PC Actual 120: Navigating the Internet Boom, E-commerce Challenges, and Tech Innovations in 2000

Despite the proliferation of online stores, the article points out a significant lack of seriousness in the Spanish e-commerce sector, hindering trust among Spanish internet users. While transaction security was generally well-handled by financial institutions, a common complaint received by the editorial staff was that many well-known websites were 'pure facade.' These sites often featured attractive applications, appealing catalogs, and tempting prices, but were let down by poor logistics, leading to user frustration with virtual shopping. The author stresses the need for greater seriousness, sector-specific experience, competitiveness against traditional channels, consumer guarantees, and aesthetically pleasing websites for online sales to truly flourish in Spain. The article anticipates that by 2002, Spaniards would be spending over 250 billion pesetas online, underscoring the potential for e-commerce if these issues were addressed.

The internet landscape was characterized by significant consolidation. The article highlights the acquisition of Lycos by Terra, a subsidiary of Telefónica, which positioned the Spanish portal as the third most important content server globally, behind AOL and Yahoo. This move was seen as a strategic step for Telefónica to establish itself in the 'new economy.' The deal, valued at approximately 12.5 billion dollars (around 2.29 trillion pesetas), aimed to create a truly global internet company with operations in 37 countries and over 60 million users. The merged entity, Terra Lycos, intended to focus on the convergence of the internet, next-generation connectivity, and both new and traditional media content. Bob Davis, former president of Lycos and now CEO of Terra Lycos, emphasized the company's goal to offer 'irresistible content and functionality.' The media group Bertelsmann was also a key partner, agreeing to significant advertising and integration services with Terra Lycos in exchange for preferential access to Bertelsmann's content catalog. However, the high acquisition cost led to a negative market reaction, with the shares of Terra and Lycos declining after the announcement.

Lexmark, a well-known printer manufacturer, reported strong financial results for 1999, with a 16% increase in global revenue compared to the previous year, and a significant 35% growth in Spain. To further expand its market share, Lexmark announced strategic initiatives including the incorporation of new countries into its commercial network, the opening of new production facilities, and the launch of its 'Z' series of color inkjet printers. These new printers offered photographic quality, ease of use, laser-like black text, and jam-free feeding systems. They boasted resolutions of up to 2,400 dpi on all paper types, print speeds of up to 15 pages per minute, Macintosh compatibility, and both parallel and USB connectivity. The Lexmark Z32 Color Jetprinter was highlighted for its ability to print 24 photographs in under 45 minutes with a 1,200 x 1,200 dpi color resolution. The flagship Z52 Color Jetprinter was presented as the first printer offering 2,400 x 1,200 dpi on any paper type in both black and white and color, with print speeds of 15 ppm in black and 7 ppm in color. Lexmark also emphasized its commitment to innovation and high-quality features for both businesses and home users, alongside strategic partnerships with hardware, software, and internet companies.

The article reflects on the broader implications of the digital economy, acknowledging its role in a globalized society. However, it also raises questions about the perceived speed and stability of this 'engine.' Events like the rapid spread of the 'I love you' virus, the stock market downturn of Telefónica, and the first major bankruptcy of an e-commerce initiative sowed seeds of doubt. The 'I love you' virus caused significant economic losses, even affecting government administrations that should have been secure. Telefónica's stock suffered due to the Lycos acquisition, and the bankruptcy of the sports clothing store Boo, which lost 186 million pesetas weekly, created panic in nascent electronic businesses. The article questions whether the internet, while potentially a future panacea, is as secure as it appears.