Lunch at the Labs

In his column of November 3, 2005, Robert Cringely hits the nail on the head when commenting on the Google vs Microsoft battle. First he gets Google exactly right when he says:

Google's core expertise isn't so much searching or advertising as it is the creative clustering of cheap computers.

The he gets Microsoft exactly right when he says:

The big question for Microsoft is whether they can compete in this new market without having to cheat? I don't think they can. Putting it simpler, since all cheating isn't illegal, can Microsoft really implement Windows Live and Office Live without breaking the law? I think they CAN, but I doubt if they WILL. I think that in Redmond the stakes will ultimately be perceived as too high not to cheat. Or maybe they simply don't know how to play fair. Either way, expect trouble.

All the financial analysts covering technology stocks, for example Mad Money's Jim Cramer, who keep recommending the stock of both companies do not have a clue about either of these points.