Comments on: That's TWO Ads On Google's Homepage

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:38:00 +0000

What is your point that the ADs are different? There are 2 ads, hence one is different then the other. 2 ads

By: Fes

Fes — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:51:00 +0000

> How do you think this will effect its core brand?
I think articles that beg for comments are sad.

By: David Sutherland

David Sutherland — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:36:58 +0000

That Chrome ad is driving me crazy bc we have a lab full of Mac PowerPC G4's and if I use Google as a home page it taunts the users to try Chrome... even though if the user clicks on the ad and then tries to install Chome they are told PPC is NOT supported.

Kinda like advertising scuba gear for those who live in the desert. Google, of all people, should get a clue.

I'm going to change the home page of the lab machines if they don't stop.

By: Yuhong Bao

Yuhong Bao — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:17:47 +0000

Well, these are just text ads with a little bit of graphics advertising Google’s own products, nothing else. Also note that the two ads are different.

By: Rashaad

Rashaad — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:38:24 +0000

This is going to be bad for Google in the long term. They are starting to morph from an open-source stalwart to something more of a Big Brother, and a competitor to Facebook at that. They are also setting a new bar for other 'intangible' product manufacturers in the same class to attain. It's only a matter of time now before we see Facebook consumer hardware.

Google should have stayed out of the business of trying to sell real things, but maybe it's just as well they started - we see a clearer picture now of where they intend to go in the future. I know for sure that I will be migrating away from them as soon as possible

By: Jason Braud

Jason Braud — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:20:57 +0000

Great post, I haven't seen this yet..

This will not hurt their brand. It will make their brand stronger. If you are someone like me, who uses all all Google's free tools and you are a supporter of all that Google does then you might find yourself down the road buying their products. I know when the Google phone comes out I'll get one, and when their operating system is released I'm there too. Google has no worries in throwing up a few ads and that hurting their overall image.

Jason

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:16:10 +0000

Arrogance exemplified. What makes Google's product so much worth advertising over something else? Say, a Segway, or some other "world changing" product?

As a shareholder and user, I find this pretty sad; looks like Google is being overrun by former employees of other second rate silicon valley tech behemoths; the are losing their way.

By: JG

JG — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:21:15 +0000

You can still anticipate user needs and develop your phones and your web browsers and your chat clients and all that.

And don't forget the horoscopes! I'm still waiting for TechCrunch to announce Google Horoscope!

By: JG

JG — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:14:49 +0000

Correction: “I do not believe that the ends justify the means”

Just because they anticipate user needs does not allow them to violate all their other principles in order to do so. You can anticipate user needs without violating principles.

Second correction: Perhaps “allow” is too strong of a word. Google can do whatever in the hell it wants. That doesn’t change the objective fact that, when it does act in certain ways, it has violated SEVEN of its principles in doing so.

Just so that we all understand and are clear on this.

By: JG

JG — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:51:16 +0000

You pointed out yourself that the original Google corporate philosophy allowed for "anticipating needs not yet articulated by our global audience, then meeting them with products and services that set new standards." Well, that's precisely what they're doing here. Their philosophy made an explicit exemption for this precise type of behavior, so it can't be said to violate the philosophy.

No, this is not a "get out of jail free clause.

Zach, there is a big difference between the actual anticipation of that need, and execution of the solution. The need is the "ends", putting the ad on the home page is the "means".

I do not believe that the means justify the ends. You can still anticipate user needs and develop your phones and your web browsers and your chat clients and all that. Without having to resort to breaking your SEVEN other principles about how and where you will show advertisements.

If what you are saying is true, then the development of the iPhone is also something that anticipatorily was developed to meet changing user needs. So why didn't Google let Apple put a graphical advertisement on Google's home page, eh? If your interpretation of the philosophy is the true one, then they really should have. They didn't. That speaks louder than words.