The Google factor, is Microsoft's crown safe?

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I'm not a very good Microsoft Zealot. I always will be far more attracted by the best of breed.

Google is certainly creating a lot of good publicity recently and seems to being pitched as the new great white hope to the Microsoft crown which only months ago this illustrious title went to Linux ... or was it Java .. or was it StarOffice, I forget, the irrelevance really does become a blur.

I find all this talk actually very frustrating, because it doesn't really move us forward. Microsoft is where it is and will stay there as long as they keep getting the formula right.

What is evident is what drives Microsoft forward and that isn't power or money?

Reading Robert Scoble's blog shows what really drives Microsoft forward is innovation and passion and the belief they haven't got to where they want to go. This is what it seems as the same for Google. The difference being Microsoft is far more transparent these days than Google and this is what I want to see more from Google before I will seriously looking into investing into their technology other than their search engine.

Is there a dark horse? eBay’s purchase of Skype came from out of nowhere which means that I’m always no going to check on these guys to see what their up to. Obviously being ‘just an auction site’ is not where their ambition truly lies.

The wonderful thing about I.T. is another player could easily emerge. Perhaps even a resurgence of an old one, who knows.

What I can conclude is that Microsoft with the release of it's next batch of software VS2005, SQL Server 2005 and Biztalk 2006 it's not waiting for the competition to catch up. So for the time being Microsoft enjoy your crown, but it's perhaps time you let Google keep the search engine crown because to win in this market is almost impossible now, hearts and minds are already hardened.

Posted on Saturday, October 1, 2005 7:40 PM Main | Back to top

Comments on this post: The Google factor, is Microsoft's crown safe?

# re: The Google factor, is Microsoft's crown safe?

Dave,

Since you are a self-proclaimed MS zealot (for some unknown reason) then I totally understand where your are coming from in your totally biased and inaccurate look at MS.

However, to say that "innovation and passion" is what drives one of history's worst monopolies is ludicrous! Microsoft has damaged the US economy to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars over its 20 year run and contributed as minimum as is feasible in terms of innovation and consumer value to one of America's most important industries (information).

While I currently love and applaud Google's business model, its fresh take on an incumbent industry and continuous innovation, I fear that in 5-10 years when it replaces Microsoft as the new Silicon Valley monopoly, things will rapidly begin to change for the worse. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Thats my two cents.

Left by Alex on Oct 02, 2005 8:43 AM

# re: The Google factor, is Microsoft's crown safe?

Thanks for the feedback Alex. An email or URL would be nice please for next time.

Like I said, "I'm not much of a Microsoft Zealot", having my Mac Mini and Linux server for BF2 kind of does that.

I can't comment on whether Microsoft damages the US economy, but being a Brit Microsoft hasn't hurt ours, we even ask Microsoft's advice

The people I deal with daily from Microsoft are passionate people with belief. Being honest and saying they haven't would be untrue. Just look at Robert Scoble, I've met the guy in the flesh and he is for real.

Now I don't believe Microsoft have all the answers, but I don't believe conflict will solve them.

Left by Dave Oliver aka Channel 9's Sabo on Oct 03, 2005 5:25 PM

# re: The Google factor, is Microsoft's crown safe?

Dave,

It's nice to hear that you own a Mac and use Linux, but unfortunately you are in the minority. Most Joe Consumers don't know any better, and only use the software that has been shoved in front of them on their shiny new computer.

"The people I deal with daily from Microsoft are passionate people with belief."
There is a very big difference between a few employees' attitudes to their work and saying that
"what really drives Microsoft forward is innovation and passion".

"I can't comment on whether Microsoft damages the US economy, but being a Brit Microsoft hasn't hurt ours".
I guess we can only imagine what terrific software and clean, efficient operating systems we could have had by now (2005) if there was even a shred of competition in the industry. In that situation, Windows, Mac, Linux, and any other OS's that would exist would contribute to an efficient, free market whereby OS's would be three times as powerfull and three times cheaper. Now, coming back to reality and our current industry predicament, what most people fail to understand is that when MS loses, consumers win, all over the world (esp. Brits).

By the way, I'm sorry that I'm not including my email for fear of being placed on spaming lists by web-bots, but I will send it to you if you want.

Left by Alex on Oct 04, 2005 11:56 AM

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