The Old Fogies of the Web

By Joe Cunningham, Internet Marketing Manager
11/14/2013

I got this interesting email today from my VP.  It was a list of the 100 “Oldest .COM Domains” on the web.  I was intrigued to know who the “oldest fogie on the web" was and when he was “born.”

It’s Symbolics.com, created – get this – on the Ides of March (Google it) “in the year of our Lord 1985” (good year [big smile]).

This prompted me, as Internet Marketing Manager, to take a look at the history of the World Wide Web.  “Know where you have come from,” said the philosopher, “So you may profit better where you are going.”  (Okay, I made that up, but it sounded good; and I’m a philosopher.)

WWW History

Symbolics has since become “a true piece of internet history,” says the website, primarily advertising for whoever will buy digital billboard space.

I turned to Wikipedia for a snapshot of internet history.

I always thought the internet came about because of a bunch of military intelligence geeks who needed to pass info from “point A” to “point B.”

Old ComputerSort of.  Skipping the geek jargon, Wiki tells the story of universities developing networking capabilities for their oversized computers back in the 50’s, followed by military usage of the ever-advancing system, followed by a huge educational and research network, and then a decommissioning of the system to the public in 1995 leading to perhaps the greatest communication breakthrough in human history.

Today we can instantly communicate in a thousand different ways thanks to the World Wide Web.  We can shop, socialize, research, learn, entertain ourselves, and promote any number of things – as all of you know (you are reading this online after all).

Makes you think: where would we be without it?

The List

I skimmed over the list of “old fogies,” aka the “Oldest .Com Domains.”  Most I did not recognize, some stood out: Xerox, Intel, GE, Boeing, IBM, Lockheed, and Apple were among those who caught my eye.

All of these were online before the net went public.  They were ahead of the curve.

Trouble with the CurveTrouble with the Curve

As a modern business, especially in advertising, it’s a constant effort to stay “on the edge of the tech bubble” in every way.  Consumers are always looking for what’s hip, trending, new, cool.  Think Apple – they are the tech bubble – that’s why people buy their ----.

Cowley has always been a high-tech organization.  We look for the best in hardware, software, methods, and innovation – combining our creative ideas with the best technical ways to make them a reality.  Check out any of our websites and you will find this to be true.

Come Fly with Us

We want you to take your biz to the next level.  Now that 97% of people look to the web whenever they need something, it’s important for you to be “net tech savvy”: have a cool, useful website; get found on the web; and do business efficiently through modern tech.  Contact us today to find out more.

It makes all the difference in the world.

You didn’t read this in the newspaper.  Checkmate.

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