Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

MacosNerd · Feb 1, 2008, 08:08 AM

As being reported by various news sites like
msnbc Microsoft is making an unsolicited 44billion dollar bid for Yahoo. Speculation has been floating around the net about this potential marriage for some time. Looks like M$ is trying to pull the trigger on this puppy.

Given that its willing to pay a premium 62% over Yahoo's stock price, and Yahoo's flagging business model you wonder if they'll take the money and run. Of course you'll also have to wonder if the government will balk at this potential buyout

osiris · Feb 1, 2008, 08:24 AM

With the way the government is now (a sh*tty mess), I doubt they'll care about this acquisition.

My only fear is that MS will make Yahoo PC only - or at the very least make sure Mac users have a hard time on Yahoo sites. Yeah I still Yahoo, and have had a pop account since the roaring 90's and I wish to keep it.

Oisín · Feb 1, 2008, 08:31 AM

They ain’t touchin’ mah Yahoo! mail account!

And I don’t particularly want Microsoft to own (read: destroy) flickr, either.

MacosNerd · Feb 1, 2008, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by osiris

With the way the government is now (a sh*tty mess), I doubt they'll care about this acquisition.

No, look at how they're eyeing google's purchase of doubleclick. Then there's the EU which has been much more stringent against M$ and its policies then the US has. They may look to quash this merger too.

turtle777 · Feb 1, 2008, 08:35 AM

Wouldn't this move effectively make the online ad market a doupoly (GOOG + MSFT/YHOO) ?

I can hardly imagine the regulatory bodies just waving this through...

-t

Nodnarb · Feb 1, 2008, 08:37 AM

Wow, this is huge news. Yahoo's stock is up over 50% in pre-market trading... I wonder if that'll have any effect on the purchase price.

I don't see this being a good thing for either company though... it kind of seems like Balmer is just throwing money out there to "FU*KING KILL GOOGLE!!!"

It really just doesn't seem like a smart business move for Microsoft, IMO. If I were Yahoo!, however, I'd take the money and get the hell out of dodge. At least, that's the smart financial way to go about it... I'd understand if they don't want to give MS the power to run their company into the ground.

osiris · Feb 1, 2008, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by MacosNerd

No, look at how they're eyeing google's purchase of doubleclick. Then there's the EU which has been much more stringent against M$ and its policies then the US has. They may look to quash this merger too.

That's somewhat reassuring, though MS can easily buy the politicians it needs. EU rulings may be inconsequential to anti-trust behavior in the US (where it is more widely embraced).

Eug · Feb 1, 2008, 08:54 AM

Why would they pay over a 60% premium?

P.S. I hope this doesn't seriously affect my Yahoo! account. Cuz I don't like like how they MS'ified Hotmail. That's why I stopped using Hotmail.

osiris · Feb 1, 2008, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

Why would they pay over a 60% premium?

Because they want it bad. Pervertedly bad.

Dakar the Fourth · Feb 1, 2008, 09:02 AM

Which is all the more sign that it should be squashed.

osiris · Feb 1, 2008, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth

Which is all the more sign that it should be squashed.

Yes indeed... but will it?

Dakar the Fourth · Feb 1, 2008, 09:08 AM

I don't know. How much does that depend on who's in office?

osiris · Feb 1, 2008, 09:11 AM

Don't know that... not sure if it matters. The past DOJ vs MS amounted to nothing more than a slap on the wrist - I think that was during Clinton.

Dakar the Fourth · Feb 1, 2008, 09:15 AM

That's actually what I'm referring to. As I understood it, whatever punishment they were in for was reduced to a slap on the wrist when the Bush administration took office.

Eug · Feb 1, 2008, 09:19 AM

I would be shocked if this deal is blocked. There isn't a very good reason to do so. Remember, Google is the 800-lb gorilla here, and this potentially could give Google's rivals a better chance to compete against Google's dominance.

I'm not saying that MS will beat Google by the way. I'm just saying that the deal isn't likely to be blocked.

rickey939 · Feb 1, 2008, 09:28 AM

Lame. You know how many more Zune's could be produced for $44.6 billion?

Yeah, a lot of them. This is the way M$ needs to go. The Zune is the future.

