Battle of the Tech Titans

garzpacho writes "BusinessWeek has a look at the big tech alliances that have been announced recently. From the article: 'In the war for dominance of the Net, May 25 turned out to be a big day for alliance making... The pairings highlight the importance the fast-growing, $12.5 billion Internet ad market and the race to get in front of as many Web surfers as possible. The alliance with eBay gives Yahoo a way to narrow a lead by Google in generating advertising sales. Paring with Dell, meantime, helps Google muscle in on Microsoft's dominance of the desktop. These alliances are predicated as a response to a looming threat...'"

Comments

Looming threat?

[Anonymous Coward]

Economic depression?

Dell+Google = Overblown

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

"Paring with Dell, meantime, helps Google muscle in on Microsoft's dominance of the desktop."

Um, it's a search toolbar, not an OS. I'm sure M$ still happily cashes Dell's checks for each copy of the OS that ships with nearly every model...

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, where do you want to go today? Google toolbar will help you decide and that means money.

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[grammar fascist]

Um, it's a search toolbar, not an OS. I'm sure M$ still happily cashes Dell's checks for each copy of the OS that ships with nearly every model...

They must be counting on the search toolbar turning into something like Emacs, which directly competes with Linux.

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[Gat0r30y]

Wait just a second there, not too long ago I heard something about a google OS. Google is positioned so strongly that if they offered an OS, they could pose a significant threat to M$.

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[Ucklak]

It's bundled applications too.

Google Earth vs. Windows Live
Picasa vs. whatever crap Vista will have with it
gmail vs. MSN/Hotmail/Passport

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

"Google is positioned so strongly that if they offered an OS, they could pose a significant threat to M$."

Positioned strongly, you say? Who currently owns the OS on most desktops and laptops?

The other knock on Google is that they've reversed the whole "don't be evil" slogan by bending over for China, reading your Gmail and phoning your desktop searches home, so I'm not certain they could put a dent in the holier-than-thou "run Linux or Mac OS for world peace" crowd either.

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[dave562]

Um, it's a search toolbar, not an OS. I'm sure M$ still happily cashes Dell's checks for each copy of the OS that ships with nearly every model...

The larger issue in this case is the 12.5 billion dollar online advertising market. Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are trying to generate revenue by serving up advertising. Because Google is integrating their toolbar and desktop search on Dell PCs, Microsoft is losing potential revenue that would have been generated by Dell shipping PCs with their browsers automatically feeding people into MSN.

On the subject of advertising, Microsoft is obviously flailing. They are trying to do too many things at once. That is good news for people who are taking aim at their core OS / application business, but bad news for people using Microsoft software.

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[The_Wilschon]

gmail is a web service. So is hotmail. So is MSN. I used to know what Passport was, but I've forgotten since. But my point is, gmail isn't bundled, really.

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[iwsnet]

it's a big deal for Google to be on the search toolbar. They don't want MSN to get the searches and advertising that could be generated by being on the browser.

Google's entire revenue stream is from advertising and they are trying to protect it from Microsoft.

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[d_beep]

In the near future, OS will become meaningless. Ordinary Joe is not interested in running windows/linux.
He needs to do the work quickly and efficiently.
(Ever noticed the blank look on your (non geek) friend face when you passionately debate linux vs windows. ).

Big companies are in a rush to provide services on the web. "Pay as you utilise" model seems to work.
Whoever will serve the user faster and
easier will get his/her dollars. Plus the added advantage of advertising revenue.

I think that Dell + Google is a very stretegic move in enabling windows (XP, Vista) users to utilise google services. In addition, it may be a bit of "do now or die" thing also.
M$ has the advantage of desktop real estate. If vista locks the user down with native msn searching capabilities, + windows live services + who knows what else, what will google do. Also, do you even like the google toolbar. It is "uglicious". I much prefer the ease of firefox google search box.
Other than searching, what other services do google offer which are generating revenue. take the searching advantage from google and see how fragile it looks.

Web based services will rule the next decade, and unfortunately it seems that m$ may take a big chunk of revenue.

my exact 2 cents worth (canadian!!!! no less).

