Who Will Join Microsoft in the Portal Wars? 132
madman writes "In the light of the recent changes in the search war, like the Google/Dell partnership and eBay/Yahoo! alliance, Microsoft is facing a complicated question: Who are they going to ally with? Will they try to face the competition alone?"
"Who are they going to ally with?" (Score:5, Funny)
The dark side, obviously.
Re:"Who are they going to ally with?" (Score:3, Funny)
They will all be assimilated... (Score:1, Funny)
One of 2 choices (Score:4, Funny)
Re:One of 2 choices (Score:1)
Re:One of 2 choices (Score:1)
Re:One of 2 choices (Score:1)
Microsoft should use the X-Box model (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Microsoft should use the X-Box model (Score:2)
Re:Microsoft should use the X-Box model (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Microsoft should use the X-Box model (Score:2)
I'm sure that's what Apple intended, but there are alternatives: iPod Plug-in for Winamp 1.33 [softpedia.com], iPod nano Player 3.1 [softpedia.com], MyPodPlayer 1.0 [softpedia.com], YamiPod 0.99.2 [softpedia.com] (which is pretty popular) and iDump [softpedia.com]. There are undoubtedly others too. (Of course, this is all off-topic so I expect it will be modded as such.)
the Xbox model... (Score:5, Informative)
The hardware design was done by two guys who don't even work for MS, they work for a joint design and manufacturing company. The software was done in-house, but by a larger team. The Xbox OS is a derivative of (Windows) NT. Additionally, they spent untold dollars buying Bungie, RARE, Oddworld Inhabitants and other companies.
In other words, they largely followed the model you say sucks. They spent a lot of money on acquisitions, only one of which worked out (and even the Bungie Crew is all gone to Wideload and WildTangent now except for Jason Jones). And the kicker, they've so far lost a truckload of money.
It doesn't sound like the right model to me. If the Xbox team ever turns a profit it'll be because Sony are such boneheads, not because of the excellence of the Xbox model.
Re:the Xbox model... (Score:3, Insightful)
If "they" is the XBox division, yes. However, Microsoft itself continues to make money hand over fist via the Two Towers: Windows and Office, to the tune of several billion profit per quarter (3-4 bn USD last I saw). Thus, they can afford to lose many truckloads of money on the XBox, so long as their Two Towers stand.
This subsidized loss in the XBox division is very much worth it, since the XBox is one (fairly important) arm of their overall
Re:the Xbox model... (Score:2, Interesting)
Correct me if I'm wrong here but Oddworld Inhabitants were never bought by Microsoft. Munch's Oddysee was moved from a PS2 exclusive to an Xbox exclusive and Stranger's Wrath was cancelled for the PS2. Infact I do believe it was Oddworld's lack of support of Sony's machine that has caused the company to exit the gaming industry... [thehollywoodreporter.com]
maybe they didn't buy them... (Score:2)
I don't know if they own all of RARE either, they certainly own the portion Nintendo used to own though, which is something like half.
Re:Microsoft should use the X-Box model (Score:1)
But lets be honest. Does Microsoft really need to partner with anyone they don't plan to take over or buy out?
Re:Microsoft should use the X-Box model (Score:1)
And its not like...Everything?!
Re:Microsoft should use the X-Box model (Score:1)
The writer of this article... (Score:4, Interesting)
Blame the editor (Score:3, Insightful)
I hate it the Slashdot editors don't even care to read their own frontpage!
Always play nice... (Score:2, Interesting)
Seriously though, I'd kill to have Microsoft's problems though: having billions of cash on hand and shopping for that new toy.
Re:Always play nice... (Score:2)
Re:Always play nice... (Score:3, Insightful)
It's a classic, probably a psychological control issue for boards, they're have a compulsive need to expand until they collapse into unprofitability.
Re:Always play nice... (Score:2)
Re:Always play nice... (Score:2)
The Spooks (Score:2, Informative)
Re:The Spooks (Score:1, Offtopic)
Re:The Spooks (Score:1)
MSN + NSA + AT&T = MSNSAT&T?
IBM + MSN + NSA + AT&T = IBMSNSAT&T?
FBI + IBM + MSN + NSA + AT&T = FBIBMSNSAT&T?
The only one I can *F one I can think of is IMF.
Re:The Spooks (Score:2, Funny)
Re:The Spooks (Score:1)
Gage is way too swave to be getting involved in any of this madness anyways...
Re:The Spooks (Score:2)
Re:The Spooks (Score:2)
Which side? (Score:3, Insightful)
See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGuBx6Xj-PE [youtube.com]
Re:Which side? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Which side? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Which side? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Which side? (Score:2)
Re:Which side? (Score:2, Interesting)
Microsoft and Rupert Murdoch (MySpace.com)... I'm starting to see the wisdom in the earlier post about the dark side. Perhaps the forces of darkness will band together to fight?
They are all running scared (Score:3, Interesting)
Admin tools for Windows [intelliadmin.com]
Domain Squatters (Score:3, Funny)
Core values. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Core values. (Score:1)
AOL! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:AOL! (Score:1)
Re:AOL! (Score:2)
Given Google only bought a small fraction of AOL, MS might still be able to buy a larger fraction to get the deal, but I doubt TimeWarner shareholders would like to see even more of their AOL ownership diluted. Especially after the fuss that was kicked up last time.
Re:AOL! (Score:2)
Portal wars? (Score:2)
It is like an episode of Borg [wikipedia.org] vs Species 8472 [wikipedia.org].
Re:Portal wars? (Score:2)
One of the best similes I've seen here.
