• by Christopher M. Schroeder , November 29, 2007

Dear Santa: I’m not sure how to say this, but well, I’m 14, and this will be the last letter I write you. Don’t get me wrong, I have really appreciated all you’ve done for me over the years and it’s not that I’ve been naughty or anything.

In fact, my parents think I’ve turned over a new leaf. I watch almost no television thanks to the TiVo with extra storage, the video iPod and the fantastic games you gave me last year. I’m hanging out at the mall much less because there’s nothing I can’t buy more easily online. I never talk with my friends on the phone anymore, because we already keep track of each others’ every move on Twitter.

You see, I can get and do just about anything right now online really cheap or for free, when and how I want it, and there’s no reason to wait until every 25 of December to get what I want when and how I want it.  I feel like I’m kind of breaking up with you, but, the fact is, between search and all the great commerce sites and about 500 blogs and communities and Web sites I care about, I can get pretty much any music, video, games, information — and share it with people who matter to me. So, Santa, you just can’t compete.

But don’t feel so bad. You’re not alone. I think my parents’ entire generation was based on the concept of making people do what they don’t want to do, and finding ways to charge them all the time. 

My dad works for a newspaper, and keeps telling me that their decades of relationships in our city — whatever that means — makes it worth it for me to spend a few extra bucks to sell my old computer and bicycle and Game Boy in the classifieds. Why would I do that? I sold them all on Craigslist for nothing in a day.

He even tried to get me to pay The New York Times for news I’m already getting from a hundred places for nothing — usually through Digg or e-mailed to me. I can see why they stopped charging.

I read that some of the TV networks are going to make all their programming available at any time we want to see it — which is cool — but then they are going to force us to watch their ads. What’s with that? Why don’t they just send me ads on things I’m interested in — this is an interactive world, after all — and do it in a way that doesn’t annoy me? I’d be up for that. At least they’re not charging, but I’m still going to use BitTorrent.

Santa, I’m not a thief — well, I’m not really one anymore. My friends and I never thought “sharing” music was stealing, but it kind of is.  But who wants to pay $15 or $20 for a CD when you don’t care about most of the music on it? Guess what? I’m spending more money than ever before in music on iTunes because it’s convenient, I can find what I want, control it the way I want to and the price feels fair. 

I know all these guys need to make money — but the smart guys compete by offering value and a proposition I can understand. And they don’t make me do anything I don’t want.

Which brings me back to you. Santa, I just don’t think you can compete. My older brother is in venture capital, and says maybe you could do a strategic deal with eBay or something. He says you have a good brand, whatever that means. 

But as for me, I need to say good-bye and thanks for all the loot. 

Christopher M. Schroeder is CEO and president of the HealthCentral Network, Inc. (schroeder@thon.com)