Re:Dell+Google = Overblown

[dantheman82]

Perhaps you would like to mee the Dell Start Page? I must say it's pretty cool and definitely better than the default start page proloaded when you install Firefox. For the non-techy users, it's quite nifty and a definite win for Google...

So it's...

[eviloverlordx]

...YaBay vs. Doogle vs. Microsoft. Normally, three-ways excite me, but not this time...

Re:So it's...

[Anonymous Coward]

DeHooglesoft.

Sad really

[Anonymous Coward]

all this technology and potential and the best use business can think of is advertising ?

here is the business model for all you startups

1) ???
2) sell advertising
3) profit !!

Re: Sad really

[Graboid]

Actually the business model is much closer to:

1) Create free product
2) Attract users
3) Realize you don't make money from free product
4) Sell advertising because noone would actually pay to use your product
5) Make profit

The problem is that unless you're selling something, noone wants to pay for net services so focusing on building user bases and then selling advertising doesn't seem that unreasonable for some broad product areas.

Re:Sad really

[Anonymous Coward]

all this technology and potential and the best use business can think of is advertising ?


Um, in the business of internet advertising, wouldn't that be the ultimate goal?
Or are you going Sir Thomas More on our asses?

Re: Sad really

[0110011001110101]

business model??? who cares?? Your parent post was following the /. joke model for karma whoring success. Yours however, was sadly lacking the ??? step, making it less mod-friendly.

I salute your attempt, but here people just want to laugh at the same tired jokes over and over again so please, please, stop posting and trying to raise the bar.

Re: Sad really

[makeajazznoisehere]

I imagined a bunch of ??? at step 4.

Then, I imagined being amused.

Re:Sad really

[iwsnet]

Well this is the same model as network TV. Offer free programs and sell commercial space. It's a multi-billion dollar business so why not copy this to the Web.

Re: Sad really

[Amouth]

and yet for some reason you got moded funny (i have no clue how) - i agree they are old and i wish the other lame people out there would recoize your post as isightful - but alas all will be lost

Google Competing with Microsoft?

[oostevo]

Where did writers of buisness publications get it into their heads that Google is trying to directly compete with Microsoft?

"The Dell deal, on the other hand, gives Google prime real estate on desktops -- a space dominated by Microsoft (MSFT) ... [Microsoft] drew the ire of Google ... Google now is taking matters into its own hands"

I very well could just be missing something, but I just don't see them competing in a direct, substantive way, at least just yet. I mean, Google makes most of its profits by online advertising, and Microsoft makes most of its profits through licensing of software.

There's obviously some overlap in that some of their products overlap, but what's with all this war drum talk?

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[technomancerX]

Considering MS has pretty much said they intend to kill Google as the dominant search engine, the competition is pretty obvious. Though to be more specific it's really more like MSN vs Google competing for web supremacy.

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[distilledprodigy]

Well, Microsoft competes with Google in the search, mail and "homepage" frontier. But you're right, the way the article puts it doesn't really explain it well. I think it's all just over-hyped, you need to read between the lines.

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[grammar fascist]

There's obviously some overlap in that some of their products overlap, but what's with all this war drum talk?

They do obviously compete online, with Google offering search + kitchen sink services and Microsoft offering search + a piece of crap portal. Since online is Google's primary domain, they're direct competitors even if Microsoft has scads of other products.

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[Anonymous Coward]

just a point to note: www.Live.com is far from a piece of shit. I prefer it to google.

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[kfg]

Where did writers of buisness publications get it into their heads that Google is trying to directly compete with Microsoft?

No doubt from the very public dick size contest they've got going on between them.

Where they get the idea that the subject is of any interest to anyone else is beyond me. Maybe business publications have gotten into a dick size contest with the National Inquirer or something.

KFG

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[Anonymous Coward]

How do you like the free sodas?
Do you also like that they returned the towels too?

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[openfrog]

In recent months, Microsoft has attempted to use its popular desktop applications like Internet Explorer to drive traffic to its Web sites and search engines. That drew the ire of Google, which in April complained to the Justice Dept. about unfair competitive practices. Google didn't get much satisfaction. Less than a month later, on May 12, the Justice Dept. dismissed the complaint.

