This topic has been spoken on a lot, a quick google search shows that this topic has brought up as far back as 2003 when The Inquirer wrote Is Google the next Microsoft?. A buddy of mine in the industry sent me a more recent article by RedmondMag Google, the next Microsoft and ask for my thoughts on the issue. I will start off by saying, this isn't a black and white questions and/or answer. This is a very hot topic, not in because everyone is talking about it, but because of what it means. Both to corporate users, end users and the technology community.

There is no doubt Microsoft is a monopoly, even after going through the courts over the issue, they are still a monopoly and flex their muscle when they want to. Over the years though, Microsoft has position it self as a company for the corporate world. That is how they got their start, and that is where they continue to focus, offering steep discounts for the more you purchase, which every retailer does. What this allows is for Windows and Office to be forced on the employees, which learn to use it and get comfortable with it and then look for the same solution when they go buy a personal PC. That is all fine, as that has been done for years and years. But times are changing and Microsoft is not. They have continued to ignore the end user and ignore the technical community that is also such a deep part of Microsoft's success.

Google on the other hand is the opposite, they focus on the end user, they focus on the technical communities they have given them the power they have. They give back to the open source products which drive the backbone of their products. They provide innovative software and tools to GTD (get things done). They do all of these for free for the end-user, but charge the corporations who want to build their software repository off of these Google Services. Free is a very loose term, we are still paying for it, we are paying for it not via our hard earned cash, but instead in our information. We give up our browsing habits and the information we store in their applications. But, the free software and services isn't the only thing we get in return. We also get ads, the wonderful world of ads. What is different about the google ads, they aren't intrusive as most and they are relevant to you and what you are looking for. So while Ads have a negative stigma around them, these are actually benefical has they open your eyes to products and deals you didn't know about. Not just random ones, but relevant to what you like.

This is the biggest difference from Microsoft and Google, their focus on the client is completely different. Google is for improving the end user experience and for providing rich services. Microsoft can provide rich services, but loses focus of the client.

Now don't get me wrong, Google is becoming if not already, a monopoly. This difference being they haven't showed any bad faith. Microsoft has tarnished it's name and ruined it's trust in the eyes of many, and that will take a long time to get back. Google hasn't lost this yet, and they should be aware of this and learn from Microsoft. Keep the good will, keep the trust, and you will succeed.

As many know, I am a huge Open Source advocate, but I am a bit different then most. I do not want to see Microsoft's demise. I do not want to see Microsoft to become 100% open source. I do want to see Microsoft become a responsible corporate citizen. Not just "Business" corporation, but technical. I want to see them give back from the places they started and from the projects they use. (I'm pointing their Network stack here). Release the knowledge and you will see Microsoft flourish.