Faint At Heart

With all the recent publicity given to Google as the Internet’s number one search service, it’s hardly surprising that Microsoft has already started work on re-vamping their MSN search service. Okay, it’s still powered by the Yahoo engine, but according to Microsoft it has been “cleaned up” and the new service mirrors much more the kind of “non-commercial” results which are currently displayed by Google.

Costing some $100 in development costs and lost advertising revenues, MSN’s makeover offer the end-user a much more uncluttered screen and again this aesthetic change mirrors the simple interface of Google. Results too are served quicker than the old system, or so Microsoft claim, although they supply no data on how this compares to Google.

The web search market is currently dominated by Google and Yahoo although Microsoft are now openly stating that they will be edging their own search engine into this market by the end of 2004.

This mega-upgrade, which is currently undergoing full testing at Microsoft, breaks away from the Yahoo engine and be powered by their own software engine and algorithms which will, they claim, enable people to search for what they want rather than be presented with a number of paid/sponsored results. Should this happen, the move away from paid-for results will be a big step for Microsoft, who, in the past, have come under universal criticism, as end-users have not had confidence that the results served to them were unbiased.

With the search needs of over 350 million people up for grabs, Microsoft are keen to dissuade people from using the other engines. But with over 80% of the current daily global Net searches being performed on Google, Microsoft have much work to do. But for those who fear for the future of Google with Microsoft breathing heavily down their neck, you might take comfort from a time, not so long ago, when Microsoft considered itself bigger than the Internet. Does anyone remember Microsoft Network? Thought not!

As for Google, while they do not have the same aggressive marketing culture as Microsoft, they are very inventive, creative and above all, they are already internationally successful; holding one of the most recognized brands in the world. Far from standing still, Google has quietly expanded its range of services and now even offers an affiliate scheme to webmasters to host Google Adsense Ad’s on their websites. But perhaps it’s a mark of the trust and confidence that people have in Google as a corporation, that their have the only affiliate scheme on the Net which does not specify up front what commision it will be paying.

I suspect that when the Seach Wars are finally concluded it will be the confidence end-users have in the results they are served which will win out and not necessarily the best or fastest technology. Currently of course, Google are streets and houses ahead of both Microsoft and Yahoo in the public confidence stakes and it will be interesting to see if this confidence can be maintained following Google’s much publicized floatation on the Stock Market.

Microsoft may well find that winning public confidence in this war is harder than the creation of any technology they wish to introduce and in the end, just as they did with Apple, Microsoft may well consider buying into that confidence and snap up a major chunk of Google’s stock.

About The Author

Robert Palmer is CEO of deskNET Communications (www.desknet.co.uk) – suppliers of the first affordable alternative to opt-in email marketing and newletter publishing; eMail: info@desknet.co.uk

Panic attacks and anxiety attacks can affect you in in numerous ways. Have you ever hit snooze on your alarm in the morning and physically unable to get out of bed? Have you experienced dread about going to work, and felt as if you just couldn’t “go through the motions” time and time again? Have you sensed or had an over overbearing feeling come over you where it was as if you couldn’t control your actions? If this is you, don’t feel as if you are along. As there is more pressure from jobs, work, and society to accomplish more in less time, it’s not a suprise that more and more of our fellow man is about to snap.

Symptoms you may begin to experience are crying or feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and despair. Feeling that the majority of what you do is for nothing and pointless, you are at the bottom of an ever deepening hole, and there is no end in sight. Anxiety attacks, panic attacks, and depression and or a matter of all three could possibly be the cause.

As you experience these, you quite often take more sick days with your work than your colleagues, be ridiculed or harassed at work for not being able to keep up, or not being able to center on and accomplish your work at all. It’s not entirely unusual either to have higher instances of other illnesses on account of decreased immune systems.

Panic attacks, anxiety attacks, and depression can be a catalyst to serious events in you and your families life and can feel as if your life is worthless or even that you feel suicidal.

Consider that, you are not by yourself, and very many people feel this way, are going through the same thing. There are ways you can go about to get things to help yourself. Talk to a trusted friend. Getting it off your back can very often help out a great deal. There are many methods which you can do for yourself that are self help, such as http://www.anxiety-attacks-panic-attacks.com. You can also seek professional medical advice, and use that in conjunction with therapy and anxiety self help.

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