Rob Chartier ~ Contemplation...

God forbid google decide to add more features. This is truly a dark, terrible day for mankind.

Your google posts on here continue to amuse me...keep it up! God I hope ur being serious, because it wouldn't be nearly as funny if you were just joking around.

Rob,

I think you are being completely unfair to both google and its visitors (users). May be they are offering things what yahoo is currently or was 5 years ago offering however you probably do know that, these people just don't sit there and say 'hmm.. lets make a horoscopes service'. I believe, If they have done it, then most probably there was a demand for it. Leave that alone, let this be their only downside but why not try and realize what they changed over the past few years?

I don't feel the need to state google's phylosophy here but there is a fact that these guys have changed the way most things happen on web when it comes to searching, advertising and now with their mail. And I believe you know about their other services (which Microsoft tends to copy - very unusal!!). Do you deny this? or have you turned a blind eye to the advertising system they introduced and changed every single aspect of traditional internet advertising (which then, yahoo copied - now this is unusual)

If you are making a criticism on this subject, why aren't you including MSN Search to your comments? are they better? or are they different? or else, what is it? You should answer this question.

You are offering your own thoughts, so we must respect. But if the world at large have heard the name Google - a great company with great leaders with a great vision, its because millions and millions of people have actually fell in love with what they are offering. Once pioneers, now trying to catch up.

I wander what will you say when Windows Vista is launched? its probably going to be on the lines of: "So now that Microsoft is almost caught up to what Apple was doing 5 years ago lets see what NEW stuff they can bring to the market..."

Think different! Because people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who'll do it (Apple's Think different - manifest - 1998)

regards,

Kemal EMIN

So what exactly innovative do you have going on here?

The two advantages I see to Google's (re)implementation of these services are improved user interfaces and open user data.

Yahoo's interfaces are okay, but as a frequent user of both systems, I prefer Google's. It's easier to work with, and it stays out of the way. GMail devotes 90% of the screen space to the e-mail; with Yahoo it feels like half the screen is taken up with ads or other stuff that doesn't apply to the task at hand.

Another big difference is user data. Google makes their data easy to import, export, and interoperate with. Their mail offers POP and SMTP, their Calendar offers iCal and even iCal RSS feeds. Yahoo's services are a lot more closed off. In some cases you have to pay for access; in others (Yahoo Notepad, for example) you just can't export your data.

Kermal,

I believe, If they have done it, then most probably there was a demand for it.

There is no demand for an online Calendar application; its been done many years ago by many different organizations. Will anyone actually use this? Probably, just because they seem to think its the cool thing to do (just like their stupid Google Talk garbage). Oh, its go the fancy call backs to the server. That simply doesnt amaze me. It makes sense for things like maps and such, but for a Calendar? Does it really show off the power of that (old) technology? IMHO, no.

I give credit to Google their searching abilities, even though they are well known to not be a search company they did a damn good job with this; of course for a very specific reason, which I will get into.

They did a good job with their advertising, and how they really changed the view of the market in this space. Then again how many thousands of companies have realized that there is very little money to be made in the advertising space and only to have Google come in and shake things up? Good job for them. This is their primary revenue stream, and they are being very smart about it. Now, you consider todays trading price for an online advertising company which is sitting at $402.08 and you soon realize that this stock is heavily overvalued, and (hopefully) will soon pop. Google is in a race right now to add more Portal garbage around their AdSense program. Try to pack in as much stuff around their ads as they can, and sort of make it useful. How else can they make any money at all?


Everyone knows that MSN Search just sucks. Microsoft has really put allot of effort into this product over the last few years and has always fallen short. It is no surprise that I do have Google as my default search engine, and can imagine most can say the same thing. I can honestly say I dont use the MSN client, the MSN site nor it search engine, and I have never had a HotMail.com address. I have never liked any of those product offerings. Although, I am on the MSN network via Gaim (http://gaim.sourceforge.net).

I will, and have done in the past, scrutinized Windows Vista, along with any other products that I use in my day to day life, regardless of the corporation (or lack of) behind that product. And on that same note, I also give credit where credit is due. Dont take things like my MVP status as something that will force me to be biased for or against any specific company.

If, at any time, Microsoft or any other organization decides that they feel the need to try to force me to change my opinion because of my status with them (MVP or whatever) that is the day I will officially resign from that status or group.

My last comment regarding Google and their new calendar... Have you seen http://30boxes.com/ ? Does it look familiar? Its almost as if Google ripped that off, and cleaned up the interface a bit, and sold it as their own. Doesnt that remind you of what MSFT is well known for? Could Google be turning into an evil corporation?!

It seems you will not take any money from Google for Ads By Google on left hand side of this page.

It seems also that if Microsoft copies from Lotus, Mac OS etc its Ok but when anybody else does it, it pops them.

Anyway we expect Google bashing from MSFT, just do the survey of the blogs (blogs.msdn.com / weblogs.asp.net) how many entries are made bashing Google for one thing or another, or how some of bloggers found more accurate results using www.live.com.

DONT use blogs to pour your frustration on competitor, People out there just love Google.

thanks & regards

Khuzema, Kuwait

Mr. Kuwait,

The Ads on the left of my blog are more of an experiment than anything. I simply don’t understand why people put ads on their blog and wonder if anyone actually clicks any of the links. So far I have had 0 clicks, as I expected.

You are seriously mistaken about it being OK when MSFT copies/rips off a competitor. They have a long history of doing just that and also a long history of some seriously bad publicity because of their ethics. Anyone who denies that simply hasn’t been paying attention.

You should expect ALL communities to do Google bashing as well as MSFT bashing. I don’t see how this community is at all slanted towards MSFT. Keep in mind most, if not all, people on http://weblogs.asp.net/ are NOT MSFT employees. And I can say many of us are more critical of what MSFT does than the rest of the tech community. It’s easy for a Linux person to say that MSFT screwed up and just walk away; they don’t have to spend the next few years knee deep in the garbage like we have to be.

I will use my blog to pour any sort of my frustration on any company. Google is NOT a competitor for my current organization. I do not work for any sort of advertising company. And if you believe I work for Microsoft you should consider doing some research into me before assuming so.

Rob,

You've always been anti-Google, and I think one day it will catch upto you. I think you have set your bar to just MS and Yahoo standards when it comes to things, sadly your overall picture (or view of other things) not Yahoo or MS is wrong.

That's just my 2 cents, and you know it! :)

Cheers!