The battle between Microsoft and Google continues to heat up

Alleged comments by Steve Ballmer

http://www.betanews.com/article/Docs_Ballmer_Vowed_to_Kill_Google/1126028053
from WinCustomize Forums

According to a Betanews story, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer was furious when he learned that Kai-Fu Lee was leaving Microsoft for Google.  According to one witness, Ballmer vowed to "bury" Google.  Ballmer denies that the incident occurred as described.

Editorial:

Whether true or not, if a competitor were hiring my guys, I'd probably say more aggressive things than "bury".  At the level Microsoft and Google are, we should leave the comparisons with companies behind and look at them more like sports teams. I suspect the Cowboys and Steelers have had tougher words than "bury" in the past. ;)

But no matter how you look at it, the battle is on between Microsoft and Google.  And to think only a couple years ago there were rumors of Microsoft buying Google.

4,484 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm no Microsoft basher, but I love any competition anyone can provide for them. That can only benefit us consumers.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When is enough enough? How much more money can one person want? If you look up the word greed you should see pics of Bill Gates and the Bush family. Gates/Microsft has more money than he or his next 10 generations could spend,but that doesn't seem to be enough.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Interesting that you would heap that accusation on MS and on Gates but not make any mention of the founders of Google, Bushman.. Do you think the founders of Google are poor college kids just trying to scrape by? No, quite far from it, I believe they are both multi-millionaires by now, and golly if they haven't tried everything they can think of to expand that. Now, if you want to bash Gates, feel free but maybe you need to take a look at how much he donates to charities and other non-profit organizations every year and then compare that to what the Googlers are donating.. Maybe then you'll get some idea of what he's doing with that money you seem to think he doesn't deserve..
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's not to do with money in this case Bushman... it's to do with business practice. They know Lee will have inside information on practices MS do not want Google knowing.

They stipulated in his contract that if he were to leave for a competitor, he would not be allowed to work for them for 1-2 years after leaving MS. It is standard practice in large companies and high up execs.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
BTW, the Google founders are both multi-BILLIONAIRES, and it's growing rapidly.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is standard practice in large companies and high up execs



Actually, I would say it's standard practice in the software industry in general. I've signed a "no compete" clause at every one of my jobs since I graduated from college. They are fairly un-enforcable for a majority of people, but in this case I believe the person was not only the inventor of certain technologies when he worked at MS, but he would be working on technologies that are the same as what he did for MS. So, in this case it would be easily enforcable, not to mention MS has legions of lawyers to keep him busy for years and years..
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey I say it's great that Microsoft is getting competition. An oligopoly is better than a monopoly.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i think LEE's contract will be reviewed before he can start doing some projects for GOOGLE.. if he already started doing his job for GOOGLE.. i think he'll be in a big trouble..