Okay, so last week was pretty hectic for us. We spent the end of the week and some of the weekend moving everything over to our brand new servers (except our blog, which is still hosted by Media Temple). So what are we running on you ask… a MAMP stack? Wait, there’s a typo there isn’t there? Nope, we’re using Macintosh Apache MySQL and PHP. Let me tell you, it’s pretty awesome. The servers we’re using are:

Dual Core 1.88 GHZ Macintosh minis with 2 GB Ram. We’ve also lightened the load on OS X and done some custom configs. (ie- no iphoto and that junk).

Why are they awesome? They’re cheap enough, easy to swap (I can go to a mac store and within 20 minutes have a new server), energy efficient, and when we really start buying a lot of them we can fit WAY more than 42 of them in a cabinet. Oh, and they run on OS X, which makes administration really cool. Here’s a screen-shot of what everything looks like. The screen shot below is what I see when operating the server remotely… it’s OS X:

So let me explain everything:

1. We’re using Remote Desktop 3 to connect. It’s amazing.
2. CocoaMySQL for database administration. Cocoa MySQL is a grat application
3. FTPd for FTP stuff. David set that up, not sure
4. Textmate for code and config editing
5. Super Duper for backups
6. Safari for checking pages,etc.
7. Terminal, console, etc.
8. We’ve also kept quick access to our config, confd, and ini files.
9. We made it look nice with the Publictivity logo there.

So in short, that’s what we’re using for our servers. Let me know if you try the same.

Expect a new landing page, blog look, and alpha test to come in the next couple of weeks.

[tags] mac mini, mac servers, os x, apple, remote desktop 3, mamp, publictivity, web 2.0 [/tags]

That’s right folks, we’re moving over to our brand new colocated Apple Servers!  Please be patient with us as the blog, main site, and even *gasp* our emails will be down on and off for the next 72 hours.  If you need anything else please email me personally at jasonlbaptiste [at] gmail.com Thanks! PS- Expect the alpha testing to begin real soon.
-Jason L. Baptiste

CEO of Publictivity

[tags] publictivity, web 2.0, servers, apple [/tags]

404? Weird. More updates coming

Final Update: Youtube is back up.

Update: 4:07 AM EST and it is still down. No word on why yet.

Update: rumor is the Qwest and other servers backbones might be causing it. Question to any geeks: Could the facebook layout change have ANYTHING to do with it? If not, pardon my ignorance.

[tags] youtube, 404, google, publictivity, web 2.0 [/tags]

Do yourself a favor.  Try getting your company’s mission statement/ elevator pitch down to one twitter message.  I guarantee you, it’s an exercise that will help.  Here’s my twitter profile btw:

Jason L. Baptiste

[tags] twitter, profile, elevator pitch, VC, publictivity, web 2.0 [/tags]

VS.

Today SalesForce announced their new product, content exchange on TechCrunch. Now the real beauty is not in their acquisition of Koral, but their new stated mission statement by Maric Benioff:

…A decisive step towards our vision of managing all information on demand.

Now let’s take a look at Google’s mission statement:

…To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

So it seems these companies are on a Collision course, with the real question being: Will they fight as one or become bitter enemies. As CEO of an on-demand startup that has many of the same beliefs, I’m going to take a stab at some different ideas:

First, the web is nothing but billions of pieces of content…

We all consume content on the Web. Photos, videos, blogs,etc. I’m sure you’ve never realized that when you use on-demand software in the enterprise you’re consuming content such as files, contacts, appointments, etc. In this case we see Google organizing your everyday consumer information such as blogs, news, videos, photos,etc. whereas SalesForce is trying to organize the world’s information on the Enterprise side. Google has started building an online suite of applications via internal development and acquisitions such as writely. They do not have a simple CRM or contact management system. Salesforce would give google a huge inroad to start selling its apps for domains. SalesForce already offers a 30 day free trial… could Google offer a free waterered down and basic version of SalesForce with adsense thrown on top? I think so. Most people who use Gmail wouldnt mind a good CRM, but need almost 10% of the functionality. Google has the cash to buy SalesForce and really start to dominate the on-demand apps space.

