Google Considering Merger With Microsoft

buford_tannen writes "According to this New York Times Article (registration, etc.), Google may be considering a merger with Microsoft in the near future. As many people know, Google's search services are powered by Linux. "

Comments

Two observations:

[jcknox]

First: I wonder how long it will take MS to figure out how to move Google to Windows. Remember the fiasco surrounding Hotmail's move from BSD (I think) to Windows?

Second: I can see the top 5 results from a search for "Linux" now:

1. Independent study shows Windows more secure than Linux
2. How to lower TCO by switching from Linux to Windows
3. Linux for terrorists, says expert.
4. Nazis retake Germany, install Linux
5. Linux bad for innovatoin, says expert panel.

Of course, all of these links will be to "archived" versions of "authentic" articles on a MS server somewhere.

Seriously. If we can't trust the MS marketing engine to be honest about their products, how can we trust them to keep their grubby fingers out of search results?

At least we'll still have alltheweb.com.

Offer They Can't Refuse

[4of12]

It's clear that Microsoft recognizes the value of Google's technology.

I don't know about you, but my web browsing relies heavily on Google to find sites that I will look at. I mean, that level of reliance is almost like how I rely on libc . And any businesses that I might find on the other end probably consider high Google rank worth a lot of money.

Microsoft, of course, loves to be in a position where people and businesses have to rely upon them heavily. It's potentially quite profitable.

Until now, people have relied on Google's goodwill not to use their powerful position unfairly. Since there are monetary incentives for Googles business to "manage" those searches differently, I'm alway apprehensive and would be appalled if a company with Microsoft's track record were to gain that additional power (as if they aren't sufficiently powerful now).