"Meanwhile as this soap opera unfolds, MS is sending Vista Service Pack 1 to manufacturing. Consumers should see it some time in March. But don't break out the party hats and noisemakers just yet; apparently SP1 will still have problems working with older hardware due to driver issues. The question then becomes if we'll ever see a Service Pack 2 to fix the stuff SP1 missed.

Do you think Microsoft will be able to do anything -- let alone fix its broken OS -- while it's wrestling with Google over Yahoo? I don't. 2008 will prove to be a good time to be a Microsoft competitor, and an even worse than usual time to be a Microsoft customer."

"Now, as a member of Yahoo's developer community, and generally a respector of Yahoo (is that a word) -- I say take the deal. I don't think Yahoo has ever had leadership that has been up to navigating the treacherous waters of tech industry economics and politics. At least with the Microsoft acquisition they would get one -- Ray Ozzie."

Raphael Fogel (The Marker):

"The right step for Yahoo!, Microsoft, Facebook and all the rest is to waive Google’s spider, which rides their content and sucks their income, and coerce Google to share them in its future development of products. 'It’s time to stop making money at our expense,' the market will say to Google, 'Speaking of open standards is good for a world where all of us share the revenues or to an ideal world of open source, but now we are united, we have the users, come and show us what you can bring for our package.'."

"Even with Microsoft buying up Yahoo, Google isn’t going anywhere in the near future. I can foresee a lot of inexperienced SEO’s changing their focus to Yahoo/MSN because they think it will soon take over. Not only is this unlikely but Microhoo is still unproven. For now, focus your efforts on Google no matter what happens between Yahoo and Microsoft."

"There is one thing Google could do to exact the ultimate revenge. Google should make a bid to buy Apple, Inc.. Google should forget about filing legal documents, angry public yammerings or making its own bid to buy Yahoo.

If Google wants to stop Microsoft from buying Yahoo - it should go right for the jugular.

For decades, Microsoft has ruled the world of personal computers with an iron fist. The recent renaissance by Apple aside, Microsoft's Windows operating system dominates the computer world like few other products have ever done.

Buying Apple, Inc. makes a lot of sense for Google.

With Google's name recognition, favorable reputation, refreshing approach, innovative products and its gaggle of Wall Street worshipers, acquisition of Apple makes a whole lot of sense. It would instantly make Google a major in the home computer market - plus Google would acquire Apple's other successful products such as the iPod, iPhone and iTunes.

Will we see gMacs, gBooks, gPods, gPhones, and gTunes?"

Aral Balkan (Aral Balkan's Blog):

"I haven't really given it much thought but initial questions that pop into my head include: Will the merger be allowed under antitrust laws? Is Flickr going to be redone in Silverlight? Is Microsoft doing this to gain dominance in web applications or search or advertising or all of the above? If Microsoft buys Yahoo!, will Google buy Adobe?Interesting times."

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