Vincent Fernando

If Yahoo Adopts Microsoft's Bing for Search, What Value Will It Still Have?

Yes Yahoo is now just a media company. But what I am saying is that this is a step down from being a online tech-innovator. It is a sign of defeat. Sure it makes business sense, they will consolidate what they have left. But there are tons of media companies online. Far fewer with their own web technology competitive advantage like Google or at one time Yahoo.

Search Engine Wars: Bing Gets More 'Eye Time' than Google

I believe there is some value to the study. Again note I highlighted from the get-go that it wasn't statistically significant... but there is such a thing as anecdotal data. Especially when it comes to usability testing. That's all it is. This isn't a drug trial. If you build a new type of couch and ask 12 friends to sit in it and tell you what they think, it isn't completely worthless data. This was a usability study, done by a pretty established firm, and we didn't claim it was anything more than anecdotal. But fair enough, perhaps I took a usability study and portrayed it as an opinion poll, which was a bit wrong. But again.. i just thought the anecdotal data was interesting and posted it on my personal site (/www.researchreloaded.com).

Search Engine Wars: Bing Gets More 'Eye Time' than Google

In response to the small sample size, note I highlighted this in the second sentence of the piece. We know this data is not statistically significant, but it is interesting nonetheless, especially in regards to the eye tracking data.

Bing Could Ding Yahoo, Not Just Google

I see what you're saying, yes maybe I am fooling myself a little with Google's superiority. But I think it seems to A) load very fast (this is one of their strengths via their network of servers i believe) and B) give me more relevant links. And let's not forget that they have maintained a huge market share. All people have to do to switch providers is type yahoo into their URL bar.... I think that shows there's something to their search. But yes maybe a lot of people (like me) are fooling themselves...

Will Adobe Scream 'Anti-Competitive' in the Face of a Microsoft Attack?

The EU's decision media player was not about choice. It was about protecting Real Player and other redundant programs. It is MSFT's choice what they wish to put in their own product. It is then our choice to accept their product. Its that simple. We don't any inalienable right to have an operating system. MSFT creates one as they think makes the best business sense and then we decide if the pros and cons balance out to a buy decision. If MSFT does it wrong, then little by little people will get turned off and will try to find an alternative. If an enterprising business sees this, then they can create a competitor. Such as Apple's OS. It has gained ground. Or Google's challenge to MSFT as more and more computing moves online.

But to force MSFT to drop features actually reduces choice, from MSFT. Thats the key issue. Imagine if you owned a pizza restaurant and the government came in and forced you to drop pepperoni from the menu. Made you have customers go find their own "choice" of pepperoni somewhere else and then add it to your pizza. That would be a massive violation of your right to do business. Its the same thing with MSFT. We are not entitled to an operating system. And it is not MSFT's "duty" to provide one. MSFT chooses to do so, because it wants to make a profit. People then choose (or don't choose) to use windows, because it can help them do things in life.

Will Adobe Scream 'Anti-Competitive' in the Face of a Microsoft Attack?

The EU's decision media player was not about choice. It was about protecting Real Player and other redundant programs. It is MSFT's choice what they wish to put in their own product. It is then our choice to accept their product. Its that simple. We don't any inalienable right to have an operating system. MSFT creates one as they think makes the best business sense and then we decide if the pros and cons balance out to a buy decision. If MSFT does it wrong, then little by little people will get turned off and will try to find an alternative. If an enterprising business sees this, then they can create a competitor. Such as Apple's OS. It has gained ground. Or Google's challenge to MSFT as more and more computing moves online.

But to force MSFT to drop features actually reduces choice, from MSFT. Thats the key issue. Imagine if you owned a pizza restaurant and the government came in and forced you to drop pepperoni from the menu. Made you have customers go find their own "choice" of pepperoni somewhere else and then add it to your pizza. That would be a massive violation of your right to do business. Its the same thing with MSFT. We are not entitled to an operating system. And it is not MSFT's "duty" to provide one. MSFT chooses to do so, because it wants to make a profit. People then choose (or don't choose) to use windows, because it can help them do things in life.