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fiasco in 1994, when a college professor discovered a floating point chip errata in the Pentium. It took several days before Intel realized customers were really outraged by the company's dismissive silence and finally took action.
But the damage was done, and Intel had to work hard to repair its reputation.
More recently, Google fell into a tiff with French critics of the company's library digitization plans. The fear is that Google's plan would further stamp Anglo domination on global culture by giving short shrift to non-English writing. This is a touchy issue that comes during a delicate juncture in Franco-American relations. The company says Brin recently flew across the Atlantic to meet with French officials. The issue continues to simmer, but let's see how Google handles the pressure.
From a reporter's vantage point, I can tell you that Microsoft has forgotten more about effective PR than Google's ever learned.
To wit: Early Thursday, about a hundred or so reporters got bused in by Google for a full-day briefing. I always treat these orchestrated events with great suspicion, but you have to turn up--just in case. Unfortunately, the best I can say about this gabfest is that lunch was swell.
This was a pure PR snow job, where the assembled scribes were forced to suffer through a mind-numbing procession of content-free presentations for the better part of a day. When it comes to explaining what's really going on at Google, these guys have a lot to learn. I'm not talking about the kissy magazine cover stories PR regularly places. I'm talking about getting the goods.
Microsoft is far savvier about brainwashing the Fourth Estate. And their execs--at least the smarter ones like Steve Ballmer--will occasionally level with us about what's not working.
Chalk it up then to growing pains. One Google insider privately told me the higher-ups don't believe in sharing information they aren't required to by law (especially when it comes to a snoopy press). They're wrong about playing it so close to the vest, but I understand why. Google's on a roll now, but I guarantee that mind-set will get an update after the company's first lousy quarterly report hits the wire.
But these are mere quibbles, and people will forgive Google a lot because they love the story. There is a natural frisson surrounding the company, an upstart that has come so far, so fast. This is indeed an interesting company--arguably the best story to come out of Silicon Valley in the last decade.
How management performs will determine whether Google remains Silicon Valley's best story a decade hence.
Biography
Charles Cooper is CNET News.com's executive editor of commentary.
See more CNET content tagged:
Google Inc., Eric Schmidt, Yahoo! Inc., Microsoft Corp.
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...
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...
An online word processor, spreadhseet app, etc., and who needs MS?
Is this where they're going?
An online word processor, spreadhseet app, etc., and who needs MS?
Is this where they're going?
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
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.
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
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.
Whatever.
Whatever.
- Actually, I like Gmail...
- by takingitdownanotch May 31, 2005 8:16 PM PDT
- Actually I think Google has done a fine job with Gmail. The message tags are a fabulously simple innovation.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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