Three Reasons Microsoft Paid So 'Little' For Facebook 155
An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft's $240 million investment is much smaller than the rumored $750 million that Facebook sought. Why the difference? Wired Epicenter's Terrence Russell analyzes the deal, and points out three good reasons why Microsoft got a 'bargain'. 'Microsoft Only Needs an Entrenched Position - Ballmer's plan to acquire 100 startups in 5 years is still sketchy, but we got the point -- Microsoft wants momentum. If the company is to go forward as planned then taking a small, strategic piece of Facebook makes sense. Microsoft's financial interests in Facebook's ad platform already exist, so it only makes sense to strengthen that tie as the hype builds.'"
Re:Buy low... (Score:5, Funny)
$240,000,000 and you folks say that's a bargain? If I had $240,000,000 I sure wouldn't blow it on a website! I'd blow it on fast cars and expensive booze and hookers. Hell, I'd stick it in the bank at 5% interest and blow the $12,000,000 interest on fast cars and expensive booze and hookers every single year and leave the whole $240,000,000 to my kids. Come to think of it, if I had that kind of money I wouldn't NEED hookers!
I might even buy an iPhone, too.
-mcgrew
Re:facebook my ass (Score:5, Funny)
Microsoft (Score:5, Funny)
Microsoft corollary: Unless it's Microsoft then never ascribed to incompetence or bad management what can adequately explained by pure unrelenting evil.
The man on the street says.... (Score:5, Funny)
Man #2 - Redacted, turned out to actually be a woman
Man #3 - Wasn't this the MS business plan since way back in the early 90s? This is news?
Man #4 - (claiming to be spouse of man #2) Is there really 100 startups worth buying? I thought the venture capitalists were becoming a bit put off on the whole tech thing?
Man #5 - (throws a chair) MS will buy 100 startups if they have to secretly pay those companies to start up... MS will kill the competition in the buying startups sector!!
Man #6 - Will they support iTunes?
Man #7 - (dubiously wearing a
Man #8 - Shouts "Sorry, have to run and go start a company......"
Seriously, 100 startups? Why not 49? Why not 'as many as it takes'... what is the deal with 100? Microsoft begins with an M, why not 1000 startups?
Re:Smart Move? Maybe... (Score:5, Funny)
Balmer: $750 million dollars?? ****Agrrrrahhahahhahahah***** (throws chair)
Facebook: Ok $240 million could do nicely as well.
Re:facebook my ass (Score:3, Funny)
CompuGlobalHyperMegaNet (Score:1, Funny)
H: I reluctantly accept your proposal!
BG: Well everyone always does. Buy 'em out, boys!
H: Hey, what the hell's going on!
BG: Oh, I didn't get rich by writing a lot of checks!
Enter M$, Let The Suckiness Commence (Score:2, Funny)
Surely ... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Buy low... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Facebook has already "jumped the shark" (Score:3, Funny)
That's right, blame the users.
Re:Answer (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Smart Move? Maybe... (Score:0, Funny)
I wish Facebook and MySpace would join..... (Score:3, Funny)