Microsoft says better than Google soon

Reuters ^ | 3/1/2006 | David Lawsky

[TChris]

PARIS (Reuters) - Microsoft will introduce a search engine better than Google in six months in the United States and Britain followed by Europe, its European president said on Wednesday.

"What we're saying is that in six months' time we'll be more relevant in the U.S. market place than Google," said Neil Holloway, Microsoft president for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

"The quality of our search and the relevance of our search from a solution perspective to the consumer will be more relevant," he told the Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit.

But being good is not enough to win the hearts and minds of consumers already dedicated to another standard.

U.S. courts and the European Commission found Microsoft countered that problem by trying to kill off Netscape's browser and RealNetworks audiovisual software by bundling its competing code into Windows, violating antitrust laws.

But bundling would find little purchase against Google because it lives insulated from Microsoft on the Web, unlike other applications that were easy game for the software giant as they perched directly on Windows.

Holloway said that the company has no plans to integrate its search engine into Vista, the new Microsoft Windows operating system set to replace Windows XP later this year or early next year

[TChris]

Put this in your "I'll believe it when I see it" basket.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

File the article in the "round file".

[mattdono]

This just in...

Microsoft says that Internet Explorer will have tabbed browsing like Firefox...soon.

[crickets].

Seriously. Wait...just a little bit longer. Swear.

Exhale. Yeah, that's what I thought.

Honestly, the only 2 Microsoft applications that I even care (or, more specifically, desire) to use are MS Project and MS Visio.

Most of the Linux desktop distros are so user friendly that it isn't any different than XP.

Almost every piece of software that "had" to have Windows to run is available over the web (and accessible through IE, FF, Safari, or Opera), especially with online Bill Payment (through just about any bank or CU) and tax programs all being available online.

The price of Macs are getting very competitive with a like XP-outfitted Dells, HPs, etc.

And, with gaming consoles what they are today (especially now with the "Live" features), why would you want to play games on your computer.

Which leaves an interesting thought: the only area where Microsoft is really kicking the crap out of their rivals in every aspect of performance, ease of use, etc is Gaming Consoles.

It's amazing what competition can do. If only Microsoft would compete like that in their OS. Maybe Windows wouldn't suck so much.

[antiRepublicrat]

They're probably also saying they'll be better than OS X soon. As usual, too late, likely also inferior. Remember, you can't generally count a full version release of a Microsoft OS as stable and ready for prime-time until SP2*, and that'll probably be in 2008.

*In all fairness, you couldn't count OS X as ready until the second update either (10.2), but that was three and a half years and two updates ago.

[antiRepublicrat]

Honestly, the only 2 Microsoft applications that I even care (or, more specifically, desire) to use are MS Project and MS Visio.

And Microsoft itself bought Visio a few years back. I have to admit they've made some good improvements since then.

[HAL9000]

More accurately - "Most of the Linux desktop distros are so user friendly that suck - it isn't any different than XP."

[Mr. Blonde]

I can't imagine they won't integrate a search bar into IE7.

[TChris]

I can't imagine they won't integrate a search bar into IE7.

Many people couldn't imagine why Gates would underestimate the importance of the Internet for so long too. ;-)

[mattdono]

And Microsoft itself bought Visio a few years back. I have to admit they've made some good improvements since then.

Totally agree. They have made some improvements. But, all in all, if Microsoft is working on breakthrough technologies that change the way I computer OR do business, then let's have it.

Where are they?

As noted, XBox totally rocks. What else? Oh, Vista. Gee, thanks.

It seems the only "innovations" that are coming from Microsoft are from there Labs team. But most of this stuff is reverse engineered stuff from Google Labs.

Basically, Windows Live is Google, Personalized Home Page.

Live Local is pretty much a total reverse engineer of Google Maps (right down to the AJAX).

And, Office Live is scaled version of MS SharePoint, albeit a nicely-styled version of what's available on MS Project Server with SharePoint Services (which poses the question: is it really flattery when you imitate/copy yourself?)

[JoJo Gunn]

Will I have to get authorization via a former fry cook to use it?