Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications

    High Tech Enters Classic Era

    By
    Scot Petersen
    -
    April 8, 2002
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Live long enough, and eventually everything will become “classic.” We already have classic rock on the radio, classic TV on cable, classic sports on ESPN (a wonderful thing), classic fashions and classic cars. Now, it seems, the classic business is catching up with high technology.

      Original versions of Atari games such as Asteroids, Centipede and Pong and other arcade classics are being reissued along with updated versions (that is, Windows XP-compatible). In addition, before Nintendos GameBoy, there was Mattels handheld NFL football, the one with the LED blip players. To my everlasting gratitude, Mattel has re-released it as Classic Football.

      Its difficult, but not impossible, to extend the classic motif into enterprise computing. We dont want to go back to technological marvels such as the IBM luggable “portable” PC, 5.25-inch floppies or cell phones the size of shoe boxes. And some things, such as the Web, may not have been around long enough to deserve classic treatment.

      Still, some classics of computing are making comebacks. Mainframes, especially those running Linux in virtual environments, are becoming a force again as IT departments look to consolidate servers and beef up availability and scalability. IBM last year saw its first full year of mainframe sales growth since 1989, culminating five consecutive quarters of growth starting with the December 2000 release of the z900 mainframe, officials said.

      And now that we are officially recovering from the dot-bomb era, businesses are starting to incorporate lessons learned from the gold rush of the late 90s and the Enron fiasco. For example, CCP Global, an Ariba systems integrator, is finding new business as Big 5 accounting companies look to scale back overreaching systems integration practices to focus on, well, accounting.

      Several years ago, I boldly (some say foolishly) declared the Web browser wars over, with Internet Explorer the winner. I was vilified by Netscape and its users over the opinion, which was certainly justified at the time. But as with all things, its now time to again consider Netscape with its new 6.2 version. Its much faster and smoother than the beasts that preceded it. You can even swap the futuristic new look of the browser for the “classic” Navigator skin. See, stick around long enough, and even browsing the Web can seem like its 1995 all over again.

      What else is making a comeback? Write to me at scot_petersen@ziffdavis.com.

      Scot Petersen
      Scot Petersen is a technology analyst at Ziff Brothers Investments, a private investment firm. Prior to joining Ziff Brothers, Scot was the editorial director, Business Applications & Architecture, at TechTarget. Before that, he was the director, Editorial Operations, at Ziff Davis Enterprise, While at Ziff Davis Media, he was a writer and editor at eWEEK. No investment advice is offered in his blog. All duties are disclaimed. Scot works for a private investment firm, which may at any time invest in companies whose products are discussed in this blog, and no disclosure of securities transactions will be made.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×