What do you have against Google?

I went hiking at Point Reyes National Seashore [Flickr shots here] over the week end with my friend Richard Brandt. Richard, who is one of the best writers I know is blogging and writing a book about the history, business and strategy of Google. Richard is the past editor in chief of the late Upside magazine during its glory days and spent 14 years asking often acerbic questions of CEO as a BusinessWeek correspondent.

Richard's Richard is known for being hard-boiled and he sort of prides himself in it. The problem is this: He has been studying and researching Google for more than two years and he has come to the conclusion that Larry and Sergey really are good guys, really dedicated to doing no evil, really intending to remain loyal to everyday people who will continue to get free services.

He admits the company's fatal flaw may very well be it's paranoid adherence to secrecy. But in his blog, Richard often comes across, not as the hard-edged investigator, but as a wide-eyed champion of the company, defending t against less-informed cynics like me. I told Richard that he needs to either be tougher on the company or to carry pompoms with him when he's covering Google.

That led to a talk of tech community perceptions of Google.  Richard thinks that Google has become hated, much as was Microsoft a few years back.  I don't think that is the case. I thing there is great admiration for Google mixed with a rapidly rising suspicion level. The company's tight-lipped style makes me mot trust it and that seems to be the perspective of others.

Richard points out that my issue is secrecy and he asked me what the other issues are about Google. He would like case studies and anecdotes about Google that will had a more balanced perspective to his book.

Do you have one?  Do you hate, dislike or mistrust Google? Tell me why or tell him why. But, keep in mind that Richard is looking for on-the-record factual information about evil, contemptible, malevolent actions by Google representatives. He is not looking to start an emotional forum.

Comments

[Richard Brandt]

hey, cool picture. can i use it on my blog?
happy birthday!

[shel israel]

Feel free to use the photo, Richard. No credit necessary.

[Doug Karr]

My personal opinion is that I don't understand Google's overall strategy. It seems as a company they may have Attention Deficit Disorder - jumping from point to point. At times, it seems that their only goal is simply that they 'can do it better'.

They usually do, though! I just hope they don't lose focus as other large companies have, like Symantec, on what their core strengths are. When the money is not rolling in someday, they won't be able to ingeniously support thousands of products. And since they're 'free', they are risking their customers if they ever need to pull the plug on some of their products.

You can see my love/hate in the posts I did 30 minutes apart from one another:
http://www.douglaskarr.com/2006/08/20/

Doug

[Jason Cormier]

Shel, your entry about Google and Richard's conclusion inspired my own

[Jason Cormier]

Oops, looks like your comments area didn't like my html insertion (tried to insert a link back to my blog). Anyway, I was just saying that I think there is a covetous thing we must deal with as humans when others become more successful (people as well as companies). It's just so much more exciting to embrace the gossip and shortcomings than shout the praises.

I'm curious as to whether or not Richard will be able to avoid being the cheerleader for them in the end. Funny thing is that if you write something good about them, you are a cheerleader. If you write something bad, you are a basher. If you write something in between, you are wishy-washy and your content isn't as exciting. Hmmm... sounds like journalism.

[Richard Brandt]

How about this one?: Google is more secretive than a paranoid shizophrenic off his medication. That's what I think is its biggest flaw.

[shel israel]

Jason,
You are either incredibly perceptive or you are a former writer. Writers like to say they stick to the truth, but in fact the trutrh is filled with tedious, long and gray portions, which make for boring writing.

[Richard Brandt]

BTW, Doug, Here's what I think Google's strategy is. It defines the term Search very broadly. Google's goal is to get information to people. That means helping people get online. Hence, paying to install free wi-fi services in Mountain View and San Francisco. (The more people online, the more revenue Google will get from ads.) It means helping people keep track of their own information: Desktop Search, Google Spreasheets, word processor, gmail. Help make information move: gmail, phone services, blogger. Everything to organize and find information.