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Good post.

The comparison of Google to MS on any level is extremely difficult to make. They operate completely differently at very extreme magnitudes.

Microsoft has the edge in hardware access and file access. They are the OS and everything has to go through the OS. Google can never compete in this area.

Google must rely on generic user information, cookies, browser history, and the myriad of other information commonly transmitted through Internet use. If you look closely at Google history, you will see a trend of offering products that expand this base and create more data for their assimilation. The use of this data by Google has been very carefully communicated to the user by very thorough and intentional effort. You know the score every time you sign up for a Google service. Their services are exemplary and provide a benchmark for other providers to strive for. I personally use Google Mail, Picasa Photo Organizer and Google Calendar. I find the 4 or 5 ?relevant? text ads very useful and click on them often. They are an asset when comparison shopping and are in no way bothersome or offensive. I have been pleased many times after visiting an advertised site. Possibly some of my data may have gotten me free shipping or a deeper discount on an online purchase. I also use McAfee Site Advisor with Firefox and have the Wasp plug in to monitor Internet transmissions. (With Linux & XP).

In terms of legal issues, it must be remembered that MS can easily shut down or hinder Google operations, but Google cannot deny service to MS by it's very nature. There is a battle raging for user real estate (for data gathering purposes) that involves anything a user may enter data into. The battle field can be leveled between MS and Google as people trend to web based activities. This doesn't hurt MS, but allows Google to be an equal competitor. At present, I don't believe MS can compete with Google in this assimilation of gathered user data. That may change in the future.

Globally, many companies see the advantage of gathering and using this data. However, the method of gathering the data can cause problems and customer fury. The data, (if truly kept private) is innocuous and will not really be a factor in any of the user's activities. My definition of private is for the data to remain within the circle of the organization. The size of that circle can vary depending on what the organization decides to do with the data. If the data leaves the circle, there is a problem. >> So security becomes a paramount issue. << The data should only have value as an aggregate of an entire pool of data. My view is that having an OS involved with data gathering and online advertising is not in the best interests of the consumer. Linux does not fall into this category and there are thousands of programmers constantly reviewing the source code and quenching any possible attempt to try and do it.

An absolute proof of any Vista data gathering programming would require the source code to be made public and reviewed by thousands of worldwide programmers like Linux is. Otherwise, the level of evidence required varies with each individual user. It is to be assumed that any online advertising company requires a pool of data for the purpose of targeting their advertising. Untargeted advertising is useless. Generally speaking, the extreme size of Vista, along with all the unnecessary interference of the program to repeatedly connect online (via Activation, re-Activation, DRM, WGA and using MS programs and services) is not necessary. If I do a minimal install of Win98 SE, the final OS size is around 700MB., It's an OS that works fine and runs programs. Why have 1,000 non-working locks on a door, when one working lock will do? One must ask what is really going on, why is it necessary and shouldn't MS worry more about fixing Vista than who to sell advertising to?

Posted by: joe.smetona@...   Posted on: 08/15/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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