Though e-commerce growth encouraging, it's a mere fraction of overall commerce.
Roadblocks remain, struggles ahead.
Back in the early '80s, Egghead was a huge success, opening hundreds of strip-mall software stores. Market shifted and Egghead couldn't fend off superstores and direct sales. Company says it will try larger stores with broader merchandise range in '98. Expect to see similar distress in traditional retail channels over the next three to five years as e-commerce shoots holes in retail software sales. Faced with sagging sales, weak stock prices and image problems, Apple chair Gil Amelio confirms price cuts and layoffs.