Google differs from Microsoft in at least one very important way. The ends that Microsoft has pursued are commercial ends. It's been in it for the money. Google

Google differs from Microsoft in at least one very important way. The ends that Microsoft has pursued are commercial ends. It's been in it for the money. Google, by contrast, has a strong messianic bent. The Omnigoogle is not just out to make oodles of money; it's on a crusade - to liberate information for the masses - and is convinced of its righteousness in pursuing its cause. What? How can he conclude that after spending several pages examining how liberating information is commercially beneficial to google? I'm sure I can look at early Microsoft in the same light, if I so choose. No, the difference isn't the perceived righteousness of their crusade, but their keen ability to stay righteous. They haven't fucked up in any big way yet. How long did it take Microsoft to start fucking up?