Computer.com
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Internet |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Mike Ford, Mike "Zappy" Zapolin |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Acquired by Office Depot |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Online computing education platform (glossary and links) |
Computer.com, Inc. was a short-lived dot-com company that began operations in 1999. After allocating half of its $7 million venture capital budget to advertising during Super Bowl XXXIV, it was acquired by Office Depot in 2000. The company is often cited as a prominent case study illustrating the dot-com bubble phenomenon.
History
Prior to 1999, the domain computer.com belonged to Gary Kremen, who sold it for $500,000. In 1999, Mike Ford and Mike "Zappy" Zapolin launched Computer.com as a broad-based platform aimed at educating users about computers. Following a $7 million venture capital raise, they collaborated with an advertising agency to produce three commercials for the Super Bowl, created just six weeks before the event. Although their commercial aired late in the game, the close scoreline made it one of the most viewed ads in Super Bowl history.
After Super Bowl XXXIV, Computer.com obtained an additional $2 million through a second round of financing. By the end of 2000, Office Depot had purchased the company.
Operation
It remains uncertain whether Computer.com ever achieved profitability or delivered significant services. Users who responded to the Super Bowl advertisement encountered only a simple glossary of computing terms and links directing them to third-party vendors for home computer products, primarily outpost.com. The company has become notorious as an example of dot-com extravagance—investing heavily in marketing without a clear business strategy or revenue generation.
Domain usage
Up until March 30, 2024, the domain functioned as an interface for a customized version of ChatGPT, similar to Bing Chat. Since that date, it has been repurposed as a cloud AI infrastructure platform.
See also
- Dot-com commercials during Super Bowl XXXIV
- List of commercials during Super Bowl XXXIV
- Dot-com bubble