You would imagine that the BIG tech news outlets would be OUTRAGED at this and get some kind of movement going to give consumers a better deal.  Many of them are – and for good reason!

Broadband caps could REALLY hurt companies like Revision3 and could kill smaller IPTV providers like Leo Laporte - as consumers find they are having to PAY to download these shows….

However, I am hearing a lot about how Ziff Davies is using its massive number of websites, podcasts, blogs and magazines to PUSH what a GREAT IDEA capped broadband is.

But why are Ziff Davies being so anti-consumer?

Ask Dvorak, Dan Costa and co!

Now, I don’t know if Comcast are a big sponsor of Ziff Davies or if it’s a more general desire to kiss the asses of the broadband providers who pay Ziff’s bills – but the way Ziff are championing capped broadband seems really bizarre to me.  Yes, some people at Ziff are making comforting anti-broadband cap noises – but there’s no doubt that some major players at Ziff are acting very suspiciously.

For example; Dorak on Cranky Geeks and Dan Costa in PC Mag (both Ziff Davies properties) have been insanely anti-consumer and PRO capped broadband.  They are doing this at the risk of pissing off their readers and hurting their circulation.  But why?

Well – what do you think?

John C Dvorak

I reviewed John C Dvorak’s excellent Cranky Geeks show a few days ago.  Imagine how surprised I was when the crank himself took the time to get in touch with me and thank me for the review.  The guy has class.
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Molly Wood

I mentioned Molly Wood’s new babe-tastic look earlier this week and a reader suggested it was all down to photoshop!  I never knew Molly Wood was a reader of this blog, but she is and was also cool enough to take it in good humor and even leave a comment too!  We love you Molly!
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Natali Del Conte

I blogged recently about how Natali Del Conte decided to erase all her fans and viewers from her Twitter follow feed.  MAN has Natali pissed a lot of people off! In the end, we were left with just ONE comment in defence of Natali Del Conte – and it was hilarious!

I am not making this up, but it was her former colleague, Jason Cross from extremetech.com, who tried to defend her - when he himself had to admit that he too wasn’t in her twitter follow feed!

In my opinion, I think Natali Del Conte could learn a thing or two from Dvorak and her ultra-credible and massively popular CNET co-worker Molly Wood!

Cranky Geeks!

When it comes to ‘tech news reporting, John C Dvorak is a legend.  Seriously, this guy was reporting on ‘tech news before many of his present day counterparts were even born! I think that Dvoraks’ deep knowledge of the technology business, and his is broadcasting style is what makes the Cranky Geeks video podcast is so good!

What is “Cranky Geeks?”

Cranky Geeks is a half hour, Internet video show that’s hosted by John C Dvorak; along with the sometimes irritating (but often extremely entertaining), Sebastian Rupley.  The shows (from Ziff Davis) are broadcast once a week, with guests from within the tech industry – often people from Ziff Davis properties.

Cranky Geeks aims to cover the week’s tech stories and gets it’s ‘cranky’ title because of Dvorak’s tendency to take the counter view of pretty-much anyone he speaks to.

(Spoiler warning)
Dvoraks’ cranky approach is purely for entertainment value!

One of the strengths of Cranky Geeks, is the quality of their guests.  For example, as I write this, recent guests include Danny O’Brien from The Electronic Frontier Foundation, gaming guru Garnett Lee from 1up.com and Cnet’s Molly Wood.

If you like your ‘tech news from an informed source, with a sprinkling of humour – give Cranky Geeks a try!

Now, I know Dvorak is known for being a ‘little’ on the cranky side, so I explained why I think the show will succeed. Scoble has a ‘pied piper-like’ ability to attract people and he has a knack for making tech stories both accessible and interesting. He’s also well connected and will have no problem getting great guests and sponsors for his show.

Dvorak then told me on Twitter this morning;
“Jim – Scoble gets readers; he’s a natural. it’s his comfort zone. It ends there. The rest is goofing around.”

What Dvorak didn’t seem to know was that Scoble was following our Tweets!

When Scoble joined in Dvorak said;
“Cripes Robert! Are you just sitting on this friggin’ thing!?!?!”

There are 2 great lessons here:
1. On Twitter, you never know who is listening – so watch what you say!
2. Dvorak is the real deal – just as cranky in ‘real life’ as he is with his work!

To follow me on Twitter and join in the fun, my username is jimconnolly

Watch Dvorak’s great ‘Cranky Geeks’ show now – click here