Comments on: Growing pains at Google?

The search king has wowed surfers with its story, observes CNET News.com's Charles Cooper. But can it stay on track?

[takingitdownanotch]

Why is it..........

Why is it that everything Google does makes the front page? Yahoo and Microsoft are treated like they are taking a back seat to Google in the innovation department. Yahoo already has a configurable Homepage which allows you to use RSS feeds including a configurable news page. Microsoft also has a configurable homepage that has the "oh so flashy" drag and drop functionality. Yahoo has a IM utility second to none that includes VOIP and a Toolbar which includes a popup blocker and spyware utility. They are all about even in the desktop search arena and I don't know if you've checked lately, but I believe Yahoo search results are every bit as good as Googles. If you ask me, Google is barely keeping pace. What took so long to update their toolbar? I think they have generated a wonderful business and clearly, with all the competition, the consumers are the real winners here, but my word, if I see another biased article from yet another trend following internet rag, I'm gonna puke.

[katamari]

Easy to explain.

Google == Yahoo v2.0

Go look at Yahoo's stock prices during the first 3-4 years of their IPO existance. You'll see identical behaviours to that of Google. Outrageous stock prices for absolutely **no reason what-so-ever**.

The reality of the situation is, people still have dollar signs in their eyes, despite the "dot-com bubble" having burst. I expect in then next 15 years we'll see similar behaviour -- Google's a fantastic stepping stone for history to repeat itself...

[takingitdownanotch]

Why is it..........

Why is it that everything Google does makes the front page? Yahoo and Microsoft are treated like they are taking a back seat to Google in the innovation department. Yahoo already has a configurable Homepage which allows you to use RSS feeds including a configurable news page. Microsoft also has a configurable homepage that has the "oh so flashy" drag and drop functionality. Yahoo has a IM utility second to none that includes VOIP and a Toolbar which includes a popup blocker and spyware utility. They are all about even in the desktop search arena and I don't know if you've checked lately, but I believe Yahoo search results are every bit as good as Googles. If you ask me, Google is barely keeping pace. What took so long to update their toolbar? I think they have generated a wonderful business and clearly, with all the competition, the consumers are the real winners here, but my word, if I see another biased article from yet another trend following internet rag, I'm gonna puke.

[katamari]

Easy to explain.

Google == Yahoo v2.0

Go look at Yahoo's stock prices during the first 3-4 years of their IPO existance. You'll see identical behaviours to that of Google. Outrageous stock prices for absolutely **no reason what-so-ever**.

The reality of the situation is, people still have dollar signs in their eyes, despite the "dot-com bubble" having burst. I expect in then next 15 years we'll see similar behaviour -- Google's a fantastic stepping stone for history to repeat itself...

[charlie cooper]

yahoo v MS v google

First of all, I do hope you don't puke. that would mess up an otherwise wonderful friday .:) More seriously, I do think we give MS & Yahoo their due. But Google's the more interesting story for now -- especially considering how far and how fast they've come. Don't make the mistake and simply dismiss what they're doing as catch-up. See it within the context of an increasingly powerful tech arsenal they're putting together.

[Dave_Newton]

coverage and hype

I agree Google is the more interesting story, but I'm not sure why. Nauseous Man has a point or three. It's a who's-hot/not question. Buzz is a human-being product, thus not subject to engineering. I remember when Yahoo! was the IT! company. And I don't mean I.T. These are all amazing companies, and the past twenty years has been stupifyingly fun to watch. But...if Google's so bad at PR, why are they winning the PR battle in spite of their gaffes? Maybe it's their cluelessness itself that gives them this unsophisticated air, which is, well, charming. Only when they bus in the stuff and break out the PowerPoints do they totally strike out. Charming.

sure, but Google is still miles behind its competitors

Talk to folks at Delphes, Cristal Semantics, Clusty, MSN, Yahoo, and so many other firms. Google is probably the least relevant search engine on the market today. Yet, as Bill Gates points out with a tint of sarcasm, Google is the place to be. And the aura is so great that people just worship on and on.

[ordaj]

Are applications next at Google and...

