Behind the Screen With Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos; An Intimate Look at an Internet Wunderkind in Wired's March Issue

Business Wire, Feb 18, 1999

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 1999--As the Internet entrepreneur who founded Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos quickly cornered the online bookselling market -- but his vision for retailing doesn't stop there.

In Wired's March cover story, senior writer Chip Bayers closely examines the Bezos blueprint, taking an extensive look at the reigning master of the e-commerce game.

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--   As heir apparent to a new era in consumerism, Bezos addresses his
     plans to revolutionize retail. "Strip malls," he declares, "are
     history."
--   On competition from Barnes & Noble.com: "We're trying to invent
     the future of e-commerce ... they're just defending their turf."
--   On innovation over imitation: "There's a strong case to be made
     for being a copier. It's just not as satisfying, or as fun."
--   And, for the first time on record, Bezos sheds new light on his
     upbringing. "It's a fine truth to have out there," Bezos tells
     Wired. "I'm not embarrassed by it."

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Also in Wired's March issue ...

Order in the Court: Microsoft Makes a Motion on California

Desktops

The heat in Washington hasn't soured Microsoft toward the legal community -- as long as it offers an opportunity for profit. With plans to dominate the e-filing market, the software giant's latest conquest is rich in irony.

Chip Tease: The Lowdown on the Pentium III

Intel ushered in its latest microprocessor with plenty of fanfare. But is the Pentium III really what you need? Wired delivers the complete lowdown spec by spec.

Punch-Card Dependency: Corporate America's Dirty Little Secret

In the age of the company database and back-up stored on servers, digitized data storage should be the central nervous system for America's biggest companies. But an alarming number of major corporations still rely on punch cards to store valuable company data. In Wired's March issue, George Dyson uncovers the truth about a tenacious technology.

Power Surge: Environmentalists Who Feel the Need for Speed

Also in Wired's March issue, electronerds who race machines loaded with batteries delivering up to 1,400 amps of power.

Plus, Public Enemy front rapper Chuck D, takes on the music industry over digital distribution and the Internet; Michael Wolf on the Entertainment Economy; a modern master uses advanced imaging software to make art out of smoke ... and more.

The March issue of Wired hits newsstands Tuesday, Feb. 23rd.