The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google has succeeded in outbidding Microsoft for the right to integrate its search tools into the millions of personal computers that Dell will sell over the next three years. After Yahoo dropped out of what may have been
a billion-dollar auction, sources say that along with its desire to increase the exposure of its services, it was Google's frustration over the perceived difficulty in changing the default settings in Internet Explorer to non-MSN search options that ultimately motivated the company to emerge victorious. Besides winning a coveted spot on IE's default homepage, the deal also nets Google some valuable desktop real estate, as its Desktop software -- privacy concerns and all -- will now come pre-installed on Dell machines. For most consumers, this deal really doesn't mean too much, except for those of you who are really into MSN search, in which case you'll have to take a few seconds and adjust your browser settings.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
j-dizzle @ May 25th 2006 5:25PM
dell=1
google=0
neil @ May 25th 2006 5:27PM
If I was Microsoft I would go after HP....Dell is bigger, but for some reason I feel like they are going down in popularity…though I’m sure I could be wrong. I know for me I wouldn’t touch Dell notebooks these days, where as HP has quite I few I wouldn’t mind owning. (Dell’s widescreen monitors are still GREAT thought)
neil @ May 25th 2006 5:30PM
If I was Microsoft I would go after HP....Dell is bigger, but for some reason I feel like they are going down in popularity…though I’m sure I could be wrong. I know for me I wouldn’t touch Dell notebooks these days, where as HP has quite I few I wouldn’t mind owning. (Dell’s widescreen monitors are still GREAT though)
PS.
Did they say how long the contract lasted?
John @ May 25th 2006 5:37PM
did this not happen a long time ago. I've been getting Dell laptops for months with Google Desktop pre-installed. I uninstall it every time.
kibets @ May 25th 2006 5:37PM
Microsoft just needs to slip a little code in one of their autoupdates and all that nasty google stuff goes away!
dell 1
google 0
i like that!
anon @ May 25th 2006 5:55PM
"dell 1
google 0"
Shouldn't that be "Google 1; Microsoft 0" as the former beat the latter in the Dell Si contract?
Lee Gibson @ May 25th 2006 6:05PM
"Shouldn't that be "Google 1; Microsoft 0" as the former beat the latter in the Dell Si contract?"
You really didn't understand what happened, did you?
kibets @ May 25th 2006 6:05PM
Anon #6
Do you know how easy it will be to get someone to switch their default search back to MSN?
All MS needs to do is place an innocent pop-up following an update asking the user "Would you like to improve your searches with the new MSN search?" Or something to that effect.
The user will click Ok and begin using MSN search...
Google 0 (spent 1 billion, lost search)
Dell 1 (made 1 billion !)
Microsoft 1 (saved 1 billion)
denigod @ May 25th 2006 6:05PM
#6, not really. Dell gets the $$$. anyone who otherwise wanted a desktop search would have downloaded it themselves, anyone who dosen't know what a desktop search is, probably won't use it anyway, and anyone who knows better blows away their OS immediately upon recieving a dell due to all the crap that comes pre-installed (see above article)
michael @ May 25th 2006 6:10PM
WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!
is google stupid? who dosnt know about google.... fuck what a waste of money...user buys a pc has to format within a month cause of a virus ...
BUY TiVo stop wasting money on stupid projects and deals.
dimmy @ May 25th 2006 6:11PM
"[Google's] Desktop software -- privacy concerns and all -- will now come pre-installed on Dell machines."
Are people not concerned about how Google collects user data? Very little people know that Google collects all your search patterns, etc..
Todd @ May 25th 2006 6:16PM
Go Google Go! Die Microsoft die!
resource @ May 25th 2006 6:18PM
It's so sad that the stupidity of millions of computer buyers is worth so much.
Almost everyone I know changes the homepage instantly or ads a new browser.
Its 2006 and people still cant change their browser settings.
Sad...
MattVB @ May 25th 2006 6:19PM
MSFT is running Google out of money. Just like Netscape and just like planned.
If MSFT REALLY wanted Dell (and AOL) they'd pay. They are just getting Google to spend their coffers.
MickerMack @ May 25th 2006 6:30PM
Important here to remember what much of Dell's market is composed of: less tech-inclined consumers who want a cheap, no-frills computer. How many of these people know how to change (or would even bother to change) default search settings, or are aware of IE alternatives like FF?
These are the consumers Google forked over the money to target, not you and me.
Jeremy @ May 25th 2006 6:55PM
People still use IE??
Jeff @ May 25th 2006 7:24PM
I have also been getting Dell machines for the past few months with Google software. I was surprised to see this today, as I thought it was a done deal long ago.
homer @ May 25th 2006 7:32PM
Soon everyone will hate google as now everyone hate microsoft. More power, more enemy.
solomonrex @ May 25th 2006 7:43PM
I'm giving Google the benefit of the doubt on this one, since they have the gi-normous database, the stats on their users and people who click on Dell links, etc. Besides over 3 years, that isn't a lot to them.
Jayayess1190 @ May 25th 2006 7:57PM
#14 made me lol!
Anonymous @ May 25th 2006 7:58PM
I'm surprised Google didn't get Dell to put Firefox on the computers with Google Toolbar for Firefox preinstalled or something...
Oh well, better luck next time...
Rusty @ May 25th 2006 9:37PM
I've had 2 dell laptops...5100 & the current E1505
First thing I did with the new one was the same thing I did with the old one when I got it. Ordered a extra HD for it, installed XP clean, but kept the other one as is minus the crap on the desktop...until the warranty expires.