...should Microsoft be scared? I mean, how hard (and useful) would it be to have hosted apps and files at Google? They don't need to have whiz-bang functionality (90% of the people use 10% of the functionality of most apps or something like that).

An online word processor, spreadhseet app, etc., and who needs MS?

Is this where they're going?

[charlie cooper]

yahoo v MS v google

First of all, I do hope you don't puke. that would mess up an otherwise wonderful friday .:) More seriously, I do think we give MS & Yahoo their due. But Google's the more interesting story for now -- especially considering how far and how fast they've come. Don't make the mistake and simply dismiss what they're doing as catch-up. See it within the context of an increasingly powerful tech arsenal they're putting together.

[Dave_Newton]

coverage and hype

I agree Google is the more interesting story, but I'm not sure why. Nauseous Man has a point or three. It's a who's-hot/not question. Buzz is a human-being product, thus not subject to engineering. I remember when Yahoo! was the IT! company. And I don't mean I.T. These are all amazing companies, and the past twenty years has been stupifyingly fun to watch. But...if Google's so bad at PR, why are they winning the PR battle in spite of their gaffes? Maybe it's their cluelessness itself that gives them this unsophisticated air, which is, well, charming. Only when they bus in the stuff and break out the PowerPoints do they totally strike out. Charming.

sure, but Google is still miles behind its competitors

Talk to folks at Delphes, Cristal Semantics, Clusty, MSN, Yahoo, and so many other firms. Google is probably the least relevant search engine on the market today. Yet, as Bill Gates points out with a tint of sarcasm, Google is the place to be. And the aura is so great that people just worship on and on.

[ordaj]

Are applications next at Google and...

...should Microsoft be scared? I mean, how hard (and useful) would it be to have hosted apps and files at Google? They don't need to have whiz-bang functionality (90% of the people use 10% of the functionality of most apps or something like that).

An online word processor, spreadhseet app, etc., and who needs MS?

Is this where they're going?

[Remo_Williams]

So many disagreement with the article.

1) Google playing it close to the vest is not a mistake. It's a choice, and not a bad one for them, just for reporters trying to dig up leads. Too bad for them, really. Get back to working instead of being spoon-fed your stories.

2) Google didn't misplay the GMail controversy, either. In case you missed it, GMail is free. If you don't like the terms, walking is easy. Complaining about it is beyond stupid, it's insulting.

Contrast this with Ticketmaster: if you buy tickets from Ticketmaster via web, you are FORCED to accept spam from them or their partners. It says so right before you click. So, you either call into Ticketmaster by phone, or click through. Which deserves more opprobrium?

3) Kowtowing to the French -- on any point, at any level -- is a mistake. Their methods to preserve their language at all costs makes for head-shaking entertainment at least, but prove serious impediments to business at worst. I don't see the French market for anything being worth the trouble of meeting them even halfway.

France should incubate their own Internet portals if they care so much. That is, if they can find the time to tear themselves away from indolent whining.

-Remo

[Mario Nogueira]

Not so simple...

"3) Kowtowing to the French -- on any point, at any level -- is a mistake. Their methods to preserve their language at all costs makes for head-shaking entertainment at least, but prove serious impediments to business at worst. I don't see the French market for anything being worth the trouble of meeting them even halfway.

France should incubate their own Internet portals if they care so much. That is, if they can find the time to tear themselves away from indolent whining."

Not everything in the world comes down to business. Preserving their language and their culture is a worthy goal.

It's the kind of worry that made them the ones who brought up the concept of democracy after Middle Age all the way back from ancient Greece, during the French Revolution, upon which ideals the whole idea of declaring independence from England was based, not to mention the principles of our Constitution.

So, you see, there are other means by which you can have a positive impact on people's lives other than business.

As for Google, an american public company, the fact that they care about France means that their market is not as irrelevant as you stated either, no matter how "don't be evil" Google gets. And they are Google, succesfull corporation, and you are... who?

Finally, France didn't complain about not having French equivalents to Google. They just don't think it's fair that american companies, with global reach throughj the web, jeopardize or insulate other countries cultures.

