VisorCentral.com - Dubinsky & Fox News Fubar

Pages (2): [1] 2 »
Show 20 posts from this thread on one page

VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Visor General Chat (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=31)
-- Dubinsky & Fox News Fubar (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=19497)

Posted by septimus on 11-08-2001 01:50 PM:

Dubinsky & Fox News Fubar

PDABuzz picked up on an interview between Donna Dubinsky and cough overly conservative cough Fox News. Apparently, it went badly enough for Alan Bush to send a nasty email to them. I don't know... Dubinsky should have handled that a bit better, I think. But then again, I'm no fan of Fox news (although I'm glad they exist, it bothers me that they've somehow managed to get people to say they're nonbiased.)

Thought the primarily Visor board should have a crack at it.

__________________
Don't like somebody? Click "Profile" on a post and then click "Ignore "so and so's" posts". Voila!

Posted by GSR13 on 11-08-2001 02:22 PM:

Re: Dubinsky & Fox News Fubar

quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn
PDABuzz picked up on an interview between Donna Dubinsky and cough overly conservative cough Fox News. Apparently, it went badly enough for Alan Bush to send a nasty email to them. I don't know... Dubinsky should have handled that a bit better, I think. But then again, I'm no fan of Fox news (although I'm glad they exist, it bothers me that they've somehow managed to get people to say they're nonbiased.)

Thought the primarily Visor board should have a crack at it.

I read this interview last night as well. While I believe Neil Cavuto was being a jerk and the interview was a joke, I also believe the response from HandSpring was a little a childish. Kind of like a little kid running to tell their parents what a horrible teacher they have because everyone else in the room gets better grades.

I would have also thought some of Donna's answers could have been a little better. Perhaps she was not as prepared as she should have been. Of course, I am sure she had no idea she was going to get ambushed.

__________________
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2

Posted by volcanopele on 11-08-2001 02:37 PM:

Personally, Donna should have handled herself a lot better during the interview. Handpsring's response was also a tad amateurish. Neil Cavuto can do that to guests sometimes but thats how tough reporting gets done, asking the tough questions and not throwing softball ones.

Fox News I think is a great news channel. A tad biased, but it is a lot better than MSNBC. And to think there was a time when I couldn't wait to get MSNBC on cable

Jason

__________________
Did you just go near a burning hot river of lava or are you just happy to see me?

Posted by creole on 11-08-2001 02:47 PM:

Hmmm...

From what you all have said so far, I was expecting a longer interview. While Neil could have asked his questions a tad more politely, I don't feel that he came across like a jerk. Some of the questions he asked and the way he asked them were actually funny.

And you're right, Donna didn't seem prepared to handle an interview of that sort.

Posted by PlantATree on 11-08-2001 03:19 PM:

What the hell kind of comment is "whoopdee-doo"? Thats kind of childish and un-professional if you ask me.

Posted by volcanopele on 11-08-2001 03:34 PM:

Rereading the interview (hey its been a few weeks since she was on), it make me think more and more that Donna was really unprepared for many of the questions that she should have expepected such as the Treo comparisons to the Samsung Palm/Phone. And way to many "you know"s. Cavuto wasn't being a jerk, he was asking the questions most would ask of her. Remember, this was not a technology-news oriented show. Cavuto's a business show. Many of these questions linger over those who own Handspring stock. As far as childish, you should watch his show more. he is like that.

Jason

__________________
Did you just go near a burning hot river of lava or are you just happy to see me?

Posted by PlantATree on 11-08-2001 03:47 PM:

Yeah, I can't say I have ever seen his show. Not sure I want too after reading that interview.

Posted by homer on 11-08-2001 04:00 PM:

I really like Cavuto and I think he made some incredibly valid points in the interview.

The Treo isn't anything new. Yea, it's a different form factor, but, unfortunately, most john doe consumers don't place that as a high priority (even though they should).

From the interview, Donna made it sounds like the ONLY differences that can be found with the Treo are the fact that it is a bit smaller and 6 months late to market.

