Comments on: Google Disrupts Microsoft Cash Cows

By: Yuhong Bao

Yuhong Bao — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:32 +0000

Here is a comparison of Google and Microsoft:
http://www.askwoody.com/2009/comparing-microsofts-ruthless-execs-googles-cold-engineers/

By: Yuhong Bao

Yuhong Bao — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:01:22 +0000

“Let’s try to keep our windows into the Internet free of anything that can turn into a sort of Big Brother Big Sister Big Family event. No Big Microsoft. No Big Google. No Big anyone.”
Fortunately, Chrome OS is unlikely to gain a monopoly, nor will Android. There is plenty of competition for both.

By: Roy Schestowitz

Roy Schestowitz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:32:24 +0000

Yes, but it could become important one day.

By: Jose_X

Jose_X — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:05:36 +0000

The sw patents aside was off-topic.

By: Roy Schestowitz

Roy Schestowitz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:55:13 +0000

Software patents are another issue; Google is not really opposed to them. Any patent of this sort is also a social catastrophe because it restricts thought.

By: Jose_X

Jose_X — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:38:32 +0000

Eg, imagine being tied in (ie, proprietary lock-in developed over time) to a proprietary Google browser that would not allow you to block cookies (or would keep the tracking info somehow even if “cookies” were disabled). And everything you downloaded and every part of every page you put on screen would be watched, recorded, and analyzed. [Yes, your eyeballs could be tracked with the eyeball tracking software using the images of that camera sitting right in front of you (and which perhaps you thought was turned off).] This all could lead to serious manipulation of what you observe in life, learn, etc, and it would be guided by what someone else thought was best for you based on what they had observed you doing or simply wanted. Your life would be a lie and could get locked in without the benefit of independent observation in order to regain your bearings. Of course, this is if Google extended those monopolies far and wide, but they already play a major role in advertizing, programming, looking things up, etc.

Let’s try to keep our windows into the Internet free of anything that can turn into a sort of Big Brother Big Sister Big Family event. No Big Microsoft. No Big Google. No Big anyone.

Promote the AGPL and maybe even possibly better new future licenses.

As an aside, it’s great to see there is hope in Bilski and that software patent supporters now appear to want a very limited ruling, but I’m still noticeably apprehensive.

..If software creators (FOSS) find they can’t share their software and engage in business without burdensome limits and not according to our copyright terms, I think we should spread the message and tutorials that will help us become world class trolls. This would be the consolation prize. Might as well become billionaires. Put all our ideas on paper as quickly as possible without worrying about implementing anything. Write very general patents before anyone else does. Bring the industry to a standstill to wake them up. We can use royalties collected to let legislators know how “silly” software patents are. We might as well leverage the system to help set things right so that one day we could all go back to coding freely.

Though the idea of becoming a billionaire is kind of interesting. What is the point of having money but not being able to do many things you find enjoyable or not being able to produce many of the solutions you think could be put to X or Y use? Besides software, lots of other intellectual pursuits would require you wearing a strong straight-jacket.

Barf. Slash wrists. Sabotage my own parachute.

By: Jose_X

Jose_X — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:16:48 +0000

I largely agree. The analogy to Microsoft was if Google OS (TM) with proprietary components developed something of a monopoly.

By: Roy Schestowitz

Roy Schestowitz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:03:35 +0000

Few people are actually forced to use Google, with the exception of ads (can be blocked) and maybe documents that are sent via Apps/Docs; those too can be exported as ODF.

By: Yuhong Bao

Yuhong Bao — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:42:25 +0000

“Google is useful in the sense that it weakens a company that’s attacking GNU/Linux.”
Not to mention that Google itself is much better than MS as a company too. Sure, they are not perfect, but no company is.

By: Jose_X

Jose_X — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:56:59 +0000

Microsoft, not Google, has first and best crack at what users do online as well as offline.

However, maybe their years of playing the monopolist has left them a bit rusty on the edges.

Meanwhile, Google could only dream of having that power.

Oh, wait! Google is putting that dream into reality with their Google/Linux OS with proprietary pieces being spread to everyone through numerous nonPC devices.

Microsoft 2, a little gentler, but possibly more competent, shrewd, and ambitious.

Gee, I can’t wait.

By: Needs Sunlight

Needs Sunlight — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:26:20 +0000

*Everything* takes business away from Microsoft, the way Bill would have you hear it.

Google’s growth is the world’s gain, at least until the evil bit gets flipped.