Special: The Story of Bob.com (Full Interview)

TL;DR

Bob Kirstine discusses his early experiences buying domain names in the 1990s and shares the story behind acquiring the domain name Bob.com.

Transcript

hello I'm Simon Whistler you were watching today I found out and in the video today actually something a little bit different as you might have guessed from this format that we tend to do when we're doing something a little bit different this video is related to one we did a few weeks ago it's with it's basically my interview with Bob kirstine who ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Domain names were not initially seen as valuable investments, leading to missed opportunities.
• ❓ Bob Kirstine's ownership of the domain name Windows2000.com created a legal dispute with Microsoft but ultimately resulted in a negotiated agreement.
• 🛟 Early domain names had limited shelf life, as their value often diminished after a certain period.
• 🧌 Companies and individuals now have easier access to purchasing domain names, but there are also challenges such as domain name trolls.
• 🪘 Collectible stock and bond certificates are popular among collectors, particularly those from companies that no longer issue paper certificates.

Questions & Answers

Q: When did Bob Kirstine start buying domain names, and how were they available to the public?

Bob Kirstine started buying domain names in 1996 after they were opened up to the public. Before that, only companies and governments could purchase domain names.

Q: Did companies and individuals realize the value of domain names early on?

No, many companies and individuals underestimated the value of domain names in the early days of the internet. Some good names were acquired early on, but others were missed due to the belief that they wouldn't hold much value.

Q: How did Bob Kirstine acquire the domain name Windows2000.com, and what happened with it?

Bob Kirstine bought the domain name Windows2000.com as a personal website idea before Microsoft announced their Windows 2000 product. Microsoft eventually approached Kirstine to negotiate for the domain name, and they reached an agreement where Kirstine sold it to Microsoft.

Q: What was the process of buying domain names like in the early days, and how does it compare to now?

In the early days, buying a domain name was more expensive and time-consuming. The process involved signing up through Network Solutions and waiting for three days for the name to be processed. Now, buying a domain name is much simpler and cheaper.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Bob Kirstine began buying domain names personally in 1996, shortly after they were opened up to the public. Before that, only companies and governments could purchase domain names.

• Many companies and individuals did not realize the value of domain names at the time, leading to missed opportunities for investments.

• Kirstine owned the domain name Windows2000.com, which created a legal dispute with Microsoft. Eventually, he sold the domain name to Microsoft in a negotiated agreement.