[Remo_Williams]

So many disagreement with the article.

1) Google playing it close to the vest is not a mistake. It's a choice, and not a bad one for them, just for reporters trying to dig up leads. Too bad for them, really. Get back to working instead of being spoon-fed your stories.

2) Google didn't misplay the GMail controversy, either. In case you missed it, GMail is free. If you don't like the terms, walking is easy. Complaining about it is beyond stupid, it's insulting.

Contrast this with Ticketmaster: if you buy tickets from Ticketmaster via web, you are FORCED to accept spam from them or their partners. It says so right before you click. So, you either call into Ticketmaster by phone, or click through. Which deserves more opprobrium?

3) Kowtowing to the French -- on any point, at any level -- is a mistake. Their methods to preserve their language at all costs makes for head-shaking entertainment at least, but prove serious impediments to business at worst. I don't see the French market for anything being worth the trouble of meeting them even halfway.

France should incubate their own Internet portals if they care so much. That is, if they can find the time to tear themselves away from indolent whining.

-Remo

[Mario Nogueira]

Not so simple...

"3) Kowtowing to the French -- on any point, at any level -- is a mistake. Their methods to preserve their language at all costs makes for head-shaking entertainment at least, but prove serious impediments to business at worst. I don't see the French market for anything being worth the trouble of meeting them even halfway.

France should incubate their own Internet portals if they care so much. That is, if they can find the time to tear themselves away from indolent whining."

Not everything in the world comes down to business. Preserving their language and their culture is a worthy goal.

It's the kind of worry that made them the ones who brought up the concept of democracy after Middle Age all the way back from ancient Greece, during the French Revolution, upon which ideals the whole idea of declaring independence from England was based, not to mention the principles of our Constitution.

So, you see, there are other means by which you can have a positive impact on people's lives other than business.

As for Google, an american public company, the fact that they care about France means that their market is not as irrelevant as you stated either, no matter how "don't be evil" Google gets. And they are Google, succesfull corporation, and you are... who?

Finally, France didn't complain about not having French equivalents to Google. They just don't think it's fair that american companies, with global reach throughj the web, jeopardize or insulate other countries cultures.

Isn't this the same guy who criticized GMAIL?

Yup, I'm sure it is.

Isn't this the same guy who criticized GMAIL?

Yup, I'm sure it is.

[202567676114204908075970046337]

this article = empty of facts

The author trumps up non-events re: Gmail and French libraries, and concludes "Google has growing pains" -- please. At the end of the day, companies are judged by the product released (e.g. Google Maps) and what utility does a company have to talk about their product before it's ready...

Whatever.

[202567676114204908075970046337]

this article = empty of facts

The author trumps up non-events re: Gmail and French libraries, and concludes "Google has growing pains" -- please. At the end of the day, companies are judged by the product released (e.g. Google Maps) and what utility does a company have to talk about their product before it's ready...

Whatever.

[elyk53]

Gmail Doesn't Spy

Gmail's email scanning is nothing new. Almost every ISP or email provider, including yahoo, scans your email as part of spam filtering. The only difference is how it's used. It makes no difference as far as privacy is concerned whether the scanning is used to block spam or display contextual advertisements. It's still scanning, and in both cases no information is stored. I don't get why people are making such a big deal out of this. I (and many other people) prefer relevant text ads to huge, irrelavent banners like yahoo and msn.

[elyk53]

Gmail Doesn't Spy

Gmail's email scanning is nothing new. Almost every ISP or email provider, including yahoo, scans your email as part of spam filtering. The only difference is how it's used. It makes no difference as far as privacy is concerned whether the scanning is used to block spam or display contextual advertisements. It's still scanning, and in both cases no information is stored. I don't get why people are making such a big deal out of this. I (and many other people) prefer relevant text ads to huge, irrelavent banners like yahoo and msn.

[takingitdownanotch]

Actually, I like Gmail...

Actually I think Google has done a fine job with Gmail. The message tags are a fabulously simple innovation.

[takingitdownanotch]

Actually, I like Gmail...

Actually I think Google has done a fine job with Gmail. The message tags are a fabulously simple innovation.