Missing the Main Point about Google Microsoft Face Off
December 25, 2009
I think the pundits, mavens, and poobahs have been drinking egg nog at the office party. The explanations of why Google is ahead of Microsoft range from Microsoft’s being like IBM are accurate—up to a point. You can get a run down of the received wisdom by reading “This is Why Microsoft Is So Far behind Google on the Web.” The reason is that Microsoft is focusing on something different from Google. Google is hip, with it, and buying now companies. For me, here’s the salient passage:
And that’s the problem: Microsoft is buying startups to boost its core IT infrastructure and management product lines when it could be fortifying its online arsenal, which loses something like $1 billion a year for the company.
My view is different. My research indicates that Google has had a cohesive vision of what its plumbing would enable. I think the germ of the idea was present in 1998, but by 2002, Messrs Brin and Page had figured it out. The duo had help from some wizards, but since 2002, Google has been relying on its plumbing and trial and error. When something worked, Google did more of it. By 2006, the plumbing had been upgraded and some significant features of the Google plumbing were proven to be able to perform multiple tricks. Since 2006, the Google has been using trial and error to carry the company forward by baby steps. When a service gets too hot, the Google backs off and lets the pot simmer.
Microsoft, on the other hand, has been moving into markets from the top down. Google does not do this. Over time, the differences become more pronounced and pundits generate received wisdom. The problem is that Google is building momentum, just like a tsunami. Google does not have one wave; Google has an ocean of waves.
That’s the difference. Microsoft has separate fish bowls. Google has an ocean.
Stephen Arnold, December 25, 2009
Oyez, oyez, a free post designed to publicize my Google studies. I suppose I should report this shameless marketing ploy to the Geological Survey, an outfit who pays attention to reshaping of certain land masses.
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