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MSN Planning to Take on Google?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the only-a-matter-of-time dept.

asyn42 writes "CNet is reporting what should be no surprise, Microsoft appears to be readying itself to take on Google for a position as the top search engine. The long range impact on the relationship between MSN and Yahoo/Inktomi is likely at risk."

44 of 677 comments (clear)

  1. Google is my god by RobPiano · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... therefore Microsoft has now officially become the devil (it was assumed before).

    Rob

    1. Re:Google is my god by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Funny
      Can we please see the algorithm?

      Yeah, right after Google releases their code.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Google is my god by The_K4 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm sure any surch for "linux" on MS's search engine is going to be totally unbiased. :)

    3. Re:Google is my god by killmenow · · Score: 5, Funny

      You don't need google's code, they've already released a detailed document explaining how their system works.

    4. Re:Google is my god by pyrote · · Score: 5, Funny

      OVER MY DEAD BROWSER

      you must use netscape

      --
      THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!!! eventually.
    5. Re:Google is my god by _xeno_ · · Score: 3, Funny
      Speaking as someone who has had Mod points before, I can asure you that just like the articles, no self-respecting moderator would ever follow a link in a comment to determine its worth. We rely on anonymous posts warning about the http://www.cnn.com/ link really being a "goatse.cx" link and other complaining about the links being funny or incorrect.

      Basically, moderators follow the same "fact checking" standards as the editors do, which is of course none at all. As I personally have had all my mods meta-moderated "fair" (mostly by using "Overrated" and "Underrated"), I can guarentee that this behavior is normal and expected.

      Based on your User-ID number, you have yet to experience the joy that is having access to the "moderator" pulldown menus. In time, you will have access to learn the ways of doing a half-assed moderation job, and learn to stop complaining about moderators being foolish, as you will have joined their ranks. (Plus, pissing off the moderators is a good way to say "hello" to -1 land. Ah, "Overrated"...)

      For those who aren't sure, yes, this is tongue-in-cheek. Moderators provide a valuable service to Slashdot, and although there are issues with the system, overall, I think moderation is a Good Thing compared to having no such moderation. I'm sure there are still flaws that could be addressed, but generally, I'm pleased with the way the system appears to be working.

      So, when it comes time for you to choose the moderation, vote for me, the waffle-canidate. I'll make up my mind someday, probably in my own best interest.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
  2. All I can say is by FunkSoulBrother · · Score: 1, Funny

    Good Luck.

    1. Re:All I can say is by Hypocritical+Guy · · Score: 5, Funny

      what? if i use IE i am not uber? i'd rather use IE than a majority of the browsers out there.

      you suck, you will never be uber.

      --
      If you liked licking my balls, add me to your foes list!
    2. Re:All I can say is by critter_hunter · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yes, IE6 is far superior to the majority of browsers out there - IE3,IE4,IE5 and IE5.5!

      --
      Karma: Could be worse (could be raining)
    3. Re:All I can say is by Phishpin · · Score: 2, Funny

      "or telnet localhost 80"

      I often browse my home website in this manner. ;-)

      --
      -phish
  3. In related news... by Geccoman · · Score: 4, Funny

    Google has modified all Microsoft.com links to point to SCO's website.

    --
    I'm on a chair.
    1. Re:In related news... by pebs · · Score: 5, Funny

      Take the letters from MICROSOFT, rearrange them, you get "SCO FROM IT"

      Coincidence? I think not...

      --
      #!/
    2. Re:In related news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      A fair legal system.

  4. tsk tsk tsk... by Piranhaa · · Score: 4, Funny

    What next? Taking over the internet? Oh i forgot, they already did :/

  5. No worries by Kagato · · Score: 5, Funny

    As long as they use Windows to power the thing google doesn't have to worry about MSN being king of the hill for search engines.

    1. Re:No worries by tomhudson · · Score: 4, Funny
      ... except for Windows users, who will find that their pages are also indexed (now you KNOW where your files went today)

      ... for the humor-impared - it's a joke.

      ... for everyone else - it's not a joke!

  6. How about.. by Gortbusters.org · · Score: 5, Funny

    Trying to take on google's API..

    Called MSNBot, the software scours Web sites and collects hyperlinks and documents. The software is part of MSN's effort to challenge Google by revitalizing MSN Search with its own algorithmic search technology.

    You'll never beat the mind-share that Google has. No-one is gonna use MSNbot as a verb, like "I just googled for planetside tips" or create sites like googlism. Msnbotism? Hah!

