Napoleon - 8:41 am on May 20, 2003 (gmt 0)

>> but come on give them a break <<

No - it isn't a question of a break, and certainly not one of bowing down with a "they know best" approach. Some people did the same when AV and other former leaders of the industry hit the high road to oblivion.

The seeds are certainly there, and all I am doing is pointing them out - as much for Google's benefit as anyone's.

Who knows what's around the corner. Certainly Google can't take anything for granted.

Example? It won't happen because they are too close, but as a whatif:

- What if Yahoo launched a 'supped up' Inktomi as its main provider... NOW?
- What if they made pronouncements that Google had gone of the rails and Ink was now much better?
- What if they trotted out the three examples above (especially the first: with example searches showing poor results) along with some other areas in which Google is currently faltering
- What if they displayed all these as examples of how Google was in serious decline?

Yes... I reckon that might shake the market and cause severe damage to Google. It might well shift some of the balance.

As stated that won't happen, but all sorts of scenarios are possible, especially when Google has so many dodgy balls in the air.