I was just wondering what was happening on that front. At some point, it will have to stop. This nonsense of MS using its OS dominance to crush any living thing on the Internet is just too destructive, innovation wise, economy wise, science wise, democracy wise and, I am even tempted to say, civilisation wise.

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[mdielmann]

I just don't see them competing in a direct, substantive way, at least just yet.

I'm sure the makers of Stacker felt the same way. The DOS 6.0 came out.

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[ClassMyAss]

Considering MS has pretty much said they intend to kill Google as the dominant search engine, the competition is pretty obvious. Though to be more specific it's really more like MSN vs Google competing for web supremacy.

Ever since I saw question #5 on the Google Labs Aptitude Test, "What's wrong with Unix? How would you fix it?", I've always wondered if Google was working on an OS of their own on the sly. If I was Microsoft, I'd be extremely worried about this prospect, since pretty much every Google offering has randomly appeared on the Google Labs site, for the most part with very little fanfare.

Not to say that it is or is not likely (that's a question I'm in no position to answer), but imagine what it would do to MS if a free Google-flavored Linux distro popped up without warning two weeks before Vista shipped? If there's one company out there that could/would concievably try to make such a thing and get it idiot-proof enough to let the average non-tech person use it effectively (this isn't a bait, but none of the current distributions are there, yet), it's Google. And I think the company has enough goodwill stored up (not to mention the media darling status it has attained) that people would actually pay attention to it and give it a try, even if it was bundled with Google Pack or some other way for Google to monetize. Needless to say, this would all but cement Linux as the operating system of choice for the concievable future, since there would finally be an incentive for everyone to create Linux versions of their programs instead of (or along with) Mac and Windows ones if a reasonable percentage of people were using it.

So if I was Bill Gates, I'd be wetting myself over the Google problem. It's not that Google has indicated any desire to destroy Microsoft, it's that they would stand a fighting chance if they decided to give it a go. No company has ever had that power before, so it's quite rational that MS wants to squash them before the tables turn.

Re:Google Competing with Microsoft?

[TorAvalon]

Since online is Google's primary domain, they're direct competitors even if Microsoft has scads of other products.

You should tour to MS and see what they offer. Does Google has servers? Does Google has Office suites? Does Google has anything even remotely to do with real world business? Google's primary domain has been online(as you say) for how long? How long compared to MS's primary domain being online.

The Empire

[Xentor]

Is it just me, or did the ending of the blurb remind anyone else of the text at the beginning of Star Wars?

I started humming the empire music...

Re:The Empire

[lucabrasi999]

In a galaxy very, very, very, very, far away there lived a ruthless race of beings known as... Spaceballs. - Chapter Eleven - The evil leaders of Planet Spaceball, having foolishly squandered their precious atmosphere, have devised a secret plan to take every breath of air away from theyr peace-loving neighbor, Planet Druidia. - Today is Princess Vespa's wedding day. Unbeknownst to the princess but knownst to us, danger lurks in the stars above... - If you can read this, you don't need glasses.

Re:The Empire

[grammar fascist]

Is it just me, or did the ending of the blurb remind anyone else of the text at the beginning of Star Wars?

It was just as exciting as the opening crawl from The Phantom Menace, too.

Welcome tiered PCs

[Anonymous Coward]

This just in... Google loads itself on PCs.. and starts charging ISPs for the right to have customers with Dells connect to it.

Internet Ad Market - don't we all block ads?

[us7892]

How will these alliances really effect my browsing experience? Seems like these efforts will just be met with more efforts to block their ads.

Except for the simple microAds from Google, and which now appear all over the place, everything else I, or my company, block. Popups are blocked, ad sites are blocked. Sites that get too annoying with javascript ads, or use annoying pass-through ad pages too often, I stop visiting.

How much more $$$ can there actually be for advertisers on the web? Isn't everyone doing all they can to block these annoyances? Seems like the alliances will be irrelevant.

Re:Internet Ad Market - don't we all block ads?

[Evro]

The people who block ads account for maybe 5% of total web users. The market is enormous. Even if 90% of Slashdot readers actively block ads it's a drop in the bucket compared to the worldwide population of web users.

Re:Internet Ad Market - don't we all block ads?

