Yahoo Bid shows Microsoft on the Ropes

Ponca City, We Love You writes "One day after the announcement of Microsoft's plan to buy Yahoo, there is an interesting piece from the NY Times analyzing the reasons behind Microsoft's bid and proposing that the bid is a tacit, and difficult, admission that Microsoft did not get its online business right and that online losses continue to mount while Google makes billions in profit. Microsoft "finds itself in a battle where improving its search algorithms and online ad software is not going to be enough," writes the Times. With the Yahoo bid Microsoft is trying to buy a big enough share of the market to be a credible alternative to Google with online advertisers. "This shows just how worried Microsoft is by Google," says David B. Yoffie. "Microsoft has faced competitive threats before, but none with the size, strength, profitability and momentum of Google.""

wait

[ionix5891]

so who do we hate this week here on /.

microsoft or google?

Re:wait

[Obsi]

We have always hated Microsoft here at /..
Next week, though, we'll have always hated Google.

Re:Eh?

[Wowsers]

Let's google for the answer.

MS should merge with ...

[iknownuttin]

Exxon Mobile. They're a bit more profitable than Google (ROE: 33.33% (XOM) vs. 22.74% (GOOG))and the synergy towards a truly evil empire would be achieved faster.

I think, I need to send my resume over to MS for the position of V.P. of Evil Strategy because they're just not cutting it anymore. I mean, really, Google is still around!? Geeze!

Regardless, they both scare the hell out of me.

[emil]

With rumors of NSA backdoors into MS operating systems, and Google maintaining search history until the end of time, both of these companies practically have the power on their own to become George Orwell's big brother. If we had any sense as citizens and consumers, there would be a huge rush for the exits (yet here I sit on Windows searching with Google).

I don't like this power over society. Whichever one takes more effective means in demonstrating that their power is benign will have my support. Neither has taken effective measures to prove their goodwill towards consumers as of yet.

Oh, and you can throw in AT&T in that mix, too.

Re:More than near-hostile...

[Dystopian Rebel]

for the love of fucking god, DONT FUCK WITH YAHOO!!

Unfortunately, at the end of the letter under his signature, Ballmer wrote in ballpoint pen, "Microsoft reserves the right to fuck with Yahoo."

Re:Don't be surprised if the deal falls through ..

[Deadfyre_Deadsoul]

Yahoo! could also do a "poison pill" - buy Redhat. There's no way that Microsoft would be allowed to buy Yahoo! under such circumstances.

I wouldnt see that as a poison pill, more like red pill or blue pill.

Re:Eh?

[cellocgw]

sure they can. they can do it if they finance it, IE take loans, IE get into debt.
So you expect Microsoft's web browser to take out the loan? :-)

Ask the grammar police: it's "i.e.," not "IE."

Re:Regardless, they both scare the hell out of me.

[fat_mike]

I love you guys. You're the reason I have shitloads of stock in Alcoa Inc.!

Re:Eh?

[tsa]

My father didn't want OO on his new laptop, 'because it is different from MS Office.' So I bought him Office 2007. Mwuhahahaahha!!!