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Topic: Browser

Is Google reliable enough?

Summary: Dan Farber wrote about some downtime he experienced at YouTube this morning -- it lasted 20 minutes, and was then restored. The part that got me thinking about his post was his reference to why the internet isn't like TV -- TV is much more reliable, but content on the internet is usually more interesting.

Garett Rogers

By Garett Rogers for Googling Google |

Dan Farber wrote about some downtime he experienced at YouTube this morning -- it lasted 20 minutes, and was then restored. The part that got me thinking about his post was his reference to why the internet isn't like TV -- TV is much more reliable, but content on the internet is usually more interesting.

This provides another example of why the Internet isn't like television, which tends to have higher uptime but the content just isn't as interesting as what you can find on YouTube.

Reliability is extremely important to people. If you don't believe me, imagine someone sending you an important document that needs to be replied to within an hour -- unfortunately, your Gmail says "Oops." instead of showing you your inbox. There is nobody you can talk to, and nothing you can do but wait. You would be surprised how often this happens -- email always goes down at the worst possible time.

The service I think will be the biggest problem for Google is Grand Central. In the last few months, the service has gone down twice. What does that mean? It means anyone that relies on GrandCentral would have stopped receiving phone calls. when was the last time your real phone provider did that? If you thought people were attached to their email, try taking away their phone.

Google really does provide very cool, and extremely useful services though -- and I think that's more important than 100% uptime guarantees. For me, they are good enough. What about you?

Topics: Browser, Collaboration, Google, Hardware, Mobility, Telcos, Social Enterprise

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28 comments
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  • Good Enough?

    That almost sounds like marketing doublespeak designed to sell web 2.0 in spite of the shortcomings that programmers and network engineers can't fix.

    "It's interesting and good enough, so sign up now!" ... what a nice tagline.

    I would think as a programmer you would strive for a higher standard than that.
    croberts
    Reply Vote

    • Still, Google is more reliable than anything a small to midsize company can

      afford create themselves. Googles complete application infrastructure is also more reliable than almost all hosting services.

      So, no excuse for being down, but, still better than any other options that small to mid-size businesses would have.
      DonnieBoy
      Reply Vote

      • You must have poor management...

        of your network. I can't remember the last time mine was down. Granted, I'm located next door to the DSLAM that feeds my three DSL connections but that doesn't change the fact that my network is never down.

        Maybe you need a better IT management team.
        bjbrock
        Reply Vote

        • Come on, get real. Most small to mid-size companies do NOT have anything to

          to with computers, and for them to hire and manage people to keep it going 24x7 is extremely expensive, and they would NEVER reach the reliability levels of Google. Sure Google is NOT satisfied with ANY down time and will be doing everything they can to make it more reliable in the future.
          DonnieBoy
          Reply Vote

      • Google's reliability doesn't matter if my ISP is unreliable (nt)

        nt = no text
        CobraA1
        Reply Vote

      • Yup, and they'll only get more reliable

        as will all networks/ISP's/hardware etc.

        2 issues spring to mind :

        1) Busy company forgets to pay DSL bill - should DSL company be allowed to cut them off? IE, in a business is God society, should that happen? Should it not be always available? Shouldn't water?

        2) Google will always get the service back up quickly whilst you take a cup of coffee. No need to call in the mouse wielding monkeys to reboot your expensive in-house Noddyware. What if the mouse wielder is busy FUD'ing a new prospect at the time?
        fr0thy2
        Reply Vote

        • Well, Guess that would be positive proof

          [i]Google will always get the service back up quickly whilst you take a cup of coffee. No need to call in the mouse wielding monkeys to reboot your expensive in-house Noddyware. What if the mouse wielder is busy FUD'ing a new prospect at the time[/i]

          That comment alone would indicate with 100 percent accuratcy that you are either:

          1) not in the field of IT or related technologies.

          2) a Troll.

          It is up to you to let us know which one. Or are you both?
          GuidingLight
          Reply Vote

    • Good enough?

      Good enough.. For personal use, yes. For corporate/enterprise use, NO!
      pseudoKu
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Is Google reliable enough?

      @croberts I love these message boards <a href="http://www.rolexwatchesuk.co.uk/rolex-oyster-perpetual-daydate-stainless-steel-dark-blue-face-mens-watches-p-745.html">blue rolex watches</a> <a href="http://www.rolexwatchesuk.co.uk/rolex-oyster-perpetual-daydate-18kss-twotone-brown-face-mens-watches-p-712.html">brown rolex watches</a> <a href="http://www.rolexwatchesuk.co.uk">rolex uk</a>
      3shao
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Is Google reliable enough?