I guess there are still PC buyers who actually don't know
squat about computers....or there wouldn't be so much demand for antispyware/virus/crapware programs. Because if people were more savy, that crap wouldn't get on your computer in the first place.
Chloefrom24 @ May 25th 2006 10:13PM
Actually...Dell tends to sell more to companies/businesses than to individuals. Which I'm assuming, no offense against Google, is that the first thing the company would do prior to deploying the machines is get rid of all the Google desktop s/w and extras...
Google should have really gone after HP, which has plans this year to partner with Wal-Mart to provide "build-your-own-pc." Now that's a market who has completely no idea what the hell Google is or what PC stands for.
Hugh @ May 25th 2006 10:33PM
I remember getting my new computer, and the FIRST thing I did was changed my home page to my e-mail homepage. Isn't that what everyone else did to some degree? Sorry Google, you missed the memo....
Marvin Pyrocanine @ May 25th 2006 10:41PM
the real news here, hinted at by Jeremy, is that IE default settings is still thought of as a commodity to compete for. it says volumes about these companies whose people know this is the worst choice for their customers but continue to shove it in front of them because of back room deals. Google is only working with what Dell and Microsoft insest has produced. I'm sure they would prefer to have users use something other than an ancient, standards-hating browser, but they can't exactly tell Dell to violate their deal with M$
Pi @ May 25th 2006 10:48PM
Hugh 21 - But if you have personalized google home, then you can have a "widget" on there that is an email previewer (that shows your five most recent emails, previews of them, and access to your inbox), therefore combining google search page and your email homepage. It just lets you combine RSS feeds, email, and search into one page, more functional than just an email homepage.
mike @ May 25th 2006 10:53PM
People do not know how to change their browser. Working in the IT repair business, it does not amaze me. People do not know that there are other browsers available. They only think IE is the only one. I tell them about FF, Safari even Opera. They have no idea. These are the same people that can run a million dollar business, but that is it.
Mulyadi Kurniawan @ May 25th 2006 11:23PM
Yes, I agree. It would be easy for Microsoft to remove Google Desktop.
a @ May 25th 2006 11:47PM
they just keep pre-installing, and we just keep un-installing.
Aaron @ May 26th 2006 12:03AM
I agree with #16 (homer)... everyone is going to hate Google just as much as Microsoft pretty soon. Not because they did anything wrong, but because for some stupid reason people think success = attempt at world domination. Everyone said Microsoft was trying to rule the world. Now you don't hear it so much. Now it's Google. I know a few people that started using Macs just because they felt that Bill Gates has too much money.
I guess that doesn't have anything to do with the article, but... just something to think about I guess.
Russell @ May 26th 2006 12:28AM
Great, just what we need, another program to uninstall on Dell's... not to mention it's a crappy toolbar/desktop search anyways.
That's what you get on a Dimension, but our Optiplex and Precision systems have been coming with a very uninvited Google Toolbar/Desktop/Homepage and MS Small Business Accounting with MSDE engine.
At least we can order them with no Security Crapware like Consumer versions of Norton AV/McAfeeAV
Stock Market Crash Coming? @ May 26th 2006 1:15AM
According to rumors, a 1987 style market crash is about to hit the U.S. Stocks.
Here are a couple of links, latest was published on May 24 2006. ( Yesterday )
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06052410.htm
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CNBCTV/Promos/P151355.asp
Altho these look as rumors, there are some evidence that they might be real, including the push by Republicans to kick out mexicans in order to speed up inflation ( prices going up as americans do it all ).
Also recently, the indian stock market crashed, which American corporations had(and still do) invested in heavily.
Another sign is that stocks have gone up so high so quickly, most stocks are up between 300% and 800% from Mid 2002 and 2003.
At the same time, the cooling real estate ( possibly a mild-bubble burst on the way ) and you have total chaos.
I wouldnt be looking for "bargain" deals in the stock market, because that is what everyone else is trying to do. and thats whats keeping the bubble alive.
ethana2 @ May 26th 2006 2:23AM
Guys, I'm a tech nerd. I use IE. Not because it's the best, by any means, but because it has all those plugins already. I love the tab structure, but I don't like constant plugin not found stuff...
Google... ah yes, google. I love them, honestly. I use google desktop occasionally, I use google toolbar. I have gmail. I use google talk. I think google earth is the best think since sliced bread. I use google sketchup. And of course, I use google as my home page, and I use it to find everything online.
I beleive that google has a lot about them that is different from M$ that will prevent their being despised by the public. Like, say, all the free software that actually works, essential services, and the fact that they care.
M$ is disliked in part because they push themselves as the standard. Google accepts standards. I doesn't force them on people. Google earth, for example, can use D3d or OGL.
As for the stock market, that's what you get with capitalism. I have my own system...
187 John Doe @ May 26th 2006 5:33AM
This god damn penis envy is at fault.
Lord of My Pants @ May 26th 2006 9:13AM
When you have $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.00, then $1,000,000,000.00 is a bargin!
pito189 @ May 26th 2006 9:19AM
The average user that dell sells to is not going to have the know how or even care to change their homepage or uninstall anything. Working for tech support on my college campus, you will be surprised how little people know about computers.
And I agree with ethana2, I use google to search for everything, I use gmail for all my email, and google sketch up is freaking awesome. I just can't wait for them to finish the mac version.