    --
    --------
    Free your mind.
    1. Re:How about.. by Dachannien · · Score: 5, Funny

      Exactly - it's like Xerox, Kleenex, or Lysol, only worse:

      You're talking with a friend about some obscure topic, and to find out the answer, your friend says, "I'll google it." He fires up IE and heads to the MSNbot web page, at which point you say, "Dude, I thought you said you were going to google it."

      Your friend thinks for a second, goes up to the address bar, and fixes the problem.

    2. Re:How about.. by rbolkey · · Score: 3, Funny

      How about MSNbotulism?

  7. Wonderful by Cais · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let me guess... it tells YOU what your looking for?

    1. Re:Wonderful by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 2, Funny
      "Let me guess... it tells YOU what your looking for?"

      You my good sir, should NOT have been modded +5, Funny. You failed to submit your joke in the proper Soviet Russian format. In order for you to gain a proper +5, Funny, you need to use the correct syntax of "In Soviet Russia, x, y, you." Someone please mod parent down immediately or he will disrupt the concentration of the slashbots as they attempt to translate the post into its proper format.

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  8. Great... by musiholic · · Score: 2, Funny

    that should make searching for why my computer just BSODed that much easier.

    --
    One Can Never Own Enough Musical Instruments...
  9. What did you expect? by macemoneta · · Score: 5, Funny

    Once Microsoft bought the government, buying Google was the next logical step.

    --

    Can You Say Linux? I Knew That You Could.

  10. Interesting by PhysicsGenius · · Score: 3, Funny
    Love 'em or hate 'em, Microsoft produces quality products. What can we hope to see from an MS-created search engine?

    • Good internationalization support. Contrast this with the Linux-run Google.
    • High speed returns. Contrast to the slow, BSD-run Yahoo.
    • Seamless OS integration. Contrast to almost any search engine, none of which tie directly to the browser, let alone let you search from inside a Word document or email message.
    • Standarization. Contrast this to the situation now, where almost everyone uses a different search engine, requiring website designers to submit their pages to hundreds of different databases.
  11. In Other News... by Swolt+Up · · Score: 3, Funny

    Microsoft, the software giant, announced today that it was poised to take on God, Creator of the Heavenâ(TM)s and Earth.

    âoeI think we are ready for this,â said Bill Gates, who plans on renaming himself âoeThe Gatesâ. âoeGod has had his time running the universe, now itâ(TM)s my, err, our turn.â

    Microsoft would not comment on future plans if they do indeed beat God out as ruler of the heavens, but did say they plan on charging a license fee for living.

    God was unavailable for comment, but was heard laughing very loudly.

    Film at eleven.

  12. So, I'm thinking . . . by droleary · · Score: 3, Funny

    User-agent: MSNBot
    Disallow: /

  13. Re:Microsoft vs. Google by notque · · Score: 4, Funny

    My guess would be the very thing that seperates what geeks want, and what the general populace wants.

    Pretty Pictures.

    Just make a huge paperclip run and get you your search result, and bam. Instant hit.

    --
    http://use.perl.org
  14. Re:You haven't been reading enough about XBox 2 th by jandrese · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh no! Is the XBox2 going to include Microsoft Bob as well?

    --

    I read the internet for the articles.
  15. Mindless MS Bashing by Bob9113 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pardon my flagrant opnionation here, but I envision the following:

    MS Coder: Boss, we've got a problem.
    MS Boss: What is it?
    MS Coder: It turns out you can't trust the "keywords" meta-tag.
    MS Boss: What?!?
    MS Coder: Seriously. Some unscrupulous people abuse it.
    MS Boss: Crap. Now what?
    MS Coder: Well, it seems we're going to have to come up with a smarter algorithm than "index by keyword metatag".
    MS Boss: But Google didn't have to write any fancy software.
    MS Coder: Actually, we're now operating on the theory that Google does in fact have some fairly advanced software.
    MS Boss: Advanced?!? You mean like technically advanced?
    MS Coder: Yeah, it looks that way.
    MS Boss: But we don't write our own technically advanced software - we wrap mediocre implementations of Unix technology in Macintosh user friendliness.
    MS Coder: I know - it's a bit of a problem.
    MS Boss: Pity we can't "partner" with them.
    MS Coder: Yeah, like Stac, Java, and that smartphone company.

    --
    Stop-Prism.org: Opt Out of Surveillance
  16. Microsoft's proposed take-over plan... by LordDartan · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. Acquire a large EMP device.
    2. Park large EMP device outside of Google headquarters.
    3. Detonate large EMP device.
    4. Profit!

    or something along those lines...I can't think of any other way they'll get ahead of google...

    (also notice, that the usual missing step 3 is included in this exercise for your viewing pleasure)

  17. A quick google by MisterFancypants · · Score: 5, Funny

    A quick google on this topic (search term: microsoft google slashdot) would have shown that this story is a repeat.

