Toolkit

Story: Why Google need not fear Microsoft

Posted by: John Carroll (Wednesday 11 February 2004, 1:12 PM)

To Anonymous.......................................................................................................

First, pick a random nonsense handle and let ZDNet show it. I hate responding to one of several anonymous posters.

> First of all saying that Windows XP is
> 42% of the installed user base, and
> then saying HP, Dell etc. have 55%
> of the market is not the same thing. 55%
> of yearly sales is much less than 42%
> of all existing boxes.

That is a good point, though its worth noting that it took Microsoft 2 years to reach that 42%. Still, every box with XP goes out with certain products, whereas only 55% go out with Java (though I think it's higher, as I only picked the 3 OEMs I knew off the top of my head). It's not a HUGE difference, though, at least not the difference that is argued by most people who make the claim that integration = access to 95% of the market. It doesn't, and the effect is GREATLY less than that.

If you happen to have any stats on the installed base of the Java VM on Windows computers, that would be greatly appreciated.

> Secondly you presume users will make
> a concerted effort to change the default
> settings. I think you're wrong. If you
> watch most user's they don't how.

...or don't care, which is a choice by itself (consumers have the right to spend their time doing other things than tend to their computer). Consumers get more proficient the more they use a computer, and MOST consumers these days have experience of downloading software. Therefore, I think it is too strong to say MOST don't know how. Those that don't know how wouldn't be downloading ANYTHING in the first place. For them, it is a HUGE advantage that Microsoft integrates products into WIndows, as if they didn't, they'd never use certain kinds of technology.

Think of integrated product as training wheels. If you learn to use a web browser, you know how to download, and if you know a browser, you know what you don't like about it. You're more likely to consider something else if you have experience of at least one example.

> Of course, you assume that users care,
> or understand that Microsoft search is
> different from Google search.

Well, someone caused 80% of all internet searches to get funneled through Google. It's a combination of regular consumers AND companies, who are also consumers.