Just Googling It Is Striking Fear Into Companies

The NY Times, Technology ^ | Nov. 6, 2005 | Steve Lohr

[DogBarkTree]

I had a bathroom vent fan motor burn out a few weeks back. I made several phones calls from lots of walking thru the Yellow Pages and drove the burnt out motor around to 3 different electrical suppliers and still no luck. I ran a google on the Manufacturer's name and model number of the motor and up came a link to an electrical supplier in Indiana. I had the motor delivered 3 days later at an incredible price. Im sold.

[summer]

Re your post #38 -- I agree; I like using DogPile for a search engine, too.

[Gondring]

So, in other words: eliminating "inefficiency" is predicted to cause a lot of initial angst. Wow! I always thought eliminating "inefficiency" would result in the OPPOSITE response from people! Seems the writer is implying humans are more comfortable in the current, inefficient mess!

Inefficiency props up many peoples' income in the Western economies. Think efficiency is a good thing? Just wait for the great wail to go up from those who believe that it's a birthright of Americans to earn ten times the salary as an Indian. Increased efficiency will allow the market to level things even more and bring American salaries down to where they are comparable to others.

[Casloy]

Anything legal that helps a consumer get things at a better price is a good thing.

[Salamander]

http://www.google-watch.org/

I use it as my primary search engine but I block ALL cookies from Google.

I wouldn't use "G Mail" if they gave me terabytes of free space *and* they paid me to.

I may use Google but it doesn't use me....:)


Cavuto had a stock analyst "expert" on the other night who advised people to dump Google stock now.

Not being a stock kinda person, I have no idea why except that he said "now is the time".


*shrug*

Take that for what it's worth.




http://www.pricegrabber.com
http://www.pricewatch.com
http://www.streetprices.com
http://www.streetprice.com/

Great places to price compare.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

What I find amazing about Google is that they've achieved wonderful success using the capitalist system in this country but give their money and support to elect people who make it their life's mission to destroy the same opportunity to succeed to as many Americans as possible.

Actually, the owners of Google are just one example of that phenomenon. There are many wealthy Americans who work tirelessly to ensure that other Americans are denied the same chances they had to succeed.

Just bewildering.

[Tree of Liberty]

Also, how about this for a new idea from Google: A national free Google-net internet service. (Or, does that should too socialist?) I don't know. My first impression is that it could be good. But it would be better if there remained others to choose from, too.

Google to Offer Free Wi-Fi in San Francisco

[apackof2]

search.com or even one that's truly innovative like vivisimo.com.

Thanks for the information
I used to use other serach engines and now use Google exclusively, however after checking out these sites I think your advise is wise.

Why be exclusive when you have options?

[rbg81]

There are many ways to do comparison shopping on the Internet (and have been for some time)--Google is just one of them. The real questions is: which is best? The answer is probably: "it depends".

[coloradan]

Do terrorists using gmail accounts get offers to buy cell culture medium, fertilizer, and low-cost internet flight school courses?

[SamAdams76]

Rumor has it that Google is building a "free" national Wi-Fi network. The catch is, that you will have to submit to targeted advertising based on your surfing habits. Most people will have no issue with this. Beats having to go to Starbucks and pay T-Mobile $4 an hour (not to mention the overpriced cup of coffee).

Google is one smart company and they are very quickly capturing the bulk of the advertising market. Already, advertisers are diverting billions of their advertising dollars from newspapers and other traditional media outlets to Google where they can reach their targeted demographic audience much more effectively.

Also, speaking of Google, I would be very careful about what you post on the Internet. Everything you post on the Internet (including here at Free Republic) will be searchable by family members, prospective employers, friends, enemies, etc.

People are already losing their jobs over what they post about their company on the Internet. Soon, if not already, as soon as you apply for a job, your prospective employer will Google up your name and what you post could very well come back to haunt you. You will not even be able to hide behind screen names. Eventually, somebody will find a way to link your screen name to your real name. Scary stuff but it's inevitable.

[Gondring]

I believe that your emails are scanned in order to target advertising. If this bugs you, you will probably not want an account.

Note that they scan and permanently archive incoming e-mail, too, so don't send e-mail to a gmail account unless you want it permanently available to Google. (This archiving is even if you delete your account.) Their policies are very open ended as to what they can do with your information...they basically give away a large account as incentive for you to give them your e-mail.

Note that there are very sneaky terms that few people read. Most companies say they will release your identity and records to the FBI if subpoenaed. But what would you say if you give away the right of Google to let the FBI--or the International Criminal Court--on their own whim. We might not have an ICC now, but if in 20 years we continue on this path, your e-mail might come back to haunt you. Click here for more info on why I don't reply to gmail messages.

[THEUPMAN]

Actually, the owners of Google are just one example of that phenomenon. There are many wealthy Americans who work tirelessly to ensure that other Americans are denied the same chances they had to succeed.

Just bewildering.



but not new ...

to be a lawyer you used to have to just take and pass the bar ... then lawyers decided that was to easy for new lawyers ...then realtors, brokers , now everyone every where tries to make sure that license restictions and educational qualifications keep the door shut to their trade/profession as tight as possible.

[Bob]

Actually, the owners of Google are just one example of that phenomenon. There are many wealthy Americans who work tirelessly to ensure that other Americans are denied the same chances they had to succeed.

Just bewildering.

Why do you find it bewildering?

They've got theirs and they don't want to allow the possibility of someone else coming along and taking it away from them. This is typical of people who feel that they've achieved their success by screwing over other people. Sometimes they have but often they haven't. Many of them believe that the only way for the rich to get richer is for the poor to get poorer.

[Gondring]

A funny twist on that is "French Military Victories" (also referenced on the wikipedia page)

[js1138]

I would advise agains using your FR screeen anme anywhere else, particularly if you post stromg opinions.

[off-roader]

In telecommunications, the company has made a number of moves that have grabbed the attention of industry executives. It has been buying fiber-optic cable capacity in the United States and has invested in a company delivering high-speed Internet access over power lines. And it is participating in an experiment to provide free wireless Internet access in San Francisco.

That has led to speculation that the company wants to build a national free GoogleNet, paid for mostly by advertising. And Google executives seem to delight in dropping tantalizing, if vague, hints. "We focus on access to the information as much as the search itself because you need both," Mr. Schmidt said in an analysts' conference call last month.

It's about the applications! The duopoly of incumbent phone and cable companies with their stone age, obstructionist mindsets do not get it! Google knows that continuous development of new and better applications is the best base and business plan for adding value. It is imperative that they reach as many people as possible unfettered.

The duopoly spends 99% of their effort constraining and controlling applications to their pipes. They are doomed!

[AmericanChef]

-Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, often intimidates its competitors and suppliers.

The NYT had to get that typical leftist slam in there didn't they?-

It wasn't even necessary to mention Wal-Mart at all to get the Google point across.

If I want to spend a lot of money on something, I don't go to Wal-Mart to get it anyway! Do I want to travel 1/2 hour and use up gas and time to get a $50 item slightly cheaper elsewhere, or pay postage on a slightly cheaper item and wait 10 days for it? Why bother when Wal-Mart is right down the street?

[GAB-1955]

Well, Wal-Mart does intimidate its competitors and suppliers. That's what good companies do! They use their buying power to get the best deal... and threaten to go elsewhere if they don't get what they want. "Intimidate" is not a positive word, but it's descriptive.

[Fire_on_High]

I've had one minor issue with it not getting my own posts to Yahoogroups like all other emails have, but other than that it's been great.

(Normally I wouldn't care but it's an addy for a Pern roleplay, so it would be handy to have a record of my own posts to keep details straight.)