November 1, 2007
@ 11:26 AM
Comments [5]
Google Transforms into Microsoft of Old

In thinking about the Google OpenSocial Announcement I realized how much some of Google's recent moves remind me of Microsoft of old [for some undeclared definition of old]. We have

  • Google is now a two trick pony with two self reinforcing monopolies (Search + AdSense/Adwords) which is reminiscent of the self reinforcing nature of Microsoft's Windows + Office.

  • A scared overreaction to the growing hype of a startup that is eclipsing it in coolness. See OpenSocial reaction to Facebook

  • Several high level and very visible defections to said startup from people who were highly regarded there. Seems like just yesterday we were reading similar articles and blog posts about MSFT -> Google employee defections.

  • Said startup may be attacking Google's core monopoly in ways that were unforeseen but make sense in hindsight. See Facebook's SocialAds announcements.

  • Creation of de jure and de facto industry standards which are pitched as being great for customers but seem suspiciously like attempts at Fire & Motion. Compare WS-* to AtomPub + GData + OAuth + OpenSocial + ???.


 

Categories: Competitors/Web Companies

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Thursday, 01 November 2007 15:14:15 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Scott Burkun looks at the same idea from a different angle:
http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2007/does-google-2008-microsoft-1998/
geross
Thursday, 01 November 2007 19:59:42 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
boohoo google is whipping your ass. who cares. dare you think about work way too much.
jake roberts
Friday, 02 November 2007 04:56:52 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Facebook is the evil empire wannabe. Google has learned from Microsoft's mistakes. Nice try.
scott
Friday, 02 November 2007 13:44:43 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I don't know why everybody is puzzled that Google is exibiting this behavior.

A company is made out of people. Therefore, a company full of Microsoft expatriates will act like Microsoft would.

Well, you said it yourself. Just yesterday we were reading about "MSFT -> Google employee defections". Those people are still there, and changing Google's culture.

Simple, no?

And Facebook shouldn't hire lots of Googlers unless it wants to one day become the "Google of old".
Wanderley
Friday, 02 November 2007 21:22:17 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I'm not sure if Google is lucky to have Vic, or Microsoft is lucky he left. This developer push fueled by massive hype and empty promise is so typical of his tenure at Microsoft.

There's something about the way he structures messages when he communicates that is totally alienating to me as a developer. Maybe it's just me. I wonder if Google's untouchable charm can bolster what should be a colossal failure. My first reaction to this announcement and the following documentation were similar to Russel Beattie's. It's like Google has gathered together a band of thugs to go after the new kid on the block and haze him.
Bryn
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