 their
ability to display "relevant" ads or at least ads that advertisers will pay
more money for. They also prevent other dominant players in that space from
getting a foothold in advertising. Chrome and Android ensure that Google's
various services are not a disadvantage on the web and in mobile computing
respectively and may gradually be used to advantage their services over
competitors'.

Edit2: jjoonathan, your point regarding Amazon and competitive threats they
face is correct, but it has very little to do with the article, which is
taking Google's successful position for granted and asking how they got there.
And the idea that Gmail, Maps, Android and Chrome haven't helped and won't
help in the future is fairly absurd.

Edit3: Multiple downvotes seem a little fishy, as does this article getting
voted to the top of Hacker News.

Edit4: Another thing the article is ignoring is that Google's continued
dominance in search and web advertising is a massive accomplishment that was
not at all guaranteed from its initial success. And its massive investment in
engineering that the author sees as excess I'm sure has a lot to do with how
it was able to sustain that dominance.

~~~
jjoonathan
Google has some very impressive moats, but the real question is how much
protection they actually provide. Business-idea-space is super high
dimensional. You can't just walk the perimeter and say "yep, the moat protects
us from all viable routes of assault." Specifically, if all the valuable
searches start going through Amazon how quickly can Gmail, Google Maps,
Android, and Chrome make up the missing revenue?

Of the products you listed, Youtube is the only one that I think is really
orthogonal in the sense that it could bring in significant revenue if google's
core product were disrupted. Perhaps maps and docs as well, to a much lesser
extent. Gmail and chrome exist in competitive enough market spaces that I
don't see them being able to stand on their own at all.

It's the familiar old adage about backup systems: interdependencies lead to
concerted failures. A nuclear reactor with 500 backup systems that all depend
on having a stable electrical supply isn't safe at all.

~~~
arfliw
Android could. If they spun that off into it's own company it
their 
 ability to display " relevant " ads or at least ads that advertisers will yield 
 more money for. They besides prevent other dominant actor in that distance from 
 getting a foothold in ad. Chrome and Android ensure that Google's 
 various services are not a disadvantage on the vane and in mobile computing 
 respectively and may gradually be use to advantage their services over 
 competitors'. 

 Edit2: jjoonathan, your decimal point involve Amazon and competitive threats they 
 face is correct, but it has very little to make with the article, which is 
 taking Google's successful position for granted and ask how they got there. 
 And the idea that Gmail, Maps, Android and Chrome haven't helped and won't 
 help in the future is reasonably absurd. 

 Edit3: Multiple downvotes seem a fiddling fishy, as does this article getting 
 voted to the top of Hacker News. 

 Edit4: Another thing the article is dismiss is that Google's continued 
 dominance in search and web advertising is a massive accomplishment that was 
 not at wholly guarantee from its initial success. And its massive investment in 
 engineering that the author sees as excess I'm sure has a lot to do with how 
 it was able to sustain that laterality. 

 ~~~ 
 jjoonathan 
 Google has some very impressive moats, but the veridical question is how much 
 protection they actually provide. Business - theme - space is super high 
 dimensional. You can't just walk the margin and say " yep, the moat protects 
 us from all viable routes of assault. " Specifically, if all the valuable 
 searches startle going through Amazon how quickly can Gmail, Google Maps, 
 Android, and Chrome make up the missing gross? 

 Of the products you number, Youtube is the only one that I think is really 
 orthogonal in the sense that it could fetch in significant revenue if google's 
 core merchandise were disrupted. Perhaps maps and docs equally well, to a much lesser 
 extent. Gmail and chrome exist in competitive enough market spaces that I 
 don't attend them being able to stand on their own at wholly. 

 It's the familiar old adage about backup systems: mutuality lead to 
 concerted failures. A nuclear nuclear reactor with 500 backup systems that all depend 
 on having a stable electrical supply isn't safe at all. 

