Customer comments on this selection.
 Nice high-level overview of Web 2.0
This book provides a good overview of Web 2.0 technologies from a business viewpoint, yet also provides some concrete examples of the application of those technologies -- like a Yahoo! Pipe for obtaining stock quotes. Personally, I would have liked to see some of the other end-user-oriented mashup technologies (Microsoft Popfly, Dapper, and Google Mashup Editor) given more than just a mention; but I understand that this is not the focus of the book.
The emergence of Web 2.0 from earlier technologies and web business models is nicely explained in the first chapter, which makes you want to read more.
Although the book is well written, I was put off initially by the layout, which starts off rather like a text book with lots of dense text on each page.
Tony Loton, author --
Working with Yahoo! Pipes, No Programming Required
Mashup Case Studies with Yahoo! Pipes
Mashups Made Easy with Dapper: the Data Mapper
Introduction to Microsoft Popfly, No Programming Required
Creating Google Mashups with the Google Mashup Editor (GME)
Must have for anyone looking to apply Web 2.0 to the enterprise
As a Web 2.0 professional who assists customers in their application of Web 2.0 in an enterprise / business context, this book is extremely valuable. In addition to my efforts to improve understanding of Web 2.0 with my customers, I recommend this book as a means to provide them with a solid foundation and understanding of Web 2.0 (beyond the hype and misinformation out in the Wild, Wild Web) and how these approaches and technologies can provide value in an enterprise context. Fact of the matter, Web 2.0 as a concept is an umbrella over a wide variety of concepts and technologies. In my experience, many IT and business professionals are unfamiliar with Web 2.0 in general or are familiar with one or more in a consumer (outside of work) context often not realizing that they are using elements of Web 2.0. In both cases, most haven't considered if or how Web 2.0 could be used to improve their organizational efficiency, drive down costs and improve customer / partner satisfaction.
I'd have given this book 10 stars if possible, it is by far the best Web 2.0 for business book available. If you work for a company that has customers, employees and/or partners (facetious but true) you owe it to yourself to read this book. Web 2.0 is really game changing, companies that "get it" and use it, will be more efficient than their competitors will ever be. I've experienced this first hand many times over the past few years.
Its a easy read too, with a good balance of business, value and technology topics (and common sense, practical and pragmatic too, which is often missing in "technology for the Enterprise" books).
Regards,
Richard
Covers a Broad Swath
First Disclosure: I'm one of the authors.
Now, this book should be in every CxO's briefcase. It covers all the buzzwords of "web 2.0" and "enterprise 2.0" while relating it to specific business scenarios. Much more than google maps for my employees, it delves into business intelligence, user productivity, process efficiency as well as managerial efficiency. Sections 1 and 3 are conceptually oriented and do a good job of explaining meaning and application of things like crowd sourcing, wikis, and the semantic web. Section 2 is rich with explanation of the alphabet soup of APIs, languages, protocols that seem to swarm web 2.0 discussions. The book never becomes preachy. An easy read in a 3-4 hour flight.
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