[goodminton]

The site I run caters to businesses and I don't see lots of javascript being blocked. I'm not sure if that directly correlates to the blockage of ads but it seems to me they should be pretty closely related.

Javascript Stats: 98.66% Enabled - 1.34% Disabled

Operating System Stats: 71.83% Windows XP - 19.03% Windows 2000 - 6.64% Windows 98 - 1.10% Windows NT4.0 - 0.75% Windows ME - 0.43 PPC - 0.13% Windows 2003 - 0.05% Mac OS X - 0.03% FreeBSD

Browser Stats: 90.08% MSIE 6.0 - 4.06% Firefox 1.5.0 - 2.10% MSIE 5.0 - 1.75% Firefox 1.0.7 - 0.89% MSIE 5.5 - 0.38% MSIE 5.01 - 0.38% MSIE 5.23 - 0.16% Firefox 1.0.1 - 0.08% Opera 8.51 - 0.05% Safari 1.2 - 0.03% Netscape 7.1 - 0.03% Firefox 1.0 - 0.03% Mozilla 5.0

Re:Internet Ad Market - don't we all block ads?

[Dan Ost]

Wow, those are some pretty depressing stats for Linux and/or Firefox evangelists.

Re:Internet Ad Market - don't we all block ads?

[us7892]

Your 98% number tells you how many have Javascript enabled. That's common knowledge. The real number to look at is the count of actual content hits for the popup ads themselves. The popup needs to contain an image or URL that can be counted. If that count is significantly less than the parent page that contains the launching script, then you're being blocked by the difference between the two counts. Most blocking tools strangle the popup before it makes it's first outbuond request, that is why it is a pretty good count.

Re:Internet Ad Market - don't we all block ads?

[cyber-vandal]

I'm guessing that he hasn't aggregated all the distro stats together. Either that or it's called tuxthepenguindiediedie.com.

Re:Internet Ad Market - don't we all block ads?

[marcosdumay]

Well, the only similarity of javascript and ads blocking is that normaly only geeks do both. It is very hard to belive that there is any correlation, since the motivation to block them are completely different.

Also, there is something weard with your statistics. Are you sure that there you have no problem with people blocking the pages you are measuring, or that they work on all browsers? (Linux < FreeBSD & 90% of IE6 is weard, it may be that your users are just different, but it may also be a failed measurement.)

Re:Internet Ad Market - don't we all block ads?

[WgT2]

It's possible some of that is skewed by the ability of some browsers to mis-identify themselves.

How much that actually is depends on your optimism/pessimism one way or another.

Re:Internet Ad Market - don't we all block ads?

[eddeye]

Browser Stats: 90.08% MSIE 6.0 - 4.06% Firefox 1.5.0 - 2.10% MSIE 5.0 - 1.75% Firefox 1.0.7 - 0.89% MSIE 5.5 - 0.38% MSIE 5.01 - 0.38% MSIE 5.23 - 0.16% Firefox 1.0.1 - 0.08% Opera 8.51 - 0.05% Safari 1.2 - 0.03% Netscape 7.1 - 0.03% Firefox 1.0 - 0.03% Mozilla 5.0

Quick, post a link to your site so I can make lynx skyrocket up those charts! I should at least pass IE 5.5 by lunch tomorrow.

While I'm at it, what OSes would you like to see more of? Atari? CP/M? Goodbye Windows ME, hello Tenex and Multics!

i have a bad feeling

[mapkinase]

:such battles usually result in further monopolization, and it ain't "natural" monopolies we are talking here.

Sooo....

[blackbeaktux]

Google: Will you marry me?
Dell: But it's so sudden.... I love your earnings and advertising potential, but how do I know it not just my desktop you're after?
Google: I understand your fears, baby, but here's a wad of cash to smooth things over. And a prenup drafted just so our breakup won't be so bloody.
Dell: Wait, you're not interested in making and nurturing a family with me? And you're already thinking of our divorce?
Google: Weren't you?
Dell: Actually, I was. Sorry. Aww, you came ready with the prenup, how nice of you. Let me run it by legal first.
Google: Sure baby. [mutters] You're goin' down, Bill Microsoft.
Dell: [mutters] Our kids would've been hideous. Might as well take the money and run.

