Those who attended a SAVVIS, Inc. data center tour earlier this year may have received a free copy of The Big Switch: Our Digital Destiny by Nicholas Carr.
The book may have been meant for those not in high technology because the author does not write much about what people in technology do not already need to know. The book is a fast read – perhaps only a few hours on the stair masters. It jumps from topic to topic with a mention of the old days when Microsoft was in control, where people purchased and installed software.
Moving on to the new days, with mention of SAVVIS, Inc., where data centers drew power from people subscribing to terms when purchasing software. The author gave Netsuite and Salesforce.com as examples. He forgot to mention SuccessFactors, who recently filed for IPO in the summer. There is wonder as to the real success of these firms since SuccessFactors seems to be operating at a loss, and it looks it has gotten negative blog posts on the number of employees.
By the end of the book the author discusses social networking and the success of YouTube, Flickr, and other sites that offer free services for the every day consumer. It seems to end with some statement that these days people are able to make money from the comforts of their own homes, with online advertising, sales on craigslist, and Internet attention. It seems like it is not like in the old days where people have to report to work, get paid by the hour, or use physical strength – perhaps like the wait staff at some country clubs who work split shifts.
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