Henk van de Goor's Bloggers@large

This week Google launched yet another service to enhance the experience of Internet users in general and Google users in particular; they came up with their own public DNS services. For those who are not tech-savvy: when you type in an address in your browser, your PC sends of a request to what is called a DNS service (Domain Name Server). This will translate the easy to remember name (i.e. www.cnn.com) into a not so easy to remember IP-address like 157.166.226.26. You could look at DNS services like a postman; he knows where to put your mail - well, most of the time ;-). DNS services are provided automatically (and for free) by your Internet provider (ISP) or you would not be able to surf the web or do things like emailing. Anyway; chances are that you, until you read this, didn't even knew about the existence of DNS.

This new Google service immediately sparked some debate among myself and some of my co-workers. I was amazed at some conclusions they drew and some of their reasoning behind it. The same - negative - attitude was also reflected on many Dutch websites (like Tweakers.net) and internet fora. And even a post on "Digitalrendezvouz": a blog of a friend of mine was very critical. It triggered a lengthy response (and discussion) by me and I decided to also post about the same matter on my blog.

First: I am amazed at how much negativity Google is getting lately when they announce new services (Wave, ChromeOS, Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation) or business ventures. And much of it is unfair - in my opinion. It is almost seems like people are looking for a new “Microsoft” to bash.

As long as Google was small and independent it was fine because they we’re kicking the establishments ass. But now Google has gotten big and main stream (i.e. part of the establishment), they suddenly are perceived by many as a threat to privacy? As if Google has some evil master plan.

I don't know if this is just a typical Dutch attitude - but I have a feeling it is. In the US people respect success more than they envy it.

Let me say this: unlike Microsoft, Google has not showed any signs of any intentional (notice the word "intentionally") abuse of their market position whatsoever. Like buying competitors and then killing of their products or blackmailing hardware companies into selling their products with Windows pre-installed for instance – to mention just a few documented court cases against Microsoft.

But let's analyze the criticism more in-depth and have a look at some facts and fiction.
Continue reading "Google bashing the new fashion" »