I was watching soap yesterday, involuntarily. Spare me.

this is crazy

[Anonymous Coward]

It's crazy that these fools think they can go up against Microsoft.

"Desktop Wars"

[majest!k]

FTA:

In recent months, Microsoft has attempted to use its popular desktop applications like Internet Explorer to drive traffic to its Web sites and search engines. That drew the ire of Google, which in April complained to the Justice Dept. about unfair competitive practices.

Google didn't get much satisfaction. Less than a month later, on May 12, the Justice Dept. dismissed the complaint. It seems Google now is taking matters into its own hands.

I've been seeing Google software preloaded on Dell's long before May 12th... This sounds more like a Google PR campaign getting on the offensive...

Well, it could be fun...

[Graboid]

But if you used Gell + Microsoftness to get a Yahoo!, then the three way thing sounds a lot more intriguing...

So what? I will soon rule THEM!

[Anonymous Coward]

I just bought up Boardwalk and Park Place, and just recently saved up enough to put a hotel on each. All I need is a lucky seven to buy up New York Avenue, completing my dominance of the feared Orange monopoly. Let's see those monopolies compete with that!

But seriously, I won't ever trust Yahoo again, no matter who they side with. Not after wiping out over 7 years worth of e-mail without an explanation.

How is that news?

[-Brodalco-]

"Under the Yahoo-eBay partnership, which covers only the U.S., Yahoo will supply eBay's site with ads, and the two will split revenue generated from them." Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's how most PPC advertising programs work. "eBay's auction listings will be included in Yahoo search results, driving users from that site to eBay's listings." Don't they already do that with Google AdSense/AdWords? "Yahoo will also let users pay for Yahoo services using PayPal, eBay's online payment-processing company." Which most e-commerce buisnesses already do. Why should I care about any of this? It's what other e-buisnesses have been doing for years, just with more red tape and free publicity.

Google vs. MSN

[everphilski]

end of transmission

You maybe, but does your mom, neighbor, etc?

[suggsjc]

We are the elite few. First, we probably use FireFox. Second, we probably extend it with ad-blockers galore.

We are however, the minority (somewhere ~10% last I checked). Also, I managed to get my mother using Firefox, and it really doesn't do anything special for her, except allow her to choose more/better themes. There were few if any extensions (no pop-up blockers) installed.

All that to say, out of the $12.5 billion dollar market (that is still growing might I add)...there is quite a lot more $$$ to be gained.

trivial nitpick

[bunions]

from the just-because-the-spellchecker-doesn't-complain-doe sn't-mean-it's-right dept.

Pairing with Dell. Paring with Dell makes it sound like they're making pies.

Mmmmm. Googledell pie.

Re:trivial nitpick

[sharkey]

"Special" Googdell pies.

Dude, you're like, *huff*, gettin' a googooggooogelldelll.

Re:trivial nitpick

[Anonymous Coward]

Misspellers of the world...untie!

Where have I heard this before?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's crazy that these fools think they can go up against Microsoft.

It's crazy that these fools think they can go up against IBM.

We better be carefull

[xCROSSFIREx]

if we dont watch our mouths then Google is going to send out its elite sniper taskfore...and anyone that doesnt buy a dell...gets shot instantly...good thing i've got an Inspiron 6000!
but seriously
google has an obnoxious lead on the tech world...i really wouldn't be supirsed if they're working on some kind of operating system....or death ray machine aimed at M$ headquarters....this sounds a little bit too much like the book 1984... google IS big brother oh boy....are we in for it now

Re:We better be carefull

[irablum]

But they have a deathray. Haven't you been reading Dilbert?

Ira

Dinosaurs mating?

[zenhkim]

Am I the only one who's reminded of the gradual decline of the Big Mainframe Companies way back when (aka IBM and The Seven Dwarves)? To stave off eventual extinction, they kept merging with each other (read: business alliances) as their respective sales/earnings fell, again and again ad nauseum....

But hey, the world is a big spinning carousel -- and here we are again.

Re:Dinosaurs mating?

