>Google today, makes the Microsoft of yesterday look like a used child's toy. I agree with you completely with regards to privacy and all the information that

>Google today, makes the Microsoft of yesterday look like a used child's toy. I agree with you completely with regards to privacy and all the information that Google has about users. However, the difference is that Microsoft of yesterday had a stranglehold on users' choice. It was really hard to be productive by NOT using windows operating system and the whole ecosystem that came with it. Today you don't want Google search? Use Bing or ddg. Gmail? There are countless other free webmail providers. Google+? You have Facebook, Twitter and so on. Youtube? DailyMotion, Metacafe, etc. Android phones? You have iOS, WP8 devices. While Google really is very powerful, one still has good alternatives.