Microsoft Takes Aim At Google

TiredOfCrap writes "People are underestimating what Microsoft is doing with search technology, says Bill Gates. The head of the software giant told the BBC that its ambition is to be bigger than Google in search. "

Unrealistic Ambitions

[agslashdot]

Mr. Gates writes "We have a research lab in Cambridge, we have one now in China, one in India and that is where the top problems in computer science are going to be solved."

Really ?

Here's some of the top problems in CS. [unf.edu]

Here's [microsoft.com] the research lab in India - working on technology implementations, certainly not top CS problems.

Here [microsoft.com] are the 10 innovations that will blow you away - coming out of Beijing. Again, some very sound implementations, but not exactly top 10 CS problems.

But yes, Cambridge [microsoft.com] is looking at some of the top 10 CS problems. However, MS is no Bell Labs when it comes to taking on research problems. They end up successfully monetizing tech solutions, but that is quite different from pioneering fundamental breakthroughs like inventing a transistor [bellsystemmemorial.com] or laser [bell-labs.com].

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

get their own site search fixed first

[boomerny]

well, seeing as I can't get decent results searching on microsoft.com, I don't see how they can think they are even close to competing with Google. Most of the time when I need to find something at ms I use a 'site:microsoft.com' from Google and much better results than the MS site search.

Re:Bland ambition?

[rhodes777]

Yes, you're a funny guy, but let's be fair. I've been using Windows 2000 at work every day for the last 6 months, and it hasn't crashed once.

P.S. I only use FreeBSD at home.