Peter · Feb 1, 2008, 09:48 AM

It's a great idea for Microsoft and Yahoo.
Although I am concerned about how PHP (the lead PHP developer works for Yahoo) and FreeBSD (Yahoo has the largest installation of FreeBSD servers) will fare. I think it'll all be OK and everything will continue as separate entities.

Eug · Feb 1, 2008, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Peter

It's a great idea for Microsoft and Yahoo.
Although I am concerned about how PHP (the lead PHP developer works for Yahoo) and FreeBSD (Yahoo has the largest installation of FreeBSD servers) will fare. I think it'll all be OK and everything will continue as separate entities.

Well, that didn't happen with Hotmail.

Hotmail is distinctly MS-flavoured now.

MacosNerd · Feb 1, 2008, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

I would be shocked if this deal is blocked. There isn't a very good reason to do so. Remember, Google is the 800-lb gorilla here, and this potentially could give Google's rivals a better chance to compete against Google's dominance.

I'm not saying that MS will beat Google by the way. I'm just saying that the deal isn't likely to be blocked.

Sure, less competition which is never a good thing. I can see the US or the EU blocking this. I mean if google/double click merger is garnering a lot of attention and may get blocked how much more so will this proposed merger.

Also will Microsoft drop its fight against the google/double click merger. They've been a loud opponent to that action and now they're trying to do something larger.

Big Mac · Feb 1, 2008, 10:09 AM

I doubt it would be blocked by the feds, but it would be humorous if this deal were to go through when Sirius and XM are still being left in limbo on their opportunity to merge.

Eug · Feb 1, 2008, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

I doubt it would be blocked by the feds, but it would be humorous if this deal were to go through when Sirius and XM are still being left in limbo on their opportunity to merge.

Except Sirius and XM are the only game in town. If they merge, they will effectively become a monopoly.

Originally Posted by MacosNerd

Sure, less competition which is never a good thing. I can see the US or the EU blocking this. I mean if google/double click merger is garnering a lot of attention and may get blocked how much more so will this proposed merger.

Such a merger could make for a company that could more easily increase real competition in some ways.

Both Yahoo and MS have proven less than effective in competing against Google. Together they may actually provide viable competition to Google. (Then again, they may not.)

Big Mac · Feb 1, 2008, 10:28 AM

Eug, are there two competing cable companies with completely different channel lineups? Are there two competing satellite TV companies with completely different channel lineups? Are there two competing types of the Internet? Is there another company producing Mac OS X capable computers? Besides, two companies that are struggling to stay in business can hardly be considered as monopolies. The feds are standing in the way of the free market here only because the traditional broadcast lobby is greasing a lot of palms.

MacosNerd · Feb 1, 2008, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

Except Sirius and XM are the only game in town. If they merge, they will effectively become a monopoly.

You're right but the government has not blessed that merger either AFAIK

Such a merger could make for a company that could more easily increase real competition in some ways.

That makes no sense, Less companies usually equates to less competition. The larger companies can easily crush any potential threats from a startup. Maybe I'm not understanding your point. Please detail how an increase in competition could come about?

Both Yahoo and MS have proven less than effective in competing against Google. Together they may actually provide viable competition to Google. (Then again, they may not.)

you're right, both have failed and together they might be able to.

lpkmckenna · Feb 1, 2008, 10:40 AM

While I think this would be bad, I'm not a big Yahoo user so I probably won't notice. Besides, Yahoo is in real danger of folding and an acquisition is probably inevitable.

turtle777 · Feb 1, 2008, 10:46 AM

The only thing I use is the Yahoo Notepad.

I'm not sure if I trust M$ with that

-t

olePigeon · Feb 1, 2008, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by osiris

Don't know that... not sure if it matters. The past DOJ vs MS amounted to nothing more than a slap on the wrist - I think that was during Clinton.

No. Judge Jackson (who wanted Microsoft split up) was removed and replaced with Judge Kollar-Kotelly during the Bush Administration. Judge Kollar-Kotelly is about as computer literate as a caveman.

cjrivera · Feb 1, 2008, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

No. Judge Jackson (who wanted Microsoft split up) was removed and replaced with Judge Kollar-Kotelly during the Bush Administration. Judge Kollar-Kotelly is about as computer literate as a caveman.

olePigeon · Feb 1, 2008, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by rickey939

Lame. You know how many more Zune's could be produced for $44.6 billion?

