Bob's Profile

Member since June 16, 2005

  • Name

    Bob Oliver

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  1. Comment - Google Bundles Software with WinZip

    (Jun 16, 2005 - 2:15 PM)

    Awesome. The Internet itself, and the entire collection of Internet Protocols are spyware because they pass information such as IP addresses and so forth in their evil "packets." I'm going to ask SpyBot to add my network card's drivers to their Spyware/Adware list.

  2. Comment - Google Bundles Software with WinZip

    (Jun 16, 2005 - 2:12 PM)

    This relates to my "nerd" and "non-nerd" post earlier. The most common installers of WinZip are non-nerds. Like my mom, for example. It is much easier for me to tell my mom to use AOL as her ISP, and to install WinZip (if her OS is too far behind for built-in zip folder functionality.) I am never going to get my mom to use Linux, use a local ISP, and keep up-to-date with the latest and greatest compression programs that can now compress 10% better than previous algorithms, and so on... without expecting me to become the eternal hand-holder for the rest of my life. At the same time, she doesn't even know what the Yahoo and AOL toolbars are, but she's got 'em. So, Google is simply using the same bundling marketing tactics that their primary competitors are doing... not to piss off the nerds, but to market themselves to my mom - and other non nerds that believe that the only software that exists in the world is bundled software.

  3. Comment - Google Bundles Software with WinZip

    (Jun 16, 2005 - 2:07 PM)

    From Google Desktop Search's privacy policy:

    "By default, Google Desktop Search collects a limited amount of non-personal information from your computer and sends it to Google. This includes summary information, such as the number of searches you do and the time it takes for you to see your results, and application reports we'll use to make the program better. You can opt out of sending this information during the installation process or from the application preferences at any time."

    It also states:

    "Your computer's content is not made accessible through Google Desktop Search to Google or anyone else without your explicit permission."

    It is not sending the index information, nor any private information from your computer. It is simply sending "summary information". i.e., anonymous user #1234 did 17 searches with an average response time of 0.34 seconds per search. I have no problem with this, personally. If anyone else does, there is an opt-out for this during the install, and in the preferences.

    This directly conflicts with your statement that the index information would be stored on Google's servers and that users have no way of opting out.

  4. Comment - Google Bundles Software with WinZip

    (Jun 16, 2005 - 1:37 PM)

    I've read all of the posts to date and feel the desire to put in my two cents. The Google of yesteryear appeals to a very specific group of people - nerds. I'm not trying to be mean... by that standard, *I* am a nerd. The fact of the matter is, they hide a lot of their features... and many features require intellect to use.

    Not many people know that, in Google, if you precede your search by the word "book" and a space, you will get all of the print-book results. (i.e., "book boundaries") Most non-nerds need nerds to hold their hands through such "command line" functions like this. My mom (for instance) is a non-nerd... she does not have the Google toolbar (and likely doesn't know it even exists, or even what a toolbar is)... and she probably isn't quite sure what Gmail is. She does, however, have the AOL toolbar and the Yahoo toolbar installed. She didn't make this choice, it "just happened."

    Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL, and the like have been marketing to non-nerds for years. As a result, they've got that market cornered. They do this by "bundling." They're not trying to "trick" people into installing their software. The only people who are being "tricked" are non-nerds. Nerds always know to click the "Advanced" or "Custom Install" buttons, and turn on and off the features really desired. Non-nerds only know to click the "Next" or "Typical Install" buttons.

    So, I don't feel there is anything "wrong" or "evil" about Google marketing to non-nerds by bundling their software. It doesn't use some sort of security loophole to install itself (like most spyware/adware,) and it does not require its software to be installed for the primary software to function (like many adware programs,) and it does not try to hide itself or reinstall itself when an uninstall attempt is tried. It is just a simple software bundle, just like when photo editing software comes with a scanner.

    In my opinion, the ways Google is "doing no evil" is by NOT charging money in areas where they easily could have. They could have released Gmail with 100 megs of storage, and charged $20 per year for 1 gig of space. They could charge a premium for those who want access to the satellite imagery within Google Maps. They could have sold Google Desktop Search as a 14-day free trial software, with a $29.99 activation fee for the "pro" version which allows the installation of plugins. They didn't. They give more and more for free. They usually only attempt to make money off of those who use their services to make money.

    Do you think Microsoft's Desktop Search is better? Are you happy that AOL gives 2 gigs of email space now? That's awesome, and it's your choice. Isn't it great, though, that Google stepped outside of the box to lead the way for all of these other companies to also step outside of the box, to make the customer first. Do you really think Yahoo and AOL would have decided to give a gig or more of space for free if Gmail had never come to light? Kudos to Yahoo and AOL and Microsoft to follow Google's lead. Kudos to Google for starting a new trend in more powerful free software from money-earning corporations.

    It makes no sense to bash Google just for trying to earn the money required to continue to provide more and more free stuff. Just enjoy the free stuff, or ignore it altogether. The choice is yours. (FYI, Gmail is technically more than 2 gigs now. The storage allowance goes up every second.)

  5. Comment - Google Bundles Software with WinZip

    (Jun 16, 2005 - 1:17 PM)

    I think you are confusing Gmail or Google Internet Accelerator with Google Desktop Search. Google Desktop Search does NOT store the index data on Google's servers. The index data is stored only on that local PC. Everything regarding Google Desktop Search happens on the PC it is installed on. Gmail and Google Internet Accelerator, however, DO store information on Google's servers because these are web-based services. They have stated, however, that if you actually delete your emails in your Gmail account (instead of just archiving them,) then the data will be removed from Google's servers in a reasonable amount of time. Everyone has to understand that there are always backup and data redundancy routines which result in lots of redundant data... and when there is a delete request, it may take time before all traces are completely nuked.