Comments on: Google: Will Microsoft monopolize the Internet?

By: RD, Melbourne, FL

RD, Melbourne, FL — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:15:38 +0000

Agree, yahoo as an independent would be sad loss. But amazed at Google…who is trying to take over the world? Google has a plan of dominance themselves. They learned it from Microsoft. Own the information and you own the web. Nope, I dont think Google is the best search engine – lots of returns, very little relevance for what I search for. I think they are a fad, hopefully not a fad we all regret.

By: Cristian ,Braila,Romania

Cristian ,Braila,Romania — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 06:58:44 +0000

I think that no real monopoly can be make if microsoft take over yahoo , because it is the free will that everyone of us consider google the best search engine or not .If windows puts the home page of search engine of MSN we can change it , what i’m trying to say is that
LET MICROSOFT TAKE YAHOO AND LET SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR GOOGLE COMPETITION . new products new features new revolution !

By: Matt, Irwindale CA

Matt, Irwindale CA — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:09:26 +0000

If this merger goes through, this will keep Google on their toes as well as every other competitor, which will hopefully bring out the best talents in sustaining or surpassing the current internet technologies. So, Let the game of internet-wits begin!

By: collectselltrade.com ca.

collectselltrade.com ca. — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:30:47 +0000

This is good for Microsoft, just think the differance will be that they will put some tags in the operating systems thus holding Google on the sideline of the search (automatic Yahoo search)

By: Matt, Kirkland, WA

Matt, Kirkland, WA — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:38:00 +0000

Oh give me a break Google. You guys have increased your monopoly across the internet to an alarming degree. Microsoft combined with Yahoo is a great chance for the tables to be balanced and for Google to actually have some decent competition.

By: Emil, Ponce Inlet, Florida

Emil, Ponce Inlet, Florida — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:57:51 +0000

I’ve been waiting for this type of power move for quite some time. This could end up being one of the best things to happen to online retailers. You just don’t realize the stranglehold that google has in this arena until you have to start paying a steep price for it. In my arena, google adwords are running $3 to $4 per click. That’s right! $3 to $4 everytime someone clicks thru to my site. At that rate it won’t be long before I’ll have to start selling drugs in order to pay for the advertising! And no, I’m not in the porn industry either…

By: chase seattle wa

chase seattle wa — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:20:07 +0000

for all you google freek’s. Remember this. If Microsoft did not do what they did in the 80’s there would not be a GOOGLE today. I like google i think there the best at what they do. Why do people care so much about what Microsoft is doing. If you dont like it you put up the money or shut up.

By: Anthony, Whitewater, WI

Anthony, Whitewater, WI — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:48:31 +0000

Google is taking a defensive position in order to secure their dominance on the web. Microsoft is behind Yahoo and far behind Google in search and online advertising, together MicroHoo would pose a larger threat to Google and Google does not want that.

By: Terry, El Paso, TX

Terry, El Paso, TX — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:39:18 +0000

The management of large corporations – like Microsoft – give no thought to concepts like “free market,” “competition,” “the consumer’s right to purchase the best product,” etc. They believe that every possible action that can result in increased revenue is appropriate. They regard us, their customers, much as a rancher regards his cattle – as a revenue source. The rancher spends little time thinking about the happiness of his herd.

For exactly the same reasons, Google’s motivation has nothing to do with preserving the purity of the Internet or making the world a better place. Court action has had a long tradition in the computer and software industries, ever since IBM sued the inventors of the first computer, Eckert and Mauchly, back in the fifties. The best way to slow down a competitor is to tie his product up in patent court or in an anti-trust action as long as possible.

A few consumers out there may be true believers, but not the corporate guys. You have to remember that most of corporate management comes from some College of Business somewhere and many of them can barely figure out how to read their email. They would just as happy selling shoe polish as software.

By: Abe, NY, NY

Abe, NY, NY — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:18:55 +0000

Todd:

With the majority of comments posted here and across America’s blogs being against the hostile takeover, I am curious “who” these “movers and shakers” (your words) in Silicon Valley are? If you mean Microsoft supply chain companies, then say so, please. I am for M & A as much as the next guy (especially as an investor), but monopoly (even loosely defined) serves nobody and creates the kind of volatility in markets we are witnessing today.

By: James M. Guidry - Butte, MT

James M. Guidry - Butte, MT — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:42:36 +0000

It would seem that this debacle is over two corporate giants calling each other’s hand over who gets to be king of the sandbox on the playground.
Since when has the upstart Google had nothing but lily-white intentions over their (rumored) future plans?
While a lot of us don’t agree with Microsoft’s strategies, I too, have to laud their efforts if for no other reason than to keep yet another giant in check.
To me it would seem that this is a scenario where what is good for one player will have to be good for ANY other player.

