Ballmer says social networking is a fad - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 3rd Oct 2007, 11:41

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/10...ing_is_a_fad/1

Following the rumours of Microsoft looking to invest in Facebook, Steve Ballmer is now saying that social networks are a fad.

quack · 3rd Oct 2007, 11:43

On a related note, Robert Scoble (well known blogger, used to work for Microsoft as it happens) has this to say: http://scobleizer.com/2007/10/02/ste...al-networking/

Tim S · 3rd Oct 2007, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by quack

On a related note, Robert Scoble (well known blogger, used to work for Microsoft as it happens) has this to say: http://scobleizer.com/2007/10/02/ste...al-networking/

Awesome read

cjoyce1980 · 3rd Oct 2007, 12:01

I just dont get these sites, if you want to speak or see someone, ring them or meet up with them.

naokaji · 3rd Oct 2007, 12:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjoyce1980

I just dont get these sites, if you want to speak or see someone, ring them or meet up with them.

QFT

CardJoe · 3rd Oct 2007, 12:35

A lot of people say that and yet a lot of those people use Facebook still. I know a lot of people who find uses for it as a hub for sharing photos or communicating for free without having to send emails. I've organised trips and holidays between people when I just can't be bothered to ring round everyone and don't have the credit for a mass text.

I also know people who are very close to me but who it isn't appropriate for me to go meeting up with every week or who are constantly on the move. Got an ex-girlfriend who's off doing journalism about apertheid in Ghana and South Africa and want to get in contact and share photos easily? Facebook is the easy way to get in contact without worrying about emails getting flushed out with the junk or lost in the mass and is a great way for one person to share photos with a larger group.

DougEdey · 3rd Oct 2007, 12:57

So Microsoft just invested a load in being the exclusive advertiser then Ballmer comes out and looks like an old fart.

They need to bring back Allard.

BioSniper · 3rd Oct 2007, 12:57

So it's like skype then Joe? Utterly useless unless you have a genuine need (in other words you don't have a mobile with free texts/credit etc or have to call abroad regularly).

The only thing I've found facebook handy for so far is contacting people I've not spoken to in years :/

steveo_mcg · 3rd Oct 2007, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by BioSniper

So it's like skype then Joe? Utterly useless unless you have a genuine need (in other words you don't have a mobile with free texts/credit etc or have to call abroad regularly).

The only thing I've found facebook handy for so far is contacting people I've not spoken to in years :/

I think thats fair, but also true of most things, a car is useless if you live in the middle of city and don't have use for it.

Veles · 3rd Oct 2007, 13:18

Pretty much the only use I have for facebook is contacting people I don't have the contact details for, or if I think what I have to ask isn't really worth the effort of a phone call. I think Facebook is much better than myspace, I find people use that for the sake of using it, whereas facebook is a bit more useful IMO, you don't get all this **** with music on the front page and crap like that. Still, I hardly go on facebook either.

Johnny Bravo · 3rd Oct 2007, 13:36

Geowhat?

Whatcities?

whatwhat?

roadie · 3rd Oct 2007, 15:33

In a way he is correct. A year ago the hype was all about Myspace, now it's all about Facebook. What's going to be the next one?

Arlof · 4th Oct 2007, 00:43

Wow... he said something I agree with, I wonder if hell froze over?

proxess · 4th Oct 2007, 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arlof

Wow... he said something I agree with, I wonder if hell froze over?

I think it did... because I agree to it as well...

julianmartin · 4th Oct 2007, 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by BioSniper

So it's like skype then Joe? Utterly useless unless you have a genuine need (in other words you don't have a mobile with free texts/credit etc or have to call abroad regularly).

The only thing I've found facebook handy for so far is contacting people I've not spoken to in years :/

I think that's a gross generalisation...

What if it's not convinient to use skype?

What if you are in england and your best mate is in Japan? Would you get up at 5am to speak to him/her on skype? Just not practical really is it...

Of course it's utterly useless unless you have a need for the damned thing, otherwise you wouldn't start using it in the first place, would you?

Joe just listed several things he likes to use facebook for, all perfectly valid reasons...just because he finds it extremely useful, and you find it only mildly so, doesn't mean it's a crap idea.....different strokes different folks man!

