Comments for Business and Economics Library http://lib.byu.edu/sites/business Just another Lib.byu.edu weblog Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:29:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Quote of the Day by Andy http://lib.byu.edu/sites/business/2009/10/28/quote-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Andy Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:29:01 +0000 http://lib.byu.edu/sites/business/?p=729#comment-262 It used to be that finding information was the problem. Now finding too much information is more likely the problem. Having a trusted source (like Bloomberg) that adds value through its compilation and access tools is a good solution to this problem. And like most solutions, it costs money. And not only does the tool cost money, but the proprietary information too. Until recently I've been able to pull Bloomberg Law reports off the Internet for free. Now they're only available through the terminal. Some companies will give away their proprietary information as a loss-leader, but many will continue to sell it. Try getting an analyst report off Yahoo! Finance for example. Still, it's amazing what <i>is</i> available for free, and what free tools are also becoming available. <a href="http://www.wolframalpha.com/examples/MoneyAndFinance.html" rel="nofollow">Wolfram Alpha</a> may be the coolest thing since sliced bread, but it's still no Bloomberg. It used to be that finding information was the problem. Now finding too much information is more likely the problem. Having a trusted source (like Bloomberg) that adds value through its compilation and access tools is a good solution to this problem. And like most solutions, it costs money.

And not only does the tool cost money, but the proprietary information too. Until recently I’ve been able to pull Bloomberg Law reports off the Internet for free. Now they’re only available through the terminal.

Some companies will give away their proprietary information as a loss-leader, but many will continue to sell it. Try getting an analyst report off Yahoo! Finance for example.

Still, it’s amazing what is available for free, and what free tools are also becoming available. Wolfram Alpha may be the coolest thing since sliced bread, but it’s still no Bloomberg.

]]> Comment on Quote of the Day by David Taggart http://lib.byu.edu/sites/business/2009/10/28/quote-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-259 David Taggart Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:39:52 +0000 http://lib.byu.edu/sites/business/?p=729#comment-259 Over time I think most information will be free online. The fact that a site like SCRIBD is able to get VC money and even exists shows how weak copyright laws are today. Because of the internet we have tons of info at our fingertips (a good thing) but also a major weakening of copyright enforcement (a bad thing). Where the paid info comes in is how the data is delivered. Look at Bloomberg. I can get quotes on stocks, economic information, and a ton of similar info for free online. What I cant get is all of this, and really a ton more, in one place along with tools to make it useful. Mayor Mike does not make the money he makes due to giving a hack job of a service. Instead they deliver the cleanest data in the most useful formats along with the most useful tools in one package. By listening to their audience they are able to charge $2,000 a month for a terminal and we are all happy (well willing at least) to pay for it. I love that BYU has 2 of them as they are, or at least should be every business and econ students best friend. So yeah general wikipedia type info will be free and will get freer (yeah not a word but I like it) while specialized info, or at least info delivered in a more usable format will be sold to a willing audience. Sorry about the rant Over time I think most information will be free online. The fact that a site like SCRIBD is able to get VC money and even exists shows how weak copyright laws are today. Because of the internet we have tons of info at our fingertips (a good thing) but also a major weakening of copyright enforcement (a bad thing).

Where the paid info comes in is how the data is delivered. Look at Bloomberg. I can get quotes on stocks, economic information, and a ton of similar info for free online. What I cant get is all of this, and really a ton more, in one place along with tools to make it useful. Mayor Mike does not make the money he makes due to giving a hack job of a service. Instead they deliver the cleanest data in the most useful formats along with the most useful tools in one package. By listening to their audience they are able to charge $2,000 a month for a terminal and we are all happy (well willing at least) to pay for it. I love that BYU has 2 of them as they are, or at least should be every business and econ students best friend.

So yeah general wikipedia type info will be free and will get freer (yeah not a word but I like it) while specialized info, or at least info delivered in a more usable format will be sold to a willing audience.

Sorry about the rant

]]> Comment on Gale’s Academic OneFile by Lety http://lib.byu.edu/sites/business/2007/10/12/gales-academic-onefile/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Lety Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:41:30 +0000 http://www.lib.byu.edu/business/index.php/2007/10/12/gales-academic-onefile/#comment-48 Good database! Good database!

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