Microsoft prepares for search assault

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"Sure bet" or "competitive," which is it, Mr. M$ employee?

Using Judge Jackson's numbers of 95% of all PC's running Windows and those machines are all running IE, I would say this is a sure bet for MS.

How is it a "sure bet," unless it's made the default to exclusion of other search technologies? Will it be embedded, with a lockout of other search engines? That is the consensus of many. That's a "sure bet" but REMOVES competition, no?

At present, many remove all M$ search defaults, as they're pretty worthless, often stacked with paid ads/returns. Will we lose that crucial ability, to pick our own search tools? Or are we faced with a fait accompli, a pre-selected result that we're stuck with - much like we have with our unelected, selected Commander 'n Thief?

As others have pointed out, it's good to have more competition and having it in search engines helps everyone by upping the bar for all the competition...

Given the concerns of many that M$ will pursue an exclusive, M$-only OS-embedded approach in what is still a monopoly market, how would this contribute to "competition?" Of course, as a convicted predatory monopolist in both the USA and Europe, perhaps M$ will choose discretion and allow competing engines.

As a separate issue, do we have any assurance whatsoever that this new service will in fact "help everyone by upping the bar for all the competition...?" It may be a success for M$, via a lock-in, but will users benefit as well? It will "up the bar" only if it's better, not just different!

Posted by: dicktaurus@...   Posted on: 06/28/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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