Comments on: Microsoft looks beyond AOL

Redmond's desktop leadership, new ad business will help it compete with Google after losing out on the AOL deal, analysts say.

[SystemsJunky]

The Empire Strikes Back

Bill and Silent Ballmer will strike back. Its just a matter of time.

The question is. Will it be hard enough?

Judging by Microsofts past competitive tendencies.
I'd say, they'll strike pretty damn hard.
MS is alot of things, but you should never underestimate their
ability to come from behind when need be.

[Venkatbu]

Empre Strikes Back

I agree...the game is far from over.

[Intelrules]

re: The Empire Strikes Back

Systems junky

Behavior of MS has always been wait & see before they get into another industry or compete with another product that MS isnt in yet. Another thing to fear about MS is when they set their sites on business segment that they are not a major part of or not a part of they will persist year after year until they catch up to the market leader.

I agree with you MS will strike back mighty hard possibily.

Every Dog Has His Day

Google's on top right now, but for how long. Every company that underestimated Microsoft's marketing prowess and went up against them agressively now lies in the ash heap of history. But things have changed significantly this time around with Web 2.0, and I think we're going to see a titanic battle erupt between this two software giants in 2006. Hooray for good old American style competition or more precisely--business! ;-)

[folsco]

For How Long?

"Google's on top right now."

How true is that? In what sense is Google on top? A clearer pix will be appreciated pls.

So far as Google Desktop Search, Google Earth, Google Talk, etc still run on Windows, can we really say Google's on top right now? If u say they are on top Webwise, do they have any solid framework for building scalable, SECURE, powerful, and very stable WEB applications like...M$ (.Net) (oooh sorry for being that specific).

Well, u said it all! Though Google may be on top, we can say "... for how long".

[Domino Ireland]

A Look Beyond Standard

When I think of Google, I think of simplicity. AOL make me think of the word "childish" which has nothing to do with simplicity(could it be the LOOK of AOL?). Microsoft, on the other hand, has that "standard" feeling of being everywhere; whether you want it there or not. Seems none of these three belong in the same bed together but, I have seen some strange bedfellows that get along great out in the open. So, Microsoft should look beyond standard and even the childish look of the old internet and start looking to be more of a friend that is sought out, not a buddy that is always around. $.02

[bilols]

MS and AOL was a bad fit

AOL is a very short-sighted company (i.e. more 'tactical').

Make no mistake about it. Microsoft has proven to have a very good long term strategy. That is why I say this would not have been a very good match.

With a strong asset base, and some of the smartest people in the world, Microsoft has a much better hand of cards to work with. Understand that Google is still a young company and has not yet had to go through the growing pains that MS has endured (MS is 30 years old!).

On the flip side, Google has proven to be very agile at getting innovation out the door ahead of MS. As a result, I think Google has woken up the slumbering giant.

Either way, we consumers will win with this newly revitalized competition.

[NWLB]

Maybe, but maybe not.

I'm not sure Microsoft was slumbering. I think Google can keep a step or two ahead of MS regardless of what they do in Redmond. Google is the first company to fully understand how MS goes about its business. I suspect they can dual with MS for a very long time. MS has to defend a lot of positions which in the long-term either won't exist, or require the kind of quick change they just don't have ability to beat Google at.

[alucinor]

Schmidt knows MS

I think Google's CEO was chosen on the basis of "who knows competing against MS the best?"

Of course, Schmidt lost out to MS twice already, while he was at Sun and Novell.

[bobj123]

Not Always a FRONT-RUNNER

If history holds true we can look at countless applications that were far beyond MS, mainly because they were specialized in that area, while MS is generalized. You could say MS is the regular doctor that charges you 100$, while Google is the specialized doctor in the area your needing and will charge you 1000$, how long with it last indeed...