tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9453798.post2844104165054785593..comments2008-04-12T15:31:00.238-04:00Chad Brandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13124194049618873621noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9453798.post-11799356519344922882008-04-12T15:31:00.000-04:002008-04-12T15:31:00.000-04:00Yahoo is not a content company, but a content distribution company, which is very close to content search company.<BR/><BR/>Nowadays if you look for content you don't anymore look at Yahoo , you look at Google.<BR/><BR/>They are two different approaches - Yahoo's structured form versus Google's free search, and Yahoo had the benefit of being first in the game, but after a few years of sitting in one place they are now out of time and chance to win.<BR/><BR/>I think Yahoo costs *less* than what Microsoft is bidding for it.<BR/><BR/>And, what's more, there is nothing Microsoft can do to improve it.<BR/><BR/>If they could they would have done it with MSN.Bobbyhttp://www.beiks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9453798.post-37551090471369762672008-04-12T12:56:00.000-04:002008-04-12T12:56:00.000-04:00I believe that Yahoo is worth more than Microsoft is offering, but I think that a lot of people have mischaracterized Yahoo as Google's competitor. Maybe 5 years ago, Yahoo had a chance to try to keep up and try to out-google Google at search and contextual advertising, but Yahoo's strategy has been very different since its creation. Yahoo was and is a content network through and through. As such, it's positioned as the most powerful content distribution network on the internet. It's issue has been that it spends inordinate amounts of money trying to monetize the network itself while simply allowing search to be handled by a specialist (Google) would give it more ability to focus on its core business, cut costs, and increase revenue.Danhttp://thecuriousinvestor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9453798.post-79153438070595998302008-04-12T09:31:00.000-04:002008-04-12T09:31:00.000-04:00The Economist provides a good interpretation of the latest developments, like Yahoo outsourcing ads to Google (which to me is like GM outsourcing car manufacturing to Ford), the approaches to AOL (a rapidly dying portal and brand), etc. These are all little tricks to tempt Microsoft to increase their bid. In my opinion Yahoo shareholders should take the Microsoft offer and run. If I were Steve Ballmer I would go hostile with a lower bid, but I don't think he will do that as he might upset key Yahoo employees and executives.<BR/><BR/>On another note, I don't understand what the rave is all about social networking sites, instant messaging, free e-mail, etc. These business have millions of users but make little or no money. I thought 'eyeballs' was so much 1999 but I guess I am wrong.<BR/><BR/>Link to The Economist article:<BR/><BR/>http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11036768Rubensnoreply@blogger.com