Microsoft and Yahoo Discussing Search Partnership 115
An anonymous reader writes "The Guardian reports that Microsoft and Yahoo are talking about a search engine partnership as they desperately try to come up with something, anything, to take on Google. 'Although there is no suggestion that Microsoft's failed bid will be resurrected, the two companies are believed to be discussing ways they can link up to combat the growing power of their chief rival, Google. Quoting sources close to the discussions, the authoritative Dow Jones All Things Digital blog said that "the talks between the pair are preliminary and wide-ranging."'"
first post (Score:3, Insightful)
first post. guess nobody cares about this one.
Last! Ummm... wait... (Score:5, Insightful)
Anyway, Google started with a search methodology that was dreamed up by two guys in their spare time. Obviously, it was a good one. Still, seems to me that Microsoft and Yahoo, with all their money and competent programmers, simply need to come up with a better one. Otherwise, what else can they bring to the table?
I doubt it will work (Score:4, Insightful)
Why MS cant compete effectively (Score:5, Insightful)
MS motive: Make money by throwing large amounts of MS branded crap (with some useful stuff) at you and hope your willing to pay to have it cleaned up so you can keep the bits you like.
Google motive: Make money by throwing large amounts of information at you with some of revenue targeted information you may be interested in.
Until MS turns it model around and starts giving people what they want first and then cashing in on that association, they won't beat the trend that Google has going, unless Google turns around and start sending you crap first.
Re:I doubt it will work (Score:5, Insightful)
Google is now synomonous with the internet.
Just a quick test: you google something, and nothing comes up. Is your first thought "I need to try another search site" or "I need to check my search terms"?
Re:Last! Ummm... wait... (Score:5, Insightful)
Even if you tie two rocks together, it doesn't mean they'll float. MS and Yahoo need to look into R&D, not merger - this move makes no sense.
Re:I doubt it will work (Score:3, Insightful)
Google toppled DEC's Altavista. The same thing can happen to them.
See also: VHS vs. DVD vs. Blu-Ray. Google was much better than AltaVista and people were quick to switch to it. Google isn't perfect, of course, but it's good enough that it'd be hard to make an engine significantly better enough to warrant switching.
To be fair, Yahoo's search engine is good. (Score:4, Insightful)
It's only very slightly worse than Google, nowadays. Microsoft's, on the other hand, is still crap on a stick, and it's not worth spending time talking about.
So, returning to Yahoo: at this point, what Yahoo needs is a better image, as the search engine itself, in its core, is fine. And to improve their image, Yahoo might want to tone down the "noise" that their site seems to throw at the users. Also, Yahoo should do a real effort to actually unify all those services inside of "My Yahoo". As it is now, "My Yahoo" is utterly useless, and the various Yahoo services seem to be kept together with spit or nothing. MOstly nothing.
For an example of the "Yahoo noise" I was talking about, just see Yahoo Messenger. I hate that shit with passion (but am forced to use it 'cause my GF likes it, and is convinced that the "connection is better than with Skype").
That said, Yahoo services are less "noisy" than Hotmail and the resto of MSN.
Politically incorrect view... (Score:3, Insightful)
While it works in 80's movies with a mediocre soundtrack for the montage scene, I'm at a loss as to how John Hughes would resolve this in the final act.
Re:I doubt it will work (Score:5, Insightful)
That really depends on what one happens to be searching for. In a lot of cases, yes, it means "I need to try another search engine".
Every now and then I try other search engines just to make sure I'm not missing anything. They always fail because they:
Sometimes all eight. And lets not forget all the internal search engines such as slashdot's. I've yet to come across even a single one that wasn't designed by people with the IQ's of gerbils.
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Any large public or private organisation paying recurring, per-seat licensing for software is being economically stupid.