Wow – yesterday I generate a lengthy post offering comment on ReadCube and Mendeley (http://learningaloud.com/blog/2013/04/10/document-processing/) and today the Twittersphere is abuzz with negative comments related to Mendeley.
The issue is not the quality of the service, but the purchase of the service by Elsevier (I do mention this but explain the free service received an extra gigabyte of storage in the deal). At least some of the online negativity is in sympathy with a post by danah boyd (http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2013/04/11/mendeley-elsevier.html).
Not sure what I think yet. Certainly companies gobble up popular services (Apple and lala) or shut down their own services many depend on (Google – iGoogle, soon Reader). Is it that the companies have policies by which they make money and others object to the strategies?
BTW – I just resigned from an Elsevier editorial board (free labor as boyd describes the abuses of academics), but this has nothing to do with the company. It was time to redirect my time. I knew who published the journal, but I gave no thought to the business practices or was aware of the complaints. The folks I worked with including the small number receiving compensation worked hard as a service to researchers and readers. It is extremely important to focus criticism if you feel the need to offer an opinion.