    1. Re:A quick google by kurosawdust · · Score: 3, Funny
      a quick MSN search on this topic (search term: microsoft google slashdot) would have shown that you can click here to claim your FREE DVD player!!

      It also would've shown that you can make a pretty decently-sized sandwich in the time it takes to generate results.

  18. Re:Haha! by 3rd_Floo · · Score: 3, Funny
    They could just be mean and set $WINDIR\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file to contain:
    207.68.172.234 www.google.com
    etc:
    or something evil like that...

    How easy would that be to include in their next IE security patch? =P
  19. The MS "PageRank" technology in action... by VValdo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Search: [browser ]

    "Browser" returns the following link:

    Internet Explorer Website.

    Search:: [mozilla ]

    "Mozilla" returns the following link:

    Internet Explorer Website.

    Search:: [OpenOffice.Org ]

    "OpenOffice.org" returns the following link:

    Microsoft Office Website.

    Search:: [quicktime]

    "quicktime" returns the following link:

    Microsoft Windows Website.

    Search:: [Apple computer]

    "Apple computer" returns the following link:

    Microsoft Windows Website.

    Etc. You get the idea...

    W

    --
    -------------------
    This is my SIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  20. Do Ya Think... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...the M$Nbot will index pages that have "100% Microsoft-Free Site" badges on every page? :-)

  21. Re:Microsoft vs. Google by jdh-22 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft won't be able to compete, but what they can do is possibly buy them out.

    Obligitory Simpson's quote:

    Bill Gates: Your Internet ad was brought to my attention, but I can't figure out what, if anything, Compuglobalhypermeganet does, so rather than risk competing with you, I've decided simply to buy you out.
    Homer: I reluctantly accept your proposal!
    Bill Gates: Well everyone always does. Buy 'em out, boys!
    [Gates' lackeys trash the room.]
    Homer: Hey, what the hell's going on!
    Bill Gates: Oh, I didn't get rich by writing a lot of checks! [insane laughter]

    --
    Every Super Villan uses Linux.
  22. Re:Don't visit msnbot.com, however by zulux · · Score: 4, Funny

    . . . I checked, and it forwards to a soft-porn cam site, and then takes you into pop-up hell.

    After switching to Mozilla, the only pop-ups I get when visiting a porn site are in my pants.

    http://www.mozilla.org -> Download version1.4b -> Install -> Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy and Security -> Poppup Windows -> Block Unrequested Popup Windows

    --

    Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.

  23. Re:You haven't been reading enough about XBox 2 th by Greedo · · Score: 2, Funny
    ... or the Office Assistant? Imagine Halo 2 ...

    Clippy: You seem to be getting your ass fragged. What would you like to do?
    • Load up the rail gun
    • Take some health boosters
    • Turn and run away
    • Stop helping ... I like getting fragged!
    --
    Tuus crepidae innexilis sunt.
  24. search.msn.com:Linux ... Error... not found ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Dear MSN,

    I tried to search for word Linux with your new and
    improved search machine at MSN and it says
    that this word does not exist.

    However my friend claims it does. Could you please
    tell him how wrong he is ? His e-mail is:
    john@linux.com

  25. Blue Search of Death??? by The+Lynxpro · · Score: 3, Funny

    And in other news, the MSN search system finds web pages reporting the factual truth that the Xbox is more successful than the Playstation2, OpenOffice prints documents in pig latin, and Linux originates from North Korea...

    --
    "Right now, somewhere in this world, Scott Baio is plowing a woman he doesn't love," - Peter Griffin, *Family Guy*
  26. Re:Good Luck! by LePrince · · Score: 2, Funny
    Eh eh eh... I worked at a large ISP here in Quebec, and a lady called to unsubscribe. When we asked the reason, she said "Your competitor Internet is much better, your Internet sucks". She was referring to our main site, which is configured by default when installing the installkit for the service. She didn't know she could go anywhere else, so for 2 months, she was on http://www.infinit.com/... And she found our competitor's website quite better, so she left, there was no way we could make her understand that THAT is not the Internet...

    Quite funny :-)

  27. Windows longhorn final HOSTS-file leaked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    207.68.171.244 www.google.com

  28. Re:Why MSN will fail: by jolyonr · · Score: 4, Funny

    What is most amusing is that Microsoft page on "Alternatives to Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP" appears to have been slashdotted already.

    Now, of course, if they hadn't been hosting it on IIS/ASP.NET...

    --


    Please read my Canon EOS tech blog at http://www.everyothershot.com
  29. Re:Mod Points - You may already be a winner!!! by phong3d · · Score: 4, Funny

    kinda like this