I suppose based on their stock price today most of the world would disagree, but I don't usually call financial firms for computer advice.
megan
· 2 years ago
I love Picassa too but I don't use the "web" portion of it. Anyway, I tend to disagree with you about Google becoming more like MS. MS has their heads so far up their asses that they have lost complete touch with what people want/need. I think Google knows what people want/need but haven't quite figured out how to integrate it fully. I think they are still very new and have a lot of maturity ahead. I am happy to know they are giving MS a run for their money.
Jerzy
· 2 years ago
I agree with Rick, and actually have been thinking that myself for a while. At my job in IT, I have opportunities to work professionally with both Google and Microsoft – we buy their products, but I also use many of their tools for personal purposes.
While initially working with Google felt like a being a part of great new adventure and people acted like under a spell - they could do no wrong; however, more recently in dealing with product bugs and release delays Google feels more like good old MSFT. I am not sure this can be attributed simply the fact that “they do not get it”. I think it’s a result of combination of a Complex system with human nature; since I am sure there are people there who do get it.
I think that like with any fast pace growth, over time there is risk of becoming complacent, bureaucratic, and full of fragile legacy code, etc. – very easy to accumulate when simply running without alignment to a strong vision. It’s difficult to see who is providing that vision at Google nowadays… That becomes a lot harder when dealing with many new employees; they added thousands in recent months, and over the last couple of years many of these new employees came from high up or creative positions at Microsoft. It’s bound to have some impact on their direction and ethics.
Sometimes, Google is reaching out; like in recent case of enabling their GMail for IMAP interfaces. So, when it servers them, they know how to add some strategic and architectural thinking to the process, however I agree with Rick, it’s usually an afterthought and driven mostly by some business arterial motives rather than simply serving the community well. I am not sure what is happening to their motto “do not be evil”.
For the purpose of full disclosure, I do own some Google and Microsoft stocks, but I do not care much about the financial gains, I would prefer to be proud of either or both of them.
megan
· 2 years ago
As a system administrator I have dealt with MS's product delays, bug fixes (or lack of) and poor support. Although I don't use Google on a professional level, I do use many of Google's tools daily and as an end user have had nothing but positive experiences. All I can say is that Google has a long way to go before it is as smug and manipulative as MS.
Jerzy
· 2 years ago
Absolutely, looooong way to go ! However, the question could be: did they start in that direction ?
BryceZ
· 9 months ago
Even in today's volatile market, ad likeability should have a positive effect on stock prices of companies advertising during the Super Bowl broadcast. The first step for you to understand the stock market is to understand stocks. A share of stock is the smallest unit of ownership in a company. If you own a share of a company’s stock, you are a part owner of the company. Most people wouldn't think to get a payday loan to buy stocks with – but you may want to think about it, or at least buying some stock next Monday. Monday itself won't be important, because the day before is Super Bowl Sunday, and most people will be watching the Super Bowl ads. Typically, if a Super bowl ad is well received, the price on the stock market for shares in that company goes up, faster than you can get a payday loan.. Good news for Wall Street, because the market has dropping so much that those boys might need a payday loan for their next gold-plated back scratcher.
All Comments
While initially working with Google felt like a being a part of great new adventure and people acted like under a spell - they could do no wrong; however, more recently in dealing with product bugs and release delays Google feels more like good old MSFT. I am not sure this can be attributed simply the fact that “they do not get it”. I think it’s a result of combination of a Complex system with human nature; since I am sure there are people there who do get it.
I think that like with any fast pace growth, over time there is risk of becoming complacent, bureaucratic, and full of fragile legacy code, etc. – very easy to accumulate when simply running without alignment to a strong vision. It’s difficult to see who is providing that vision at Google nowadays… That becomes a lot harder when dealing with many new employees; they added thousands in recent months, and over the last couple of years many of these new employees came from high up or creative positions at Microsoft. It’s bound to have some impact on their direction and ethics.
Sometimes, Google is reaching out; like in recent case of enabling their GMail for IMAP interfaces. So, when it servers them, they know how to add some strategic and architectural thinking to the process, however I agree with Rick, it’s usually an afterthought and driven mostly by some business arterial motives rather than simply serving the community well.
I am not sure what is happening to their motto “do not be evil”.
Check out this recent monologue for additional interesting details: http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2007/pulpit_...
For the purpose of full disclosure, I do own some Google and Microsoft stocks, but I do not care much about the financial gains, I would prefer to be proud of either or both of them.
However, the question could be: did they start in that direction ?