__________________
We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

Posted by Billy4u on 11-08-2001 04:04 PM:

I didn't see the interview. I have only read the transcript. From the text, it is clear the interviewer was not interested in an informational dialogue. It was a pre-meditated ambush.
To some degree, a company who has been weakened (as of late) like Handspring will be targeted.

I disagree with many of the other replies that complain Dubinsky did not handle herself well. (From my read of the text) she deflected every attempt to provoke an argument and stayed with her message that the devise IS different and better.

In addition, the subsequent e-mail seemed appropriate to me, though a phone call would have kept it out of print.

Why would Handspring again send a target for that interviewer to take pot shots at?

Posted by septimus on 11-08-2001 05:01 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by homer
The Treo isn't anything new. Yea, it's a different form factor, but, unfortunately, most john doe consumers don't place that as a high priority (even though they should).

Gotta disagree with you there. I know plenty of folk who are interested in the form. The number of people who will want this thing is significantly higher than the number of folk who want the kyocera or the samsung. the only way for HS to succeed with this is to market the HELL out of it. I think that's what they're doing.

...too bad Dubinsky got flustered.

__________________
Don't like somebody? Click "Profile" on a post and then click "Ignore "so and so's" posts". Voila!

Posted by Madkins007 on 11-08-2001 05:10 PM:

I think the interviewer had some good questions considering that it was a business-oriented program.

The point about the lateness to market is perfectly valid- what does the Treo offer that makes it worth waiting for? I am sure there ARE things worth it, but she did not articulate them very well.

Differences between the Treo and other already available units? This is important to anyone trying ot figure out whether to buy a Treo or to invest in Handspring, and again, she did not answer very well.

The point about whether Palm OS is fading is something analysts have been debating for some time- we have even discussed it here.

I was a bit disappointed in Donna's replies- someone in her position going on a business-oriented program to hype a new product should have been more ready to wow the interviewer- UNLESS she was told and prepared for a totally different tack.

I was REALLY disappointed in the email sent by Steve. At least Donna MIGHT have been rattled by the live format. Steve had the chance to think about what he said, and I think he took the wrong approach. I agree that there is a definite childishness to his reply. It seems short-sighted to tell someone who could help your company that you don't want to talk to them anymore.

Posted by sowens on 11-08-2001 05:35 PM:

With every one of Donna's answers I read, I kept remembering a comment made by an English professor during a lecture. He said "Never try to hold an intelligent conversation with someone who starts their sentences with 'Like...' or 'You know....'".

I think Cavuto could have been a bit less venomous, but in general he had some valid questions and comments. Donna sounded like she was reading from a script.

As for the Treo, I wish Handspring the best of luck, but I agree with Cavuto; It's a day late and a buck short.

IMHO, as always.

__________________
It's gotta be weather balloons. It's always weather balloons. Big, fiery, exploding weather balloons.
-- ComaVN (from Slashdot)

Posted by homer on 11-08-2001 06:38 PM:

quote:
and stayed with her message that the devise IS different and better.

HOW is it different? HOW is it better? She did NOT address that at all other than saying it is a bit smaller than the competition.

Cavuto, rightfully so, was asking WHAT made it so much better that it could compete even though it is several months behind the competition.

That is a very valid question that Donna had no answer to.

__________________
We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

Posted by septimus on 11-08-2001 11:11 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by homer
HOW is it different? HOW is it better? She did NOT address that at all other than saying it is a bit smaller than the competition.
That is a very valid question that Donna had no answer to.

I'll answer it for her:

1) Smaller. yes, I know you say this is no big deal, but, well, you're wrong. It's a HUGE selling point, because there are folk who aren't willing to carry around a brick. The m100 and Vx sold so well primarily because they were SMALL.

2) Full and Real integration. Handspring has been working on integrating the software and the experience for quite a long time. The competitors are not as tightly integrated.

3) Handspring name and support. Like it or not, people care most about brand name. Handspring wrote the software on the thing, Handspring made the thing, Handspring has a growing cache (er, that's pronounced cash-A) in the market.