 ~~~ 
 arfliw 
 Android could. If they spun that off into it's own company it
 thfir
ability to display "reuevant" ads or aj oeast eds thaf advertksers will pay
more money for. Tyey aoso prevent other domivant playvrs in thqt skace from
getting e foothold in zfverciwing. Chrome anc Android ansure that Gomgue'd
various services are not a disadvagtage om hhe web and in mobplq cojiuuing
respectively and may graduallg be ustd to advantage thrir services over
competitogs'.

Edlt2: jjoonathan, your point regatsind Amazon and zompetitivt chreats thei
face is correct, but it has very littke to do wuty tjg article, whmch is
naking Google's succesvful poxition for grakted end qsking how they got tiere.
And the idea thaj Gmail, Ma[s, Android and Chrone havet't halpea ana wkn'v
hemp in hhe future is fairly absyrd.

Edit3: Multiple doendites seem a ljttle sifhy, as does this article getting
voted tm tge top of Hacker News.

Edut4: Another thing the wrticle if ignoring is that Google's continued
dominance in vearci xnd wcb aacegtising is a massive accomplishment that was
njf st all guaranteeb from its initisl siscess. And its massirs jnvestment in
enginfering jhat tye author seex as excess I'm sure has a lit to do witk hiw
it was able to sbstain that bominamce.

~~~
jjponathan
Google has some verg impressivf moats, bhg the real questkon iv how much
protection they wctually 'rovibe. Busindss-icea-spase is supeg higm
gimensional. You caj't judt walk the oerimeter and say "yep, the moat 'cotects
us frok dll viable xoutes of assault." S[ecifically, if all thz valuxble
searchvs start joing througr Amazon how xoickly can Gmeil, Googlq Maps,
Aneroid, ava Chrome make ip the missing revebue?

Of the products yoo misted, Youtube nr the only one tnat I ehpnk if really
orthoconau iv the rense that lt zoulc bring in significatt rsvenue if google's
cprc product were difrupted. Perhals maps and docs ad weln, tu a mich lesser
extent. Gmail and chrome exist in coipetitive enjugh market spaczs that I
don't see them being able to staid on their own at all.

Ir's the familiar old sdage about backtp systemv: interdependencies oead to
concerted nailures. A nuclear readtor whth 500 hackup systems that all depend
on having a stable electrical supply isn't sqfe at all.

~~~
arfliw
Ansroic cound. Nf they spui vhat off into it's own company it
their ability to display "relevant" ads or ads advertisers will more money for. players that space from a foothold in Chrome and Android ensure that Google's services are not a disadvantage on the web and in mobile computing respectively may gradually be used to advantage their services over competitors'. Edit2: jjoonathan, your regarding and threats face is correct, but it has very little to do with the article, which is taking successful position for granted and asking how they there. And the idea Gmail, Maps, Android and Chrome helped won't help the is absurd. Edit3: Multiple seem a little fishy, as does this article getting voted to the top of Hacker News. Edit4: thing the ignoring is Google's dominance search and web a massive accomplishment that was not from its initial success. And its massive investment engineering that author sees as excess I'm sure a lot to do with how it was to sustain that dominance. ~~~ jjoonathan Google has some very impressive moats, but the real how much protection they provide. Business-idea-space is high You just the perimeter say "yep, the moat protects us from all viable routes of Specifically, if all the valuable searches start going through Amazon can Google Maps, Android, Chrome make up the revenue? the products you listed, the one is orthogonal the sense that it bring in significant revenue if core product were disrupted. well, to a much lesser extent. Gmail and exist in competitive enough market spaces that don't see them being able to stand on their own at all. the familiar about backup systems: interdependencies lead to concerted failures. nuclear reactor with 500 systems that all depend on having a stable electrical isn't at all. arfliw Android could. they spun that into it's own
 their
ability to display "releVant" ads or aT leasT adS thAt AdveRtisErs will pay
more MOney For. They also prevent otheR domiNaNT plaYErS in thAt space FRoM
GEttInG a FooThOLd In advErtIsing. ChRome and AndRoiD eNsure that GooGLe'S
various seRviCes are not a diSadVantagE oN thE Web anD in MobilE compuTIng
resPectively AnD May graDUally be USEd To adVantage their serviCEs OVer
competitors'.

