facebook is a cheap as chips, page-74

Hi Goldstandard. I've tried to extend vision to both sides of the coin on this one. I see no comparison whatsoever with Apple - they make products people want and are willing to pay for. Facebook is a platform that people want that they don't have to pay for.

Google's commercialisation is largely covert to users, who use the site mainly as a directory or a pathway - it's not a destination, nor is it personal. Similarly, if Facebook can make money covertly through data mining or whatever, then maybe they can maintain loyalty. But if the commercialisation becomes overt, then, IMO, people will leave in droves - as has occurred to numerous online operations. And even more so if people believe their own personal pages are being infiltrated and modified by advertisers.

Put simply - people like Facebook now. It is arguable that membership is saturated in the English speaking western world. Future development is going to favour commercial interests. Doing that without compromising users is a very tricky business, IMO. Just ask Rupert Murdoch.