Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Great Technology Flops … From Great Brands
byPC World has compiled its thoughts on the 25 worst tech products of all time, a list that spans the publication’s quarter-century of existence.
You’ll find some of the greatest missteps during the rapid evolution of technology. Several big names made the list – including products from AOL, Microsoft, IBM, Priceline, Disney, Sony and yes, even Apple – illustrating that a well-established brand doesn’t overcome poor product strategy and planning.
A few highlights from the list:
- Last year’s Sony BMG music CD debacle, which made hundreds of thousands of computers vulnerable to virus and hacker attacks, was one of the highest-profile technology and public relations blunders in recent years. And, as PC World notes, a national class-action lawsuit is in the works.
- In early 1997, I downloaded the PointCast application with excitement. The service “pushed” news and information to your desktop along with advertising. But its screen-saver news feeds and tickers paralyzed my otherwise-snappy 133 MHz machine. I’m still amazed it didn’t bring down my employer’s entire network.
- A couple of the more entertaining entries include Priceline’s gas and groceries service and Free PCs, the computer movement that had plenty of hidden commitments and advertising.
My entry to the list? The Gateway Astro, an attempt by the PC manufacturer to capitalize on the iMac movement. It was a nice attempt at all-in-one design, but it rumbled like a 747 on my desk. After three major repairs in less than a year, it became a boulder-sized paperweight.
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