Stop Already with the Start pages
‘Start pages’ are a solution in search of a problem. The new kid on this block is webwag, which has few differences from all the others (Google, Netvibes, Pageflakes, Protopage). Like the others, it’s well-executed, and like them, it doesn’t address a real need.
Personalized ’start pages’ are not new. Excite has had this feature for more than six years, and I don’t see anyone adding anything significant to the idea (no, prettier layouts and AJAX don’t count). It’s not an application most people need, and it’s not something I see many people using.
So why are so many companies still investing time and money trying to build a business around what, to me, seems like such a blatantly useless and uninteresting idea? I guess the idea of aggregating a person’s entire internet experience (mail, feeds, photos, search, etc.) would provide a lot of leverage with advertisers. And I suppose that’s exciting for venture capitalists, corporate leaders and entrepreneurs.
But it’s not exciting to me, and I get the feeling it’s not exciting to anyone else.
Comments (2 comments)
It’s true that Excite did it ages ago. It’s also true that personal start pages are a matter of taste. However, Excite failed because back in the days, technology wasn’t that advanced and using/creating a personal start page was a terrible experience. Today it takes you 2 minutes and you are ready to go. You can even build team pages and share information, tasks, pictures, etc. I understand (and respect) that you are not a fan of these services but I think you undererstimate the real need for it. We have a large number of users after being in business for just 6 months and without spending any money on advertising. There must be at least some interest in the service, otherwise you wouldn’t see so many similar services pop up these days. Sure, some will go out of business again (e.g. fold.com) but some will stay. As you said, it all depends on the real need. And we feel there is some.
Best regards
Ole Brandenburg
Pageflakes Ltd.
Ole Brandenburg / September 9th, 2006, 12:42 am / #
Ole, thanks for the comment. Let’s first agree that fold.com choose a really, really bad name for a startup. It’s nice to get a different perspective on the subject, because from mine there doesn’t appear to be a real need. Evidently you’re seeing something different.
Still, in my mind the idea of doing everything on one page goes contrary to what the web is all about (surfing), so I see a lot more value in something like a good web-based newsreader. Maybe you guys will prove me wrong (I hope you do!).
bruno / September 9th, 2006, 9:12 am / #
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