Hamish · 4th Oct 2007, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by BioSniper

Utterly useless unless you have a genuine need

protip: pretty much everything is useless unless you have a need for what it does....

devdevil85 · 4th Oct 2007, 20:18

Facebook is better than email because it seems more personable and I like how you can share pictures and show your interests and being in college myself and having a hectic schedule as it is, it is easy to keep in touch with what's going on in multiple friend's lives in a relatively easy way.....I think Facebook is popular for a reason, but I do think it's a little overrated and I can't see how it's worth as much money as it is.....

evanbraakensiek · 7th Oct 2007, 18:03

As a nineteen year old whose grown up around and on these sites I've to agree. I lost interest early enough and only wasted my time on two really. I've never used Facebook and have no reason to do so, I still occasionally use Myspace, but not to 'communicate' with real life friends (30 Jul 2007 15:31 - last time someone left a comment), I use it mainly to 'talk' with people from my university on the forums and find out what's happening. It's an interesting and simple way to get to know personalities that I otherwise would never get to meet due to them being in other departments and what not. I has its uses but beyond curing boredom for adolescents in class you're struggling to justify it.

ou7blaze · 8th Oct 2007, 11:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by BioSniper

So it's like skype then Joe? Utterly useless unless you have a genuine need (in other words you don't have a mobile with free texts/credit etc or have to call abroad regularly).

The only thing I've found facebook handy for so far is contacting people I've not spoken to in years :/

or getting laid, as some of my friends seem to think it's for

pumpman · 8th Oct 2007, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadie

In a way he is correct. A year ago the hype was all about Myspace, now it's all about Facebook. What's going to be the next one?

how about Myface ???? lol

tm and copyright me in case anyone makes millions from it

3rd Oct 2007, 11:41	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Ballmer says social networking is a fad http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/10...ing_is_a_fad/1 Following the rumours of Microsoft looking to invest in Facebook, Steve Ballmer is now saying that social networks are a fad. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

3rd Oct 2007, 11:43	#2
quack \o/ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: England Posts: 5,222	On a related note, Robert Scoble (well known blogger, used to work for Microsoft as it happens) has this to say: http://scobleizer.com/2007/10/02/ste...al-networking/ __________________ Denying Rights to Music lovers. Denying Rights to Movie lovers.

3rd Oct 2007, 12:35	#6
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,991	A lot of people say that and yet a lot of those people use Facebook still. I know a lot of people who find uses for it as a hub for sharing photos or communicating for free without having to send emails. I've organised trips and holidays between people when I just can't be bothered to ring round everyone and don't have the credit for a mass text. I also know people who are very close to me but who it isn't appropriate for me to go meeting up with every week or who are constantly on the move. Got an ex-girlfriend who's off doing journalism about apertheid in Ghana and South Africa and want to get in contact and share photos easily? Facebook is the easy way to get in contact without worrying about emails getting flushed out with the junk or lost in the mass and is a great way for one person to share photos with a larger group. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

3rd Oct 2007, 12:57	#7
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	So Microsoft just invested a load in being the exclusive advertiser then Ballmer comes out and looks like an old fart. They need to bring back Allard. __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

3rd Oct 2007, 12:57	#8
BioSniper I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere in the south Posts: 3,460	So it's like skype then Joe? Utterly useless unless you have a genuine need (in other words you don't have a mobile with free texts/credit etc or have to call abroad regularly). The only thing I've found facebook handy for so far is contacting people I've not spoken to in years :/ __________________ My Flickr :: Bit-tech Flickr Wii: 1792 1527 2926 7945 :: Xbox Live: BioSnipr :: PSN: Biosnipr

3rd Oct 2007, 12:01	#4
cjoyce1980 Supermodder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 344	I just dont get these sites, if you want to speak or see someone, ring them or meet up with them.

3rd Oct 2007, 13:36	#11
Johnny Bravo Minimodder Join Date: May 2006 Location: Scottyland Posts: 21	Geowhat? Whatcities? whatwhat?

3rd Oct 2007, 15:33	#12
roadie Minimodder Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 25	In a way he is correct. A year ago the hype was all about Myspace, now it's all about Facebook. What's going to be the next one?

4th Oct 2007, 00:43	#13
Arlof What's a Dremel? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Edmonton Posts: 8	Wow... he said something I agree with, I wonder if hell froze over?

4th Oct 2007, 20:18	#17
devdevil85 Hypermodder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US of A Posts: 884	Facebook is better than email because it seems more personable and I like how you can share pictures and show your interests and being in college myself and having a hectic schedule as it is, it is easy to keep in touch with what's going on in multiple friend's lives in a relatively easy way.....I think Facebook is popular for a reason, but I do think it's a little overrated and I can't see how it's worth as much money as it is.....

7th Oct 2007, 18:03	#18
evanbraakensiek Multimodder Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rothbury Posts: 99	As a nineteen year old whose grown up around and on these sites I've to agree. I lost interest early enough and only wasted my time on two really. I've never used Facebook and have no reason to do so, I still occasionally use Myspace, but not to 'communicate' with real life friends (30 Jul 2007 15:31 - last time someone left a comment), I use it mainly to 'talk' with people from my university on the forums and find out what's happening. It's an interesting and simple way to get to know personalities that I otherwise would never get to meet due to them being in other departments and what not. I has its uses but beyond curing boredom for adolescents in class you're struggling to justify it.