4) Thumbpress Keyboard.

5) 16 megs of RAM

6) Intelligent design. Small, yes, but also well built. HS is smart, no kludge keypad add-on like the kyocera, no "Please scratch me" open face like the samsung. It looks sturdy and elegant.

...Why I was able to toss that out off the top of my head and Dubinsky wasn't is beyond me. Cavuto's question have been valid, but the way it was asked (i.e. there is no answer, he's just trying to be a pain) was not. ...or at least, that's how I read the transcript.

__________________
Don't like somebody? Click "Profile" on a post and then click "Ignore "so and so's" posts". Voila!

Posted by Moohahaha7 on 11-09-2001 02:17 AM:

Reading that interview left a bad taste in my mouth. Neil Cavuto was totally unprofessional and as a journalist he should be ashamed with his actions. Ms. Dubinsky handled herself well under the circumstances. She stuck to her material which prevented this from becoming a total pr fiasco. The follow up email was appropriate and classy. I'm proud to be a customer of a company that handles itself accordingly while others are being irresponsible and stupid. But thats just my two cents.

Posted by homer on 11-09-2001 03:01 AM:

quote:
Neil Cavuto was totally unprofessional and as a journalist he should be ashamed with his actions.

How so? He's a reports for business matters. People watch the show to see how companies are doing. His quesitons were direct and to the point.

__________________
We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

Posted by septimus on 11-09-2001 03:43 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by homer
How so? He's a reports for business matters. People watch the show to see how companies are doing. His quesitons were direct and to the point.

Fox News is looking to get the reputation of being harda$$es. They're doing this to garner the aging white male boomer demographic, which is why they're also right-leaning. It's amazing how quickly it has grown and become legitimized (more so than MSNBC). I guess the cousin of one of their execs should be thanked for proclaiming to the world that it was the network that was on in his house.

He was a "jerk" because his viewers get their rocks off from being "tough business people" and he lets them live vicariously through him. It's the same thing Rush Limbaugh does. It's the same thing left wing pinko journalists do for their demographic.

What shocks me is that Donna Dubinsky, who has "more than 10 years of marketing and logistics experience from Apple and Claris." failed to understand that the media outlets she's facing have a vested interest not only in reporting Handspring's stock, but affecting it. If she doesn't have the PR skills at this, the single most critical release of a product for Handspring since they shipped their first visor, then she should have sent someone else.

__________________
Don't like somebody? Click "Profile" on a post and then click "Ignore "so and so's" posts". Voila!

Posted by volcanopele on 11-09-2001 03:51 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn

I'll answer it for her:

This is a huge point about the interview in my opinion. While most of us know that the Treo is much better than the competition, she did not articulate that in the interview. No mention of the added memory or the other things you mentioned. AGain, you and others on this board may know all this but possibly not investers.

Jason

__________________
Did you just go near a burning hot river of lava or are you just happy to see me?

Posted by septimus on 11-09-2001 03:54 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by volcanopele
AGain, you and others on this board may know all this but possibly not investers.

That's exactly right. Which is why I called the situation FUBAR. I has assumed that the HS marketing team followed a complex and well-informed marketing plan in pre-announcing the Treo. But if the best that team can send to an investment show is that interview, then, well...

__________________
Don't like somebody? Click "Profile" on a post and then click "Ignore "so and so's" posts". Voila!

Posted by yardie on 11-09-2001 12:32 PM:

Not Adept

My take is that Donna D. is not adept at doing these kind of interviews. If the interview was mostly about financials she would ahve done a much better job...hey that is why she is CEO. Jeff Hawkins would have shined at an interview like this...he ain't the Chief Product Officer for nuttin. At least they should should have made one of their marketing guys (e.g Ed Colligan) do the gig.

Reporters dp what reporters must. I am tired of the old ays of doing thing where the reporter is expected to be obedient and polite. Its time for us to ask our politicians and CEOs tough questions.

All times are GMT. The time now is 12:25 AM.

Pages (2): [1] 2 »
Show 20 posts from this thread on one page