Second, Google could do it better. Build over Buy makes sense to some degree…

Google has a much farther reach than SalesForce. SalesForce, well they’re complicated, and from what I’ve seen need some work in the whole usability department. Google could make a much simpler HighRise-esque CRM application. Throw in some document management, and you have SalesForce without the acquisition. Companies who are already hooked into Google will be more likely to use Google, especially with the cheaper price tag that is sure to come. This could desperately hurt SalesForce in the long run. wildcard: Google acquires Netsuite before it IPOs and officially donates to the buy Larry Ellison a bigger boat fund.

Third, Google can start to play nice with AppXchange to hurt MSFT…
I doubt seeing this happen. With proprietary languages such as Apex on the back-end of SalesForce, it’s a long shot. Google could make their applications such as Google Docs,etc. start to play nice with SalesForce and its ContentXchange. Both would benefit from new customers, and most certainly hurt MSFT in the longrun. Google could in turn lend some of its search technology to SalesForce and in hand get its orgasm for mining more information. Hmm, this isn’t so doubtful after all…

I think, no I know that the next few years will be dominated by the enterprise and how it is going to radically change. Google and SalesForce are the two big players in the space. Either way, the dust is going to settle somehow.

[tags] salesforce, koral, tech crunch, nick gonzalez, michael arrington, web 2.0, google, goog, google office, google docs, domain apps, appxchange, contentxchange, msft, marc benioff, ceo, acquisition, publictivity [/tags]

Paul Graham had an interesting and in some people’s opinions, arrogant post that declared Microsoft dead. It definitely is taking over Techmeme. The real focus comes in on the fact that Microsoft isn’t a feared giant anymore… that it’s Google. Well, in my opinion I think the fact that people are fearing Google more than Microsoft is why we’re seeing paltry exits, companies that are just simply features, and a real lack of innovation. I’m going to address a few points that Paul makes along, with a few of my own:

1. Fearing Microsoft Causes Startups To Actually Make Revenue- Microsoft does not pull any of this advertising model only garbage. Microsoft made itself a monster by being able to sell licenses of its software such as Windows and Office. They made a company based around products that sell, not products that need to get a bunch of pageviews. By fearing Google we see companies building products that are great, but do not focus on revenue. Remember, pageviews DO NOT equal revenue. If companies feared Microsoft, they would build products that were able to bring in real revenue streams- subscriptions, licenses, etc.
   
   
2. Google and Microsoft Do Not Need Your Shitty Web 2.0 Company- Sorry folks, Microsoft and Google don’t need your calendar, social news site, or mapping application. None of these applications are innovative or real revenue generators. What MSFT really needs are startups that are innovative as silly little Web 2.0 companies, but can produce real revenues in an equally innovative manner. You’re going into a company that is on track to generate 50 billion dollars in revenue this year… they want you to be in sync with that. Cash, not pageviews is King.
   
   
3. Placing Them All In The Silicon Valley Fortress of Solitude is Retarded- Most of Microsoft’s customers don’t know what Tech Crunch, Twitter, or Tag Clouds are. Generally they don’t care. Microsoft serves a general audience, not the everyday digerati. Now, if MSFT acquired some of the few good Web 2.0 companies, integrated their development process culture, and tailored it to the mainstream they’d do very well. Keep away from the Kool Aid folks, it does not make you any money.
   
   
4. Desktop Apps Aren’t Dead, They’re Going To Come Back Better Than Ever- Ryan Stewart is right in his post. Desktop apps aren’t dead due to Apollo and WPF. Now we can have the interaction and richness of Web apps on the desktop. Do you think MSFT is really that dumb, that they don’t know where things are going?

I have a feeling I’ll be updating this post over the next couple of days as more thoughts come in. My final thought: Fear Microsoft and Build Your Company to Battle Them, Not Google, and You’ll Actually Make Money. Please comment and argue with me on this, it’s a great debate.

[tags] msft, paul graham, y combinator, techmeme, don dodge, ryan stewart, publictivity, web 2.0, google, goog, microsoft, microsoft is dead, pageviews, meme [/tags]