tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11195787.post2014420105377073790..comments2024-02-25T07:30:31.454-06:00Comments on SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED: You Get What You Pay For - The Problem With "Free" Internet Toolsthomsingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230569732505245876noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11195787.post-60861931725658008972008-04-09T10:18:00.000-05:002008-04-09T10:18:00.000-05:00Hey Thom,The thing I noticed a few years ago when ...Hey Thom,<BR/><BR/>The thing I noticed a few years ago when the city was iced over and the power was out completely in my area (for about 12 hours) is how dependent we are on our technology, as you indicated. Finding out I didn't have to go to work that day was a plus, even if I couldn't drive anywhere because of the ice. But then, the reality struck me - ok I will log onto email and catch up with friends? No power, no internet, no computer. [I guess now days that might be a benefit of the crackberry!] Forget the TV, DVD, video, etc. - all need power. No heat - although I like the cold and it beat the time when I was young the power went out in the summer when it was 100 with high humidity. Now days, with so many of us having digital phones, even a landline solution with an independent power source would be down, too. Sure, you can use your cell phone to talk to friends, if the circuits aren't overloaded, but you might need to save that battery life in case the power is out a while and you need the cell. I think it is often the rude awakenings of those moments when we realize just how dependent we really are on things affected by modern life in ways we don't even fully comprehend ... until they are gone. <BR/><BR/>Luckily, I would note to any readers that the benefit of the cell (and also blackberry) is that if you run your battery down, you can always drag power off our car battery by recharging it off your car. Now, whether this is a good solution that will allow you to burn more time and minutes on the cell in such 18th Century moments - I leave to the person in question. Likely if you have at least a solid car battery you can probably risk it - but if the car is that cold, you might ask if you will be able to start the car later. Of course, depending upon one's level of addiction to technology and feeling connected, many of us would disregard the concern and plug in where we still can.<BR/><BR/>Good blog and thanks for your effort with it.James T. Parsonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18366576374825688428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11195787.post-25689019590833253692008-04-07T17:50:00.000-05:002008-04-07T17:50:00.000-05:00You said it, Thom - it's the lack of OPTIONS. I th...You said it, Thom - it's the lack of OPTIONS. I think it's one of the missing business models in the social media space. I think there are a lot of people who would pay $5, $10, maybe even $20 a month for live support for some of these tools. And given the dropping CPM rates for ads on social media sites, I think it's time for companies to start exploring those options.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com