    This is the wrong question to ask. It singles out Google for a question that should be asked about computers and the internet as a whole.

    Also the statements are not accurate. TV is more reliable because the infrastructure is simpler and because it is a directly paid service. Besides, TV and phones are not 100% reliable. Satellite feeds are not flawless and I'm sure that everyone has received at least one dropped phone call.
    Sention
    Reply Vote

  • Good job they're not running on

    Windows servers because you wouldn't be able to blog fast enough.
    fr0thy2
    Reply Vote

  • As long as internet is an 'add-on'

    As long as you seat internet based communication in the non-critical portion of your scheme of things, then such downtime shouldn't be a real worry.

    And yes, if we needed the reliability, we should be going in for those professional providers of the service who have long moved their products from 'beta' long since.
    Arun (sreearun)
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Is Google reliable enough?

    sorta like my Treo650 that gets msgs two days later?

    Why pick on Google here? If you haven't noticed, the weather might just have something to do with downtime.
    atari8bit@...
    Reply Vote

  • Does it matter how "reliable" Google is if the Internet isn't reliable?

    Frankly, I think this is nothing but total bull. I've yet to see it demonstrated that the Internet is more reliable than my own computer. Slowdowns and outright outages still happen - and if my own Internet connection isn't reliable, it's not going to matter what the reliability of Google's own servers are.

    And quite frankly, I'm not convinced that even if I accounted for the troubles with the Internet in general, that a server sitting somewhere else is going to be more reliable than my own computer. Software doesn't magically have less bugs just because it's sitting on somebody else's computers, and I've had my share of individual websites go down, even from big companies. No, I'm sorry. I'm not convinced. Not convinced at all.

    "Google really does provide very cool, and extremely useful services though ??? and I think that???s more important than 100% uptime guarantees. For me, they are good enough. What about you?"

    Personally, I'm still using client-side email for most stuff. Yeah, this web stuff is cool, but I'm not convinced it's really better.
    CobraA1
    Reply Vote

    • Cloud is better

      If ever there is a problem, it automagically gets fixed by experts immediately on hand where the problem lays.

      Networks will only get more and more reliable/more redundancy.

      Keep only the critical - CRITICAL - stuff duplicated in house, then you don't need the mouse wielding reboot merchants on hand UNLESS your in house-stuff goes down WITH the internet ...

      This frees up up people who actually do know about technology to create stuff and innovate, and there's a lot of that needed ....
      fr0thy2
      Reply Vote

      • Nice soundbite - total BS

        Its out of scope for this kind of thread really, but thats more pie-in-the-sky BS.

        Explain to me why, as a corporation or even an individual, I want to move the majority of my "stuff" into this "cloud" and rely entirely on the competance and capability of someone who will never give me a real guarantee (whats your Google SLA?)

        And then on top of that I get it "free" because all of my data has been indexed and monetized as ad banners surround my experience? Nah...

        I think Id rather use the internet in *my own* way and build out a mesh of partners and customers that *we* control using increasingly simple to implement technologies (ever hear of federation)?

        That way *we* control our data and assets. Some of us realize that you can leverage the full power of the internet, innovate and be successful, and not just scream "please Google, HELP ME MAKE YOU RICH!!!"
        mlambert890@...
        Reply Vote

    • I am sure that Google is working on a caching local application server for

      just what you are talking about. It will also speed them up and make them more responsive if you connection is slow and/or flaky. But, small to mid-size companies just do not have any business trying to create their own infrastructure. If they want they could pay for two different providers, so they are only down if both are down. But, you have to be careful, two different providers could be buying bandwidth on the same trunk . . .
      DonnieBoy
      Reply Vote

  • Well, MS built one of the most valuable companies in the world on cheap and

    good enough. Looks like Google is doing the same thing.

    But, Google is already better then anything a small to mid-size business can afford to do themselves.

    And, Google will get more reliable as time goes on . . . .
    DonnieBoy
    Reply Vote

  • Where are the statistics?

    Support your argument with more than one random anecdote about Youtube. Where are the statistics? Just because your browser is not supporting Gmail one day, does not mean that someone who is remotely tech-savvy would not try a different browser. Stop writing off a whim -- do some research. You're not the best writer; At least try to make up for it by conducting some decent research.
    cadillaclexus
    Reply Vote

    • These are part time bloggers that do not have a research budget. This is a

      very good question though. Is Google reliable enough for applications on which to run your business?? It is reliable enough for Google, and their business absolutely depends on it. When nobody is able to do searches, they do not make any money, and worse yet, customers go to their competitors.
      DonnieBoy
      Reply Vote
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