5 ms·

Anyone trying to meaningfully compete with Google will need to both buy and build their way into contention. MS has the money to do both but so far the build s

Anyone trying to meaningfully compete with Google will need to both buy and build their way into contention. MS has the money to do both but so far the build side of the equation has been a bit lacking. Don't get me wrong-MS has some very (technically) cool products and projects out there (WP7, win8, Xbox to name a few) , but none of them are giving them the halo that Google (or Apple) has. It will take years of marketing and [m/b]illions of dollars to move them out of the funk that they've built up for themselves over the years. American car makers faced similar marketing challenges in the late 90's-00's and are only recently turning heads again.

Tossrock 15y ago
I'm not sure it's really possible to meaningfully compete with Google, at least in the US search market. They're synonymous with search, as evidenced by the neologism "just google it". As much as Microsoft wishes it, no one actually says "just Bing it" if they aren't being paid to do so. The amount of mindshare Google has at this point seems insurmountable, no matter how many technically impressive tricks Microsoft can cook up.
- misterbwong 15y ago
  True, Google could be so intertwined with "search" that they are unbeatable. To me, that just means MS (or any other competitor) will need to elevate rather than evolve our current incarnation of search. Create a new "google it", so to speak.
- ChrisLTD 15y ago
  As long as there continues to be very little cost for switching from Google, they will always be vulnerable to a competitor who does search significantly better, mindshare or not. The good thing for Google is that no one is providing a compelling case for switching. Bing and Google look like the same product and return similar results. So why should anyone switch?
- potatolicious 15y ago
  I also ask people if they have some "Kleenex", even though I don't think I've run into an actual box of Kleenex-brand tissues for a while now. The fact that Google is a household word doesn't mean their hold on the market can't be challenged.

Tossrock 15y ago

I'm not sure it's really possible to meaningfully compete with Google, at least in the US search market. They're synonymous with search, as evidenced by the neologism "just google it". As much as Microsoft wishes it, no one actually says "just Bing it" if they aren't being paid to do so. The amount of mindshare Google has at this point seems insurmountable, no matter how many technically impressive tricks Microsoft can cook up.

misterbwong 15y ago
True, Google could be so intertwined with "search" that they are unbeatable. To me, that just means MS (or any other competitor) will need to elevate rather than evolve our current incarnation of search. Create a new "google it", so to speak.
ChrisLTD 15y ago
As long as there continues to be very little cost for switching from Google, they will always be vulnerable to a competitor who does search significantly better, mindshare or not. The good thing for Google is that no one is providing a compelling case for switching. Bing and Google look like the same product and return similar results. So why should anyone switch?
potatolicious 15y ago
I also ask people if they have some "Kleenex", even though I don't think I've run into an actual box of Kleenex-brand tissues for a while now. The fact that Google is a household word doesn't mean their hold on the market can't be challenged.