From hungary-online-owner Wed Mar 22 07:02:20 1995 Return-Path: owner-Hungary-Online Received: from localhost (daemon@localhost) (fnord) by nando.yak.net (8.6.5/8.6.5) id HAA10380 for hungary-online-out31415; Wed, 22 Mar 1995 07:02:20 -0800 Received: from localhost (daemon@localhost) (fnord) by nando.yak.net (8.6.5/8.6.5) id HAA10370; Wed, 22 Mar 1995 07:02:09 -0800 Received: from carlson@odin.net () via =-=-=-=-=-= for hol@hungary.yak.net (10367) Received: from odin.net (root@omega.odin.net [193.130.116.3]) (fnord) by nando (8.6.5/8.6.5) with ESMTP id HAA10350 for ; Wed, 22 Mar 1995 07:00:36 -0800 Received: from [193.130.116.13] by odin.net with SMTP (8.6.10/1.2-btv) id QAA08072; Wed, 22 Mar 1995 16:08:37 GMT X-Sender: carlson@odin.net (Unverified) Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Wed, 22 Mar 1995 15:55:32 +0100 To: hol@hungary.yak.net From: carlson@odin.net (Steven Carlson) Subject: (HOL) internet hype & scepticism Sender: owner-Hungary-Online@hungary.yak.net Precedence: bulk Reply-To: Hungary-Online@hungary.yak.net At 12:50 PM 3/19/95, Andras Vagvolgyi wrote: > I also developed some sceptisism with the ueber-enthusiastic > Information Super Highway madness. There is a long way to go even in > the States or Japan but no responsible media-folk can ignore the > challenges. We started off discussing the Magyar Narancs's new venture on the Internet with the Hollosi Information eXchange (HIX). I intend to return to that topic. However we've now hit another rich vein I'd like to mine. Since late 1993 the Internet has been hot in the US media, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. Inevitably there's also a high percentage of bullshit, misinformation and hype going around. But IMO the Information Revolution is even bigger than the hype. I'll be the first to agree that the Internet - as it presently exists - leaves a lot to be desired. But the public at large is now embracing communications technologies that are rapidly changing the way we work and play. That creates a market for other innovations. It's a nice coincidence - a few days ago I sent the bbj a column on just this topic. I'm now forwarding the piece to the list. We on the HOL list have an opportunity to see these new technologies on the horizon, and decide how they can be applied in Hungary. The HOL list now has members at MIT and Harvard as well as Silicon Valley. Here in Hungary many local journalists are watching the list, as are entrepreneurs and business people. Anyway, (stepping off my soapbox) back to Andras - At 2:03 PM 3/21/95, Andras Vagvolgyi wrote: > What makes it more difficult for places like Hungary is that there is > little hype about cyberspace and much lesser achievment; no > enthusiastic crowds, 2400 baud modems with telephone lines which suck. > Not even a move to privatize or make some real competition to MATAV. It's not quite _that_ bad, Andras. First of all, in Budapest you can use 14,400 bps. True, many old telephone lines are noisy and give problems, and that will be the case 20 years from now. All the same you can buy a new phone line if you have to. The point is the phone system is improving. You're right that MATAV needs some real competition. However Hungary is no exception in this regard - national PTT monopolies are still the rule in Europe. I think Europe is watching how the American deregulation turns out before acting. And there are no enthusiastic crowds. Well, first we need to solve the problem of access. This year I believe you'll see several startup Internet providers in Budapest. Competition should bring the prices down. Advertising should attract a little more attention to the medium. And, of course, Andras - if you want to help popularize Internet in Hungary then you can use your media soapbox. I'm glad to see you've started something with HIX. Let's see more, more! ;-) =steve= --- Steven Carlson Moderator/Publisher - hungary-online Critical Mass Media Inc. Internet trainer, consultant [+361] 133-4647 in Budapest, Hungary carlson@odin.net ############# # This message to Hungary-Online@hungary.yak.net # was from carlson@odin.net (Steven Carlson) # # To unsubscribe, # send "unsubscribe" to # An announcement-only subscription (less volume) is available # at # Send mail to for more information, # or to if you need human assistance. #############