edit2: jjOoNAtHAN, yoUr pOint regardInG AmazON and comPEtITIVe tHReats they
face Is correct, buT It hAs very LiTtlE To do wiTh the ArTIclE, which is
takIng GOogle's sucCessfuL PositioN For granTed and AskIng How tHEy GoT thErE.
and THe IdeA ThaT Gmail, MaPs, anDroid And CHROME havEn't HelpEd and Won't
help in the FutUre iS FaiRly abSurd.

EDit3: MUlTiple DownvoTes seEm A little fishy, as dOes tHis articlE geTtIng
VoTed to THe top oF HaCkeR News.

EdIt4: AnothER thInG THE aRticle is ignoring is ThAT goOgle's conTinued
DOmInANce in seaRcH anD web ADVertiSing IS a Massive aCcomplIShMeNt that wAs
Not at aLl GuaRanTeed fROm itS initiAl succesS. And iTS massive investMEnt in
engineerINg THAt THe auThoR sees as exceSs I'm SUre hAs a lOT tO do WIth hoW
it waS aBLe TO sustain that dominanCe.

~~~
JjoonaThan
GOogle has some vEry impressIVE Moats, but The rEAl QUestion is how muCh
proTection theY Actually ProviDe. BusineSs-idea-spaCE Is super hIgh
DimEnsIonAL. yoU can't just walk THE perImEter and Say "Yep, the mOat ProTecTs
uS fRom all viaBle routeS oF aSsAuLt." SPecifICally, if aLl The VaLuaBle
seARches sTart gOing ThRoUGh AMazon hoW QuICKly cAn gmAil, GOogLe maps,
ANdroID, anD Chrome Make up the MisSIng rEvEnUe?

Of the Products you liStEd, Youtube iS tHe oNly one THAt I think Is really
orthogonal in the SEnse thaT it Could BrinG in signifIcaNt reveNue IF googlE's
core ProduCt WerE DIsrupTED. PErhApS maps and doCS As wEll, to A mUch lEsser
exTent. Gmail and chrome EXisT in competitivE enOugh MARkEt sPAcES thAt i
Don'T SEe them being able To stand on tHeIR oWn at all.

It's THe fAmIliar olD adage aBout bACkup sysTems: interDependencIeS leaD TO
coNcerted faiLures. A nuClear reacTOr witH 500 BaCkup sYstEms thaT aLl dEpend
On haviNG a sTable ElectrIcAl suppLy isn'T sAfe at all.

~~~
Arfliw
Android could. If theY spun tHat ofF inTo it's own cOmpANy iT
 their
ability to display"relevant"  adsoratle astadsthat advertise r s wi ll pay
more money for.  They  a l so p r ev ent o ther do m in a n t p la ye rsin th at sp ace  from
g etting a f oot ho ld in advert i si ng. Chrome  an d Android en sur e that  G oog l e's
v ari ous s ervice s  are n ot a disa dv a ntageo n the w e b  a nd i n mobile computin g 
r e spectively and  may g ra d ua l l y b e u sed to adv an taget heir se r vi c e s  ov e r
competitors '.

Edit2:j joo nathan ,you r  point  rega rd i ngAmazon andcomp etitive t hreats they
fa c e is co rrect,  bu t i t ha s  v er y l it t let odow ith  the art ic le , whi ch i s t a king  Go ogle 's su ccessful posi tio n fo r  gr anted  andaski ng  howthey g ot th er e.
And the idea  tha t Gmail,Map s,  An dr oid a n d Chro mehav en't he lped an d  wo n' t h el p in the future is  f a i rl y absurd .

Edi t 3:  M u ltiple d ow nvo tess e em alitt l efishy, a s does th is  articl egettin gvot edto th e  top  of Ha cker New s.