By: Mark, San Francisco CA

Mark, San Francisco CA — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:34:54 +0000

Microsoft will go down with the ship. These people are pretending that the internet community are sheep. Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft are NOT the only search engines on the web. Lycos and Altavista still exist. I have no used anything besides google in years because it is the best search engine. If microsoft acquires Yahoo, so be it. Yahoo has the most annoying advertising and such, they are second to AOL. I’m surprised yahoo still even exists to be honest, they barely survived the dot com bubble burst and pretty much if I was them, I would’ve been out of the game and on vacation in Taihiti long ago. Take the 44 billion, the internet will survive. Sheesh where was yahoo back in 1992 when I was using gopher? I’m not even very old. I think yahoo just has a big head and it is laughable that google has any interest.

By: Peter Miller, Middleton, Nova Scotia

Peter Miller, Middleton, Nova Scotia — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:29:27 +0000

Yahoo! needs to take a jolt, their attitude has been there, done that; let’s do lunch! Microsoft’s takeover will get the thought processes up to speed for survival of the survivor’s of Yahoo! Gotta happen!!!

By: Shelon Padmore, Btooklyn, NY

Shelon Padmore, Btooklyn, NY — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:33:22 +0000

I totally disagree. Microsoft simply does NOT have the competitive advantage online to leverage in the way that it does using its OS.
Google doesn’t need to take this kind of defensive position.

- Shelon Padmore

By: JAMM, Sranton, Pa

JAMM, Sranton, Pa — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:22:48 +0000

Yahoo has so many properties that Google can’t touch. Why pull out now? Seems that there are alternatives in business.
Seeing a business that is about emerge as a full player is something to watch out for too. 411ForTravel.com is getting ready
to release a search engine of information that will impress consumers. Yahoo should partner with 411ForTravel now while they can inexpensively
or before someone else does. That seems like good business.

By: dp2 NoVa VA

dp2 NoVa VA — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:53:35 +0000

Netscape, Sun, and countless others’ requests for help/oversight have failed in the past–even though Sun (and a few other companies) won its case. Google could win the battle and lose the war taking this kind of approach.

Microsoft drew blood first, and I think Google should counter Microsoft’s action invoking the adage, “the best defense is a strong offense.”

Google should counter Microsoft’s move by making some “no more Mr Nice guy” moves of their own: 1) acquire Wind River Systems, and 2) announce merger talks with Apple and/or Sun.

Doing this would enable Google to create new synergies of its own that will counter-attack Microsoft on its own turf.

By: Patrick Benadum, Austin, Texas

Patrick Benadum, Austin, Texas — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:46:46 +0000

Competition is always good. Three years ago I used Yahoo Search Engine and the last three years I really prefer Google. This is do to Google’s devotion to giving it’s customers the best quick “answers” or “choices” of what they are most likely looking for. Without competition, there wouldn’t be this need to be the BEST and this would just bring mediocre results. America loves and expects competition. If Microsoft does merge with Yahoo and this creates an unfair monopoly on to unfairly limit the ability of consumers to freely access competitors’ e-mail, IM, and web-based services then I hope and believe that this would be bad for the entire World Wide Web. We at http://www.ABusinessStore.com would like the Congress to closely monitor the advantages that such a large “monopolized” merger has on future hardware & software sales, and most importantly what “restrictions” this imposes on its usages and “freedom”.

By: Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX

Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:37:35 +0000

IBM is still alive even though Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo are all of the rage. I just thought that companies should be in it for the long term instead of trying to being the ‘flavor-of-the-month’. Technology is forever changing and companies should not get into control issues.

By: Bill Board, Blue Balls, Pa

Bill Board, Blue Balls, Pa — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:37:28 +0000

The simple fact is Microsoft and Google are both a business. And a business needs to make money to keep from going out of business. Both will do whatever is absolutely necessary to secure their future. Both companies are positioning themselves for what is only an inevitable showdown for survival. Consumer demand for the superior product will ultimately determine the winner.

By: Brett McCluskey, San Bernardino CA

Brett McCluskey, San Bernardino CA — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:13:28 +0000

Microsoft like I tell my friends is trying to take over everything and it just isn’t right. It gives them a monopoly because they automatically stick in my face their instant messenger, before google or yahoo have a chance to even introduce their’s. Its just outright not fair. Punkbuster is needed.
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