Microsoft really wants to burn its money...

So today Microsoft announced that they'll be paying searchers to purchase goods using their product search engine (in the form of cashbacks). This is what Google did with "Google Checkout"; this is what "AllAdvantage" did when I was in college. I've got a tip to Microsoft: build something people really like. It's really that simple. If you don't have something useful, people just type in a different url. You really need, to think: users first and revenue second. I would probably take the money that you've just invested in product search find some startups doing cool things in search and buy them instead. I think that has much better odds of panning out.



Microsoft, you're so lost and burning money - send some my way :).

p.s. I'm so glad I never have to use your operating system again, I'm totally mac'ified now and damned happy about it.