Comments on: Cringely’s Contradictory Thinking on Microsoft-Google Wars

By: bigoforcringely

bigoforcringely — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:18:06 +0000

its more of an involuntary conspiracy. the basis for captilism is competition until you reach oligopoly state, it stagnates with each of the members happy to keep the status quo. it definately feels like a conspiracy buts its not. each is doing what capitlism demands, thats maximize profits. at some point, if the equilibrium in broken, they actually make less, so its more profitable to leave it alone. its always a delicate balance that can be broken, but new small guys tipping the scale or as sometimes happens, making aliances. the consumer is not really part of the equation, when you have a closed market. for example, what other operating system can you realistic use right now? lynix maybe, apple?, not really, unless you run windows on it. same is true on search engines. who else besides google are you going to use? the best is not a consideration, just the market penetration.

so im banking on a new little guy, who right now is saying. "i'm sick of being pushed into google or microsoft', "i can do a better job".

at any moment, they will enter the stage!

By: bigoforcringely

bigoforcringely — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:18:06 +0000

By: bigoforcringely

bigoforcringely — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:18:06 +0000

By: Adam Thierer

Adam Thierer — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:02:55 +0000

So you're saying that "big" companies can never really compete or that they are locked in some silent conspiracy against the masses? Is that your theory? Because I'm sure that would come as a big surprise to many folks at Google and Microsoft!

Meanwhile, Joe Customer continues to enjoy a steady flow of innovative products from these two. But I suppose it's all some grand illusion in your book, right?

By: bigoforcringely

bigoforcringely — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:25:19 +0000

i think you people have missed cringeley's point. these are two super powers who simply cant be unlinked. they count on each other for their money and power. that means neither will do anything to remove their opponent from their position. google cant afford to remove microsoft, because microsoft is its largest supplier of customers. and the reverse is also true. therefore whatever they release to press about their new projects, those projects will never do enough to undo their opponent. that's a common problem with oligopolies, when there are so few power houses, they just agree to disagree on the way to do something but there is no real change for the customer/consumer.

that's exactly why apple and microsoft never really destroyed each other. its too good for business to keep each other around and have a pretend war.

so cringely correctly points out, the way customers/consumers will see real change, is through some unknown, small company who doesnt depend on either google or microsoft and therefore doesnt give a rats if those companies survive.

viva la 'basement' or 'garage shop' entrepreneur.
that's change.

By: Ryan Radia

Ryan Radia — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:23:11 +0000

Cringely's suggestion that MS might attempt to block Windows users from accessing Google is particularly absurd. Seems like he is just making noise for controversy's sake without making any real policy or technical arguments.

By: cordblomquist

cordblomquist — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:36:12 +0000

Good post Adam. A little lengthy, but good.

I think Cringely is underestimating the significance of both Bing and Google's Chrome OS.

Bing is the first real shot that Microsoft has had at competing with Google. Notice how it's not named MSN or Microsoft Live Search? Both were horrible names that put the clunky, blue-screening reputation of Microsoft out front. A dumb branding move.

Now, Microsoft is doing the right thing by creating a new brand and positioning it as a "decision engine" rather than a search engine. Microsoft knows it's next to impossible beat Google in a head-to-head fight, so it's trying to be number one in a category it invented, much like Cray did by inventing the product category of "super computer."

Google's Chrome OS has much more potential. Netbooks ARE the future, there can be no doubt about that. The average user simply doesn't need more RAM, a faster processor, more hard drive. These things are wasted on a web-enabled world and so is the clunky OS that keeps them all cooperating. Chrome could easily cut into Microsoft's sales, especially if Google decides to make its apps less feature poor, or if more people turn on to things like Think Free or ZOHO.

In a year or so I may be recommending that my mom buy a Linux-powered laptop. That's saying something.

I love Cringely too, but I agree that he misses the mark here.

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:33:58 +0000