Which reminds me, I have an exam in Semantics on Tuesday, I should study a bit... <gets offline>
Microsoft doesn't partner with folks it assimilate (Score:4, Interesting)
Anybody that partners with Microsoft is nuts -
Who has ever done it and lived to tell the tale?
M-
Re:Microsoft doesn't partner with folks it assimil (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Microsoft doesn't partner with folks it assimil (Score:2)
Re:Microsoft doesn't partner with folks it assimil (Score:2)
Re:Microsoft doesn't partner with folks it assimil (Score:2)
Oooh, bad example. Sun lived to tell the tale but MS stabbed them in the back, didn't they? Microsoft promised never to make an alternative to Java when working with Sun, but then they made the Virtual Java Machine.
So, yeah, MS has had some partnerships that were profitable for their partners, but they've also had so many where they screwed over their partners that most every company in the world is wary of dealing with them. Some say that they haven't screwed over Intel, IBM, Dell and a few others s
Re:Microsoft doesn't partner with folks it assimil (Score:2)
Re:Microsoft doesn't partner with folks it assimil (Score:2, Funny)
Satan?
Re:Microsoft doesn't partner with folks it assimil (Score:2)
[Goes searching for open-source web portal software.]
Not trolling (Score:5, Insightful)
Been there, done that (Score:5, Insightful)
They were won by a company that didn't provide a portal, just a simple search service that let people find what they want.
People don't want a "portal"... they just want to find what they are looking for quickly.
Re:Been there, done that (Score:1)
Re:Been there, done that (Score:1)
Re:Been there, done that (Score:2)
When I search, I always use Google, but Yahoo has the portal down.
IAC of course; they already are partnered. (Score:1, Insightful)
IAC owns www.ask.com
What's your address (Score:1)
1999 Called. They Want Their Headline Back (Score:2)
They don't need a partner. (Score:2)
Re:They don't need a partner. (Score:1)
Re:They don't need a partner. (Score:2)
the should ally with North Korea and Iran (Score:2)
NSA and RIAA of course ! (Score:2)
Re:NSA and RIAA of course ! (Score:1)
with Apple :)) (Score:1)
no seriously. Who cares about these homepage stuff anyway? The first thing I do is put google, whatever portal was there before... (and the day they piss me off, i'll have no problem putting something else as my first page..;)
i know i know.. a lot of people must care about it, or there would not be such a war. But I will never understand advertising nor marketing I g
Missing the point... (Score:2, Insightful)
What I want to know is... who uses these damn sites? If portals are so important as a source of revenue, then why did Google - who's original site was stripped of the over-complicated design which marked sites like Yahoo!, MSN and excite - become a dominant market player?
MS (Score:1)
Dell seems to a agreement with MSN too. (Score:2)
Re:Dell seems to a agreement with MSN too. (Score:1, Offtopic)
I never used the copy of windows this came with but I did use the license key to a fresh install.
Using the pre-installed windows from Dell is just stupid. It's loaded down with trialware, adware, spyware, annoyanceware and a few others I dare not mention. The only sane thing to do is scratch it and start over.
Tom
Re:Dell seems to a agreement with MSN too. (Score:1)
One more reason for MS to feel very uncomfortable right now.
I think they can do it alone. (Score:1)
Re:I think they can do it alone. (Score:2)
Ummm (Score:2)
Am I the only one... (Score:4, Insightful)
As long as there is good competition, and I can get decent products/services because of it, I honestly don't care. I am sure plenty of you will disagree, but that's just my take on it.
Re:Am I the only one... (Score:2)
What if there was a Portal War (Score:1)
Ally? Buy!! (Score:2)
IBM or Lenovo (Score:2)
I have just one question (Score:2)
The MSN site is a great balance between the mess that Yahoo's main page is, and the spartan look of Google. It's clean, professional looking, laid out logically, and there is good content there, and it's the default home page on most
Re:I have just one question (Score:2)
The same thing thats wrong with all Microsoft products... its full of redundant bloat that no-one wants. Thats why google is so popular.
Portal war? (Score:2)
I doubt google is going to fire back and it's possible they could win just because they keep doing what they're doing. Between Google and Yahoo!, I'd trust preinstalled Google software over Yahoo!. I just logged out of both Yahoo! and Google Talk. Guess which client popped up an ad on log in?
Weird Al! (Score:2)
Who gets the immunity challenge? (Score:2)
Please. (Score:1)
Amazon.com is shopping hub for millions of people.
Amazon.com has a auction site. Though, they dont push it a much as they should.
Amazon.com has a payment gateway.
Amazon.com owns Alexa.
Vista rollout (Score:2)
If they are capable of competing with the usual suspects, users will have no reason to switch. I anticipate A9-like tactics.
But wait... (Score:1)
That means they will effectively acquire Ebay's partnership agreement with Yahoo as well.
--x
Second Life (Score:1)
Microsoft should ally themselves with HP (Score:2)
That is, Microsoft pays HP to make all HP computers installed with Microsoft webware (including desktop related webware). It wouldn't be abusing any monopoly since it wouldn't be using Windows itself to bundle anything (that's not already being bundled). It would merely be Microsoft paying an OEM to get special treatment just like Google did.
I mention HP because HP is bypassing Dell. Currently HP uses hp.netscape.com has the homepage that its computer
Microsoft should join forces with (Score:2)
Then Microsoft can ally up with SBC/AT&
Portal Wars? (Score:2)
Obviously (Score:1)
noone (Score:2)
microsoft should team up with slashdot. (Score:2)
Nobody will, just as long as... (Score:2)
There's lots of choice for strategic alliances: the aforementioned Google, of course, but also new and renewed players, like AOL. These companies seem to be focused on innovation and user experience to build their user base, rather than the parasitic control consistently exhibited by Microsoft. There's also myr