Hearthlist Digest #149 - Monday, May 11, 1998 Quiet on the list - Technology Report by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: Quiet on the list - Technology Report From: Craig Issod <[email protected]> Date: Sun, 10 May 1998 21:37:25 -0400 Quiet on the list - I guess everyone is working on their dating orders..and the manufacturers at filling them. So far, it looks like a great hearth year. Building activity and a good economy are creating sales of Fireplaces, Stoves, BBQ's and Acc. Here's some action on the Internet and Technology front... 1. Internet Affected $7.5 Billion in '97 Consumer Sales [May 7, 1998] Data from the soon to be released Consumer Online Commerce Report from Cyber Dialogue/FindSVP indicates that the Internet influenced $7.5 billion in online and offline sales last year. In fact, online shopping is beginning to measurably displace, replace or otherwise fundamentally change traditional consumer shopping behavior. The study showed that more consumers used the Internet to find information for purchases made offline than online in 1997. The new study, scheduled for publication later this month, concludes that $4.2 billion in offline consumer goods and service sales were influenced by online information last year, versus $3.3 billion in online sales. "The reach of the Internet far surpasses the current level of sales taking place directly online," said Peter Clemente, Cyber Dialogue vice president and co-author of the report. "More than half of all consumers who retrieve online product information say they're placing orders by phone or going to local stores. The Internet is becoming an integral part of the purchasing process whether the purchase is made online or offline." (Webmasters note: Want to buy the complete report? You'll have to pony up $1995.00 !) 2. Windows 98 Testing I fiddled around with Windows 98 today, and it definitely has some refinements from the "95" version. Definitely a bit more friendly, in fact, Time magazine did a review where they summarized "Hey, these days it's almost as good as a Mac.". The article is at: http://www.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/1998/dom/980504/technology.first_peek_at 9.html As mentioned before, Microsoft is finally giving up on the Windows products and will create a more secure and modern operating system. The article notes this as follows:"Win 98 is the end of one line. Future Microsoft PC operating systems will be based on WindowsNT, the OS first designed for business machines. NT, a more efficient and secure product, marks the company's long-overdue break from the antediluvian MS-DOS" 3. UNIX Reliability While on the subject of computer operating systems, my Internet Provider informed me today that the HearthNet main web server computer has been up for 261 days straight..that is, no restarting, rebooting, etc. When you consider that it has served millions of files during this time, this reliability stands out. The operating system is FreeBSD UNIX (which, of course, is free) and the Apache Web Server (which is also free). I guess you don't always have to spend a lot to get a lot. Many of the major systems in the world, such as the phone company, have run on UNIX for many years with similar reliability. 4. New iMac Macintosh may be perfect for many Of course, no technology report would be complete without a mention of the new iMac computer and Powerbooks announced by Apple this week. The Powerbooks are, by far, the fastest notebooks on the planet....but even they are a bit boring when compared to the new "consumer" computer called the iMac. http://www.apple.com/imac This is a new computer, due in August, that will sell for $1299. complet with built-in monitor, G3 Processor (equal to 350-400 MHX Pentium), CD-ROM, 10 and 100Base-T networking, modem and a full suite of software. No, it's not a $999.00 computer, but Apple says "Instead of last year's computer for $999, we'd rather give you next years computer for $1299. Will Apple gain market share from this beauty?...probably, but I'm willing to bet that many customers won't know the difference and will go for the under $1000. stuff flooding the market. Apple uses the slogan "Think Different", but most people just plain don't. Remember the biggest selling stove in our industry...the inexpensive, Taiwan-made Consolidated Dutchwest? Proof Positive... 5. What are people searching for on the internet? The Question and Answer database on HearthNet often sees thousands of requests per day. It's interesting to note (in our computer logs) what they are searching for. Here's a few of the recent keywords folks were looking up. BUCK STOVE STORES Jotul size Vermont Castings Pellet stove Wood BTU outside wood furnace emissions the best stove franco glass energy furnace Lopi coal franklin stove Defiant air quality humidity soapstone conversion efficiency ceramic wood stoves central water heating cast iron and steel flue gas pot regulations gas logs vent free logs cost of pellets wood stove installation millivolt smoke chimney design vented or unvented Sounds like the normal type of questions you'd get in your shop. Amazingly enough, most of them must have found what they were looking for among the 800 Q and A at http://chi.hearth.com/seach.html because I have gotten very few new questions lately. Later.... ------------------------------------------------------ Craig Issod HearthNet at http://www.hearth.com [email protected] Everything your Hearth Desires ------------------------------------------------------ Buddha says "avoid error" ------------------------------------------------------