Transcript: David Zatz, NETGEAR's Official Blogger-in-Residence for CES 2007

This transcript is from a PodTech.net podcast at:
http://www.podtech.net/home/technology/1768/david-zatz-netgears-official-blogger-in-residence-for-ces-2007

Guest: David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Host: Michael Johnson - PodTech News

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
This is Michael Johnson and welcome to another NETGEAR Podcast and on the line with us is a very special guest we have today, David Zatz who is the winner of the blogger and residents contest, the official NETGEAR blogger for the consumer electronic show in Las Vegas. So, David welcome to the Podcast and congratulations.

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Thank you, I’m excited to be here and I’m excited to be representing NETGEAR out here in Vegas.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
Tell me a little bit about your site and it’s called the zatznotfunny, z-a-t-z.?

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Correct, it is a Blog dedicated to Digital Media and Hi-Tech home entertainment, I’ve been working on it for about two years; it’s a variety of news, some of my analysis and some Multimedia tutorials. It’s mainly a hobby at this point but it does consume a lot of time and I put a lot effort into it and have a lot of pride in what I’m doing and it’s awfully acknowledging to see NETGEAR recognize that.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
Tell me what got you started into blogging?

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
It’s actually a funny story, I was involved in an online community and some of the topics we were talking about, I guess the moderators felt worse, somewhat in a grey area of what maybe legal or not legal in regards to, how a person is going to utilize their Digital Media, so I was sort of forced to start my own thing they basically said “Hey it’s our playground, you play by our rules or do you own a thing” and I’m like “Okay I’ll do my own thing” so and -- it actually turned out really well and it’s been a lot of fun and last month I hit a record of 140,000 page views so people seem to dig it.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
So, what’s interesting for you about the whole blogging process because now that its something that’s -- for some folks it’s kind of new, tell me what is that you feel like you bring to it in particular but and what is about it that you enjoy?

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Well, it’s a chance for the average geek being used to this niche to kind of speak about a variety of products that either they want to touch, that they have touched, things like that. So, you get kind of an unfiltered “Look, I’m not the official press, and I don’t work in a marketing department so, it allows me to kind of express my opinion as kind of like an uber-geek on the bleeding edge. I’m always getting new gadgets so it’s a venue for me to kind of share my discoveries with other folks or give tips on how I do things. So, it’s been fun as a way to kind of just express myself.”

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
When folks go to zatznotfunny what might they see on a typical day?

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Well, I definitely try to get up half a dozen, dozen posts a week. I definitely stay on top of company press releases so you may find updates on who is doing what? What new deals are out, what new products, other times or may be tutorials, done some mobile blogging for Digital Life in New York City, so you’ll see me as I go throughout the day and visit a variety of consumer electronic companies and what not, so I try to mix it up, I try to get some video in there now and then. I definitely like taking photographs and screenshots. I think multimedia gives more of an impact than just purely text so I try to keep it interesting.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
What stands out for you about covering tech news because again anybody can, like you say – it’s the Blogosphere, anybody can get on and do this but it’s got to be something a little bit different that you cover about a technology and about a Web 2.0. What do you think is your particular interesting take on things?

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Well, I think first the Blogosphere in general allows you to immediately convey information that -- if you have a monthly magazine, it’s going to be a while before the information gets out to the people, whereas in the Blogosphere I can respond to something immediately and obviously I have that in common with many Blogs but I think that makes it just a whole different sort of median, that people can really stay up to date with what’s going on for those that follow it. Again, what I bring to it, I think I have a ton of experience in Digital Media and these things so, I’m able to share my experiences, I also think that I’m honest, if something kicks butt or fail, if something sucks I’ll say that too and that’s not something you’re going to find in the main stream press and it’s not something you’ll find on all Blogs, depending on how they’re run.

So I’d like to think that it’s an authentic kind of information that’s coming out based on my experiences. I’m not a novice, I’m not new to this, to this technology field so I think my first hand experience and my honesty are appreciated and hopefully I inject a little humor here and there given the name of the site; one may guess that.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
And what do you think about CES coming up and what for you is going to be exciting about covering that for NETGEAR?

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Well, first of all, it’s like the pinnacle of the tech industry it’s where all the new products for the upcoming year get demoed and shown, everyone is there, heavy headers, while the smaller companies they’re no (Inaudible) are also there, it’s actually overwhelming, the amount of companies and people that are involved.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
Yes, I think, 140 -- as many page users you get, there is going to be people there.

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Yeah.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
There are a 140,000 attending.

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Yeah. So, it’s going to be insane. So, there is a lot of the excitement that goes with that and also if someone who follows the tech field to be able to see all this stuff immediately as it’s announced, as it’s released, that really excites me and in turn hopefully I can share that with others and going with NETGEAR is an added bonus because now I’m not going as the solo independent blogger, I’ve a team of people behind me. So, hopefully I can do better stuff and obviously NETGEAR has a bunch of products that tie into the digital lifestyle that I cover and I’d like to show how I use those and NETGEAR as I assume, will be introducing a bunch of new stuff. So, I’ll be able to share my impressions with folks as we see it revealed live.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
We’re also going to be having a special Blog house the Seagate is sponsoring a Blog house there and we’d like to certainly invite you and any of your blogging buddies so to come on up, it’s going to be going 24x7 in the Bellagio so, we do certainly (Inaudible).

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Well, we’re already registered. We’ve even got our comments on your site where we were very excited to see everyone just embracing the Blogosphere. So, we’re -- yeah it’s very exciting to see that sort of recognition and the Bellagio is a nice place to hang out so we’re looking forward to that.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
Alright, well, Dave lets give the name of the site of your Blog site one more time.

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
zatznotfunny.com, z-a-t-z not funny.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
But it is funny though.

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Hopefully.

Michael Johnson - PodTech News
So, right, so Dave Zatz of zatznotfunny.com, we look forward to seeing you at the Blog House and at CES – they’re blogging for NETGEAR and again out of 60 entrants and four finalists you’re the winner of the NETGEAR blogger and residents contest. We look forward to your entries coming from CES.

David Zatz - zatznotfunny.com
Thanks, and I’m very excited and look forward to contributing.