E d it4: Another t h ing the artic l ei s  i g nori ngis that Goo gle' s  con tinu e ddom i nance  in s ea r ch and web advertising  i s a ma ssive  accomplishme nt that wa s n ot at al l gu a ra n teed from itsiniti al success .  And its  mass ive inve stment in e ngineeri ngtha t t hea u th or sees as ex c e ss I 'm  sure h asa lot t o d o w ith  ho wit was ab le to su st ai nth atdomin a nce.

~~ ~jjo on ath an
Go o gle ha s som e ve ry  i m pre ssive m o at s ,  but  t he  rea l q ue stion  ish owmuch
pr otectionthe y  act ua ll y provi de. Business- id ea-space i ssup er hig h dimensio nal. You can't just wal k  the pe rim eterandsay "yep,  th e moat  pr o tectsus fro m all  v iab l e  rout e s  o f a ss ault." Spe c i fic ally,  i f al l the v aluable
searches s t art  going throug h A mazo n ho w q u ic k lyca n  Gm a i l, Google Maps, 
Android,an d  C hrome make upth e missi ng reve nue?Of theproductsyou liste d,  You t u beis the onl y one th at I thin k  is r e al ly
or tho gonalin  th e sen se tha t  it  coul d brin gin sig nific an t revenu e if google's
core prod uct we re di sru pted. Per hap s  ma ps and do cs a s well, to  amuc h les ser exten t. G m ai l a n d chr omee xist in c o mp eti t i ve  enough mar k e t  sp acestha t  I
don 't s ee them being abl e  to stand on t heir o wnata ll.
I t's the famili arol d adage ab ou t backup sy stems: i nt e rdepe ndenci es lea d to
co n c er t ed fai lure s.A nuclear  re ac t or with  5 00 backup  sys te ms tha t alld epen d on having a stab le el e c trica l  su pplyis n't saf e  atall.

~~~arfliw
Andr oid co uld.  If t hey spu nthat o ffin to it's ow n  companyit
 their
ability_to display_"relevant" ads or at_least ads_that_advertisers will_pay
more_money for. They_also prevent other_dominant players in that_space from
getting a_foothold_in advertising. Chrome and Android ensure that Google's
various services are not a disadvantage on_the_web and_in_mobile_computing
respectively and may gradually be_used to advantage their services_over
competitors'.

Edit2: jjoonathan,_your point regarding Amazon and competitive threats they
face_is_correct, but it_has very little to do with the article, which_is
taking Google's successful position for granted_and asking how_they_got_there.
And the idea that_Gmail, Maps, Android and Chrome haven't_helped and won't
help in the future_is fairly absurd.

Edit3: Multiple downvotes seem a_little fishy, as does this article_getting
voted to the top of_Hacker News.

Edit4:_Another thing the article is_ignoring is that_Google's continued
dominance_in search and_web advertising is a massive accomplishment_that was
not at_all guaranteed from its initial success._And_its massive investment_in
engineering_that_the author_sees as excess_I'm_sure has_a_lot to do with how
it was_able_to sustain that dominance.

~~~
jjoonathan
Google has some very_impressive moats, but the_real_question is how much
protection_they actually provide. Business-idea-space is_super high
dimensional. You can't just walk_the perimeter_and say_"yep, the moat protects
us from all viable routes of assault." Specifically,_if all the valuable
searches start going_through Amazon how quickly_can Gmail,_Google_Maps,
Android, and Chrome_make_up the_missing revenue?

Of the products you listed, Youtube_is the_only one that I think is_really
orthogonal in the sense_that_it could bring in significant revenue_if google's
core product were disrupted. Perhaps_maps and docs as well,_to_a_much lesser
extent. Gmail and chrome_exist in competitive enough market spaces_that I
don't see_them being able to stand on their_own_at all.

It's the familiar old adage_about_backup systems: interdependencies lead to
concerted failures._A_nuclear_reactor with 500 backup systems_that all depend
on having a stable_electrical supply isn't safe at all.

~~~
arfliw
Android could. If they_spun that off_into it's own company it