Social networking defined

Well, Facebook has well and truly trounced MySpace and vindicated my long-held belief and carefully researched position that Facebook is better than MySpace.

Isn't Facebook great?!

You can form an instant relationship with someone you met minutes ago and gain an instant insight into their every thought, every photographed moment of their lives, every friend they have, and feel as though you have known them for years.

You can connect up with people you went to school with, with whom you had lost touch decades ago, but whom you no doubt would surely have maintained a close friendship with had you not forgotten they existed the minute you walked out the door on the last day of your final year.

You can "leverage" your social connections for thinly-veiled attempts to sell people things - perhaps your latest affiliate marketing venture, or your sorry "satirical Internet blog".

I have been gradually forming an all-encompassing definition of social networking. Perhaps it still needs some work but I think I am getting there:

ahem... *clears throat*

Social networking is a technology facilitating superficial relationships with the largest possible number of people.

Still needs work, any suggestions welcome. Oh, and no, you can't be my friend on Facebook. Unless you already are...

What's on my mind? What's on my mind?

What's on my mind? What's on my mind? Gah... I don't know - wait, let me think... oh, I've blocked up, I'm sure there was something...

I mean, what's with Facebook? You knew where you were with "What are you doing?", or just plain old "status" - now they want a period of deep self-examination before you change your status. I can imagine men the world over, a cold chill running down their spine - "Oh no, they want to know what I'm thinking - where've I heard that before?" Well, I'm just not sure I'm ready to lay my soul bare on Facebook.

Two cynical theories:

1) Twitter - nuff said

2) They figured that they could target more keyword-based advertising that way, because if they know you're thinking about shopping, well, the sky's the limit...

So please, before you reveal your innermost thoughts to the world at large - THINK!

Too late for netBook genericide?

Are you the proud owner of a netbook? Perhaps an Asus, Dell or MSI netbook?

No you're not - according to Psion there is only one "netBook" and that trademark was registered by them as early as 1996.

A number of sites using "netbook" in one generic sense or another received cease and desist letters from Psion at the end of December informing them as much, and many, like this site selling used netbooks, have opted to shut up shop rather than risk legal problems.

The story continues in the last few days with Dell pushing to "relieve" Psion of their trademark.

With Amazon and eBay sellers using the term "netbook" with impunity, and most customers using the term generically, probably unaware that there even is a Psion netBook, it is hard to see how a claim to the trademark can be sustained by Psion for much longer.