B.L. Ochman reviewed in her recent post—Pheedo: RSS Getting More Mainstream—about the Pheedo report on RSS.  She is highlighting the increase in readership of RSS as reported by Pheedo that RSS is becoming mainstream.  Yeah, I'd say RSS readership is up, but I think we have a long way to go before it's mainstream.  My stats on several blogs are up, but I still think RSS is in the early-adopter phase.  Frankly it's still too techie and too easy to goof something up.  Yes the tools are better.  We at Qumana think Lektora is pretty easy, but is it ready for my Mom?  Almost, but not quite.  Part of the problem, of course, is explaining it.  I still stumble over that.  Yeah, it's kinda like e-mail, and kinda like a webpage, and ...

 

Sheesh.  Makes my head spin and I know what it's all about.  Let's not even get into the whole RSS and Atom thing, okay?

 

When will it hit mainstream?  I think the delivery mechanism has to improve.  I think within a browser makes the most sense, but not necessarily server-based (a la Bloglines).  I have, in the name of research, been trying some competitors products, OnFolio for example.  While the extension is cool, it's way too sluggish for me (which means to me that it requires too much computer overhead, therefore my now anemic laptop can't deal well).  Anyway, there still is a disconnect between how the average surfer/e-mailer handles information and us info-gluttons.  Time and inspiration.  That will do it.

 

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