Or grammar books. Then people could learn how to use an apostrophe.

Sherman Homan · Feb 1, 2008, 11:01 AM

Zune is to iPod killer as Yahoo is to Google killer.

IceEnclosure · Feb 1, 2008, 11:03 AM

I DO NOT want flickr owned by Micro$loth.

Kerrigan · Feb 1, 2008, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by rickey939

This is the way M$ needs to go. The Zune is the future.

The Zune is the future, and the future is the present. Therefore a Zune makes a good present, because what better gift could you possibly give your loved one than hope for the future?

Kerrigan · Feb 1, 2008, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Or grammar books.

That isn't a complete sentence, so I suggest you read up on your grammar.

exca1ibur · Feb 1, 2008, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Peter

It's a great idea for Microsoft and Yahoo.
Although I am concerned about how PHP (the lead PHP developer works for Yahoo) and FreeBSD (Yahoo has the largest installation of FreeBSD servers) will fare. I think it'll all be OK and everything will continue as separate entities.

Don't forget Hotmail ran on all Sun hardware, the first thing Microsoft did when they bought them was replace it with Windows Servers.

olePigeon · Feb 1, 2008, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

That isn't a complete sentence, so I suggest you read up on your grammar.

It's a sentence fragment, but we're in an open dialog. I could've done, "...or grammar books."

Jawbone54 · Feb 1, 2008, 11:41 AM

I'm another Flickr lover who is irritated by the thought of Flickr being a Microsoft product.

Frightened, actually.

osiris · Feb 1, 2008, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

No. Judge Jackson (who wanted Microsoft split up) was removed and replaced with Judge Kollar-Kotelly during the Bush Administration. Judge Kollar-Kotelly is about as computer literate as a caveman.

Sure, keep on insulting innocent cavemen like that...

Anyhoooo - the rule of law has little meaning to those who break it without conscience or fear of reprisal. Why should their appointed judges be any different?

Jawbone54 · Feb 1, 2008, 11:47 AM

I can't perform a Google search. I can't access Google's site. Google is not working.

Is this only me?

(note) I figured this is a better place to put this, since it's sort of related. Kind of. I didn't want to start a new thread for this alone.

Eug · Feb 1, 2008, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by MacosNerd

You're right but the government has not blessed that merger either AFAIK

Yes, and my point was one reason is because merging them would make them a monopoly.

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Eug, are there two competing cable companies with completely different channel lineups? Are there two competing satellite TV companies with completely different channel lineups? Are there two competing types of the Internet?

Yes.

Satellite TV and cable TV compete against each other. DSL competes against cable internet. Etc.

Is there another company producing Mac OS X capable computers? Besides, two companies that are struggling to stay in business can hardly be considered as monopolies. The feds are standing in the way of the free market here only because the traditional broadcast lobby is greasing a lot of palms.

Well, the difference here is that XM/Sirius are the only two major companies doing pay radio.

analogika · Feb 1, 2008, 02:59 PM

Re: flickr - anybody remember that TED talk on Photosynth?
This is the demo: YouTube - Blaise Aguera y Arcas: Photosynth demo

This is the project: Microsoft Live Labs: Photosynth

Owned by Microsoft.
That is WAY WAY WAY COOL. And it NEEDS an architecture like flickr to make it work.

olePigeon · Feb 1, 2008, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

Owned by Microsoft.
That is WAY WAY WAY COOL. And it NEEDS an architecture like flickr to make it work.

It's going to completely fail unless they add speech recognition so I can say, "Enlarge. Enhance. Enhance."

Peter · Feb 1, 2008, 03:08 PM

good job flickr has an open api

Big Mac · Feb 1, 2008, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Satellite TV and cable TV compete against each other. DSL competes against cable internet. Etc.

Yeah, but DirecTV and Dish aren't forced to offer completely different channel lineups. They offer the same channels. Cable and DSL Internet don't offer different forms of the Internet.

Well, the difference here is that XM/Sirius are the only two major companies doing pay radio.

So the government would prefer one or both to go out of business rather than merging?

Shaddim · Feb 1, 2008, 03:23 PM

My only fear is that MS will make Yahoo PC only

Screw that, who cares? I made a bundle today.Yahoo!