[Terry Farrell]

The problem for MS (as I see it) is that Google was there first and it works
brilliantly as a search tool. So millions of us have Google set as a home
page and use it all the time. Even if (as MS suggests) MSN search is as good
as Google, why would the Goggle-based users swap to MSN when they already
have a service that they are more than comfortable using.

Buying Yahoo is a mistake because that won't make Google users switch to MSN
and it may alienate some (anti-MS) Yahoo users and force them over to
Google.

To get users to switch, MSN needs a significant lead in search or Google
screws up. The only advantage I have found with MSN is that the MSN-Encarta
World Map is significantly better for route planning than Google Maps for
Eastern Europe and Asia: it isn't significant an advantage to stop me using
Google as my home page though.

Terry Farrell

"LurfysMa" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 3 May 2007 19:27:01 -0700, Chris Hayes
wrote:

Oh, this is a very good point! Bravo!

Microsoft has just gotten to the place where they "feel" and "can" do what
they want without regard to the user (especially the current users.)

I've been a strong MS user for years. I remember installing Office 95
with
3 3/4" floppys. I was barking at others to look at Word and not Word
Perfect.

The problem is no one is coming up with a viable competetive product.

Hardly. Google office (docs & spreadsheets) is a very real threat to
M$FT. Nothing to install. Ever. No migration. No upgrades. No
licensing. Free.

Documents can be accessed from any PC anywhere in the world. Nothing
to take with you. Easily shared documents.

There are problems, of course. They have your data and there are those
ads. Millions and millions of ads.

The
solid base Microsoft has built with it's tools and methods gives them
clout
to do what they want.

Microsoft kicking itself in the rear with a way off base new product
(which
has plenty of new and fun tools) does not meet the current user base.
This
is the competitions opportunity to come up with a viable new option
(highly
unlikely though.)

Based on what?

IBM looked totally invincible for 50-60 years. Even faced multiple
anti-trust & monopoly actions. Then a college dropout stole an OS and
knocked them of their pedestal.

Now, less than 20 years later, Google is such a threat that M$FT is
trying to buy Yahoo to stay competitive.

Software is not like any busioness ever. The barriers to entry are
close to zero and the cost of distribution is getting close to zero,
too.

Stay tuned.

--
Running Word 2000 SP-3 on Windows 2000