[triffid_98]

Am I the only one who's reminded of the gradual decline of the Big Mainframe Companies way back when (aka IBM and The Seven Dwarves)? To stave off eventual extinction, they kept merging with each other (read: business alliances) as their respective sales/earnings fell, again and again ad nauseum.... But hey, the world is a big spinning carousel -- and here we are again.

Life Day . . . renew, renew.

Google IS working on an OS

[Graboid]

And it's called the internet. They want to create and own the extended desktop.

I for one welcome our new hyphenated overlords

[WillAffleckUW]

As Yahoo-eBay-Google and Microsoft-Dell battle for dominance, like dinosaurs unwilling to look up and see the open source asteroid about to hit the Yucatan peninsula.

Hyphens are good - just look at what a wonderful company Exxon-Mobil or Texaco-whatever is now.

ExxonMobil

[DragonWriter]

...has no hyphen.

Re:ExxonMobil

[WillAffleckUW]

I stand doubly-corrected.

What about Royal Dutch Shell mGBH? Do I have to call it by its full name, or can I just say Shell?

Hyphens are good.

Re:ExxonMobil

[orielbean]

At any rate, they aren't hurting - that's for sure. Mergers are the natural conclusion in the business world. Majority of the fortune 500's I deal with are ALL the result of some sort of merger. Sometimes they combine the names, sometimes they don't. Bank of America, AT&T, Pfizer, etc.

Can you trust Dell?

[Anonymous Coward]

Watch Dell pre-install and turn back to remove it citing lack of or not enough demand. They have done that before didn't they? Hopefull Google has a clause in the contract preventing Dell from doing just that.

Bury, then kill

[hb79]

I believe the exact plan was to first "fucking bury" them, and then kill them, so presumably, Balmer is intending to bury Google alive.
There might also be chair throwing involved, so yeah, I'd say Google is in for some tough competition.

GEMAYA is coming

[demon411]

"Fortune.com writer David Kirkpatrick may indeed have set himself up as a prophet. In October of 2005, Kirkpatrick coined the term GEMAYA, an acronym representing a futuristic super-conglomerate consisting of Google, eBay, MSN, Amazon, Yahoo!, and AOL. It may be a safe bet that some form of that will one day be a reality, even if those exact players don't decided to follow the "can't beat'em, join'em" mantra."
-goog v everyone

Re:GEMAYA is coming

[cyber-vandal]

Google, Amazon and Yahoo are already in talks, the colour scheme for the new logo was chosen almost instantly but there may be some problems with bitching in the future.

Obligatory

[MrCopilot]

I for one welcome our new Tech Titan Overloards.

Can a non conglemeration small biz still break into the Ad Revenue Racket? Only If you partner up with one of these GIANTS of TECHNOLOGY.

Remember when it wasn't all about the advertising? Yeah me either.

Vote Quimby This message brought to you by special interest groups working to further thier own interests.

Not Overblown - Google Needs This

[raftpeople]

If Google did not make this deal, then they would probably be SOL as MS can make their search the default and over time Google would become as relevant as Netscape.

I probably wouldn't word this as Google "muscling in" but rather as taking a critical step in defending against MS "muscling in."

It's the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny

[teneighty]

Could we possibly have a bigger beat-up about so little? This breathlessly fawning article summary makes it sounds like the next version of The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny. I can just see the words now...

Old Google was hopping around
San Francisco like a big playground
Suddenly Ballmer jumped into the air
and hit Google with an office chair

Re:It's the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny

[cyber-vandal]

Now that's a funny poem :)

Don't underestimate the Dell-Google deal.

[WoTG]

Dell is probably going to get a lot of incremental profits from this deal! I would assume that the deal is comparable to the one that Mozilla receives for the Firefox default search engine box, i.e. some fraction of the paid advertising revenue from searches on Google.

Let's see, the Mozilla Foundation received something in the 7 figure territory last year from Google. Since Dell sells way more desktops than Firefox has users, plus this deal (probably) includes the Google toolbar which is far more valuable to Google than just being the default search engine, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a worth a couple hundred million dollars a year for both companies.

Not crazy huge money for companies the size of Google and Dell, but pretty good! Granted, we don't know what Yahoo or MSN would offer Dell as an alternative... so potentially Google is benefiting more from this deal, maybe.