Mike Elgan

If the IPO Fairy suddenly appeared at the foot of my bed and promised to grant me control of any company in technology, I think I would pick Facebook. Sure, I know Facebook is bleeding cash, and could easily slip into loser mode like MySpace did. But with the right moves, Facebook could become the […]

IT policies lock down company PCs, and dictate which browsers can be used, and whether or not IM is allowed. Corporate or management policies often ban sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other time wasters. But what if employees were allowed to do whatever they wanted using whatever software they wanted? Would productivity go up […]

Which company is the most powerful in technology? Hard to say. Microsoft is still the world’s largest software company. Google is on the rise. And Intel’s ubiquity gives it incredible sway. But within five years, I think Apple will be in the most powerful position of any other company. No, this isn’t some fanboy fantasy […]

Google unveiled today new “Social Gadgets” for its iGoogle site. The gadgets transform iGoogle from a who-cares launch page into a culture-shifting social network, like Facebook or MySpace — potentially. I’m not going to predict that iGoogle is a “Facebook killer.” But I am going to argue that it should be. It’s hard to imagine […]

2008 was the “Year of the Netbook.” It’s only 2009, and already pundits are pronouncing the nebook dead. Last year, netbooks were the hottest topic in tech. Today, new netbook introductions are met with a resounding yawn. Nobody cares about netbooks anymore. But is the netbook really “dead”? The truth is that the netbook never […]

The month of July has been horrible for Google. The Silicon Valley giant has suddenly become the Rodney Dangerfield of technology, and simply can’t get any respect. Bill Gates says “Google’s honeymoon is coming to an end.” Forbes.com columnist Lee Gomes warns that “Google won’t last forever.” And San Jose Mercury News columnist Chris O’Brien […]

After months of struggling to understand the iPhone phenomenon, I have finally come to understand what makes the device so completely different from any other gadget. No, it’s not a phone, a “mini PC” or even a portable media and entertainment system. The iPhone is a disease. One you catch this particularly virulent bug, you […]

A rumor is circulating that Apple will ship in October an $800 tablet computer with a 9.7-inch touch screen. Is the rumor true and, if so, will the tablet succeed in a market where no other tablet has? My answers to these questions are probably and definitely. Here’s why: Why the Tablet Rumors Are Probably […]

“Google Operating System To Smash Windows,” predicts Sky News. “Google Drops A Nuclear Bomb On Microsoft. And It’s Made of Chrome,” warns TechCrunch . “DOMINATE: GOOG PLOTS DEATH BLOW TO MSFT!” screams Drudge. Really? Based on what? Google’s blog post? Here are 10 reasons why Google Chrome OS isn’t a Windows-smashing nuclear death blow: 1. […]

I don’t condone software piracy, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. But it sure has paid off for China. Pundits and bloggers bitch and moan about the price of software, including Microsoft flagship products like Windows and Office. And it’s true. The stuff is expensive. Making matters worse is that part of the price […]