06 Apr 08 New Google Group

Here at The Eye, I’m unashamedly pro-Google.

Well not so much pro-Google, as that I like the way they do things. There’s so much out there on the net these days. Some stuff is cool, some isn’t so cool. I’m all for getting value for money (in life in general, not just online). I’m not interested in swanky brand names, just functionality.

Google provides me with an excellent email service, a great reader for all those RSS feeds I collect, great search facilities, superb analytics so I can find out what you’re all reading, and how you found me. I can set alerts, and also read Usenet groups. I am finding Google Docs more and more useful, and I mustn’t forget Adsense, that does two jobs -helps to keep readers informed about new and related products and services out there, and also generates revenue to help pay for the running of The Eye too.

I compare the Internet to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service. Some folks mistakenly think that both are free. Well, a better term is perhaps free at the point of use. Very few folks pay per minute any more, even those still on dial-up usually have free or flat-rate local calls to access the net, and those on broadband services pay one monthly fee. To access pages or site such as this one, however, there’s no entry fee or page fee.

It could have gone that way you know. In fact, one of the first online services I joined was back in 1986. It was called Compunet, and was for Commodore 64 computers. There was a charge to access some areas. Then along came Prestel, which was British Telecom’s first online offering. There was an time-based charge, and many pages were a penny each to download and view too.

Anyway to get back to the point of the post.. (doesn’t he go on?).

I’ve set up a new Google Group for The Eye. You can find it here

It’s a discussion group and meeting point for anyone that’s interested in the activities, postings, and general rants and drivel in here. Please feel free to join. Like most Google products it’s free.

Here at The Eye, I’m unashamedly pro-Google. Well not so much pro-Google, as that I like the way they do things. There’s so much out there on the net these...

Tags: access pages, adsense, brand names, british telecom, broadband services, commodore 64, discussion group, drivel, email service, general rants, google, local calls, meeting point, national health service, postings, prestel, related products, search facilities, united kingdom, usenet groups