sell directly to the public from their web site and they weren't planning to do so. The problem is their infrastructure of wholesalers and distributors (probably a bigger problem in Japan). I think that Compaq ran into similar problems when they attempted to market directly from the internet like Dell or Gateway. Winblad was not optimistic about the Window covering company ever succeeding on the internet as long as they were unwilling to dump their conventional distribution channels. Most people still want to see, touch, and feel before buying. It is not a foregone conclusion that everything will wind up being sold through the Internet. I say that even though I recently bought a car via the internet through Carorder.com. They seem to have lost money on the deal, but I suspect that they have their eye on an IPO towards the end of 2000 where they may be able to claim to be the biggest, fastest growing car seller on the internet. I predict that the owners of Carorder.com will get rich on the IPO, but I suspect that like Amazon, they may never turn the corner towards an actual profit. This is not questioning their prospects as a stock investment (at least for the short run). I did suggest that they offer their stock to the people who bought cars from them. I'd probably buy on the IPO.

To: kai_kai who wrote (3312)	1/17/2000 12:43:00 AM
From: manohar kanuri	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 6018

Kai, Ed's got this one right. For a change! Especially about the Old and the New economy morphing and AOL looking into the future and finding it right here. I myself think of it in terms of something from Yeats(?) - "In dreams begin responsibilities." AOL was the wake-up call. Should be interesting to see what Yahoo does. I'm guessing the party's over for the rest, the one trick ponies riding on hype and fresh air. bwdik....