Despite the recent swings in the tech-heavy NASDAQ, e-commerce remains a hot topic. Depending on who you talk to, the horizon beckons with seemingly limitless opportunity. Is it any surprise then that Web-based research intrigues the research industry with its possibilities? Eyeing the rapid growth of the Internet, some research insiders predict phenomenal growth and business opportunities in Web-based research -- the gold rush of 1849 all over again. Some research companies have openly embraced the Web methodology; others race to catch up, while still others warily consider it. All of which leads to some very important questions. Is a high-tech Web-based survey really any better than an old-fashioned, plain vanilla mail survey? Can we move beyond current Web technology to increase the quality of the data by reintroducing people into the process? Can the e-commerce concept also work for e-interviewing?