Topic: Software

Open source reputations build brand loyalty

Summary: Linux users are more like to go to Ask.Com than Bing. They may be more likely to shout their questions across the cube farm than try Bing.

By Dana Blankenhorn for Linux and Open Source | August 24, 2009 -- 05:23 GMT (22:23 PDT)

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Let me start today by saying I have tried Microsoft's Bing search engine.

I like it., It's good. Sometimes it's better than Google. (Illustration by Dan Ruby of Chitika, a search-targeted ad agency.)

Yet a search of my personal Web logs would doubtless find that Google still gets my business. This is partly out of loyalty to its open source heritage. All else being equal, reputation tips the balance.

And on the Internet, the most important thing to remember is all things always are equal.

It's not just me. A recent study by Dan Ruby of Chitika found Google has 16% more market share among Linux users than Windows users. That's 78% share on Windows, 94% on Linux.

Linux users are more like to go to Ask.Com than Bing. They may be more likely to shout their questions across the cube farm than try Bing.

What this tells me is that reputation has both positive and negative components. If you see a company as an enemy you may avoid them even if their stuff is better. Had Rupert Murdoch bought Facebook might MySpace have won the market? Maybe.

This holds important lessons for Microsoft. Having a better product may be less important than having a good reputation.

Topics: Software, Google, Linux, Open Source, Operating Systems

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35 comments

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Bing might be lower if..

I continue to use Google on a regular basis, but when setting up PCs and having a Windows update change the search provider to Bing, I get frustrated and have to change it back. I am sure that I have entered a query in there once or twice. I am certain that many people have the same thing going on where they tried to use Google and ended up getting Binged by Microsoft.

nucrash
24 August, 2009 05:43

Reply Vote
- MS has done that for years
  
  They always have their PCs shipped with set-ups
  that favor Microsoft products. Always. This is not
  unusual.
  
  DanaBlankenhorn
  24 August, 2009 18:38
  
  Reply Vote
  - done that for years
    
    Which only makes sense; if you sell a product, whose product should you highlight? Duhhh!
    
    twaynesdomain-22354355019875063839220739305988
    25 August, 2009 16:01
    
    Reply Vote
Or...

Linux users are will use a lesser product because they have an emotional attachment.

The facts you've provided don't really support any conclusions - just provide anecdotal evidence of your opinion. I think more evidence is needed before anyone can make a declaritive statement, no?

Fark
24 August, 2009 07:41

Reply Vote
- re: Or...
 
 I've seen it first-hand. MS is making Bing the default search engine on every product they make. That includes IE.
 
 Since the majority of business is currently using Windows with IE6, that means the majority of employees are using Bing at some point, accidentally or not.
 
 Linux doesn't have that problem for one very good reason. MS doesn't make applications for Linux.
 
 Funny story, every person I know goes out of their way to not use Bing. They're not extreme advocates of open source, they're not even MS haters. They just don't like Bing.
 
 tmsbrdrs
 24 August, 2009 15:31
 
 Reply Vote
 - Pity MS can't fix all the bugs in IE6
 
 (CSS, PNG compatibility)
 
 Businesses really need to stay updated in order to remain competitive.
 
 HypnoToad72
 24 August, 2009 17:47
 
 Reply Vote
 - That's my point
 
 I think the reason your acquaintances go out of
 their way not to use Bing has nothing to do with
 the merits of Bing as a search engine. I believe
 it has more to do with the perceived reputation of
 Microsoft.
 
 DanaBlankenhorn
 24 August, 2009 18:40
 
 Reply Vote
 - How About the ACTUAL Reputation of Evil Empire Micro$haft , Dana?
 
 They're incompetent, viciously anticompetitive and currently run by a stupid bully named "Ballmer".
 
 I'd say that makes them as beyond redemption as the Limpbaugh Rethuglican Party....
 
 drprodny
 25 August, 2009 21:13
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Open source reputations build brand loyalty
 
 If you see a company as an enemy you may avoid them even if their stuff is better. Had Rupert Murdoch bought Facebook might MySpace have won the market? Maybe.<a href="http://ipadbagblog.com/"> k</a>
 
 zakkiromi
 19 May, 2011 17:15
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Open source reputations build brand loyalty
 
 The true nature will be when updates/patches are applied that the vendor (MS) doesn't automatically switch it to their search engine of<a href="http://ipadbagblog.com/"> ipad bag blog</a><a href="http://www.sutudeg.org/"> sutudeg </a> <a href="http://wposfv.com/">education news</a> and<a href="http://www.pcloshwdb.com/"> pclos hwdb</a> choice.<a href="http://www.sutudeg.org/"> l</a>
 
 edward polling
 5 June, 2011 23:40
 
 Reply Vote
RE: Open source reputations build brand loyalty

I tried a few queries on Bing and the results sure looked different from Google. The Bing results looked like someone had filtered out some links that weren't Microsoft friendly.

stan_qaz
24 August, 2009 08:41

Reply Vote
- RE: Open source reputations build brand loyalty
 
 @stan_qaz I've seen it first-hand. MS is making Bing the default</a><a href="http://www.revivalymaske.com/">pembe maske</a> </a><a href="http://www.energybalancebileklik.com/">energy balance</a> </a><a href="http://www.oynaoyunu.com/">oyna oyunu</a> </a><a href="http://www.moliva.web.tr/">moliva</a> </a><a href="http://www.orjinkrem.net/">orjin krem</a> </a><a href="http://www.tutunesun.web.tr/">tutune son</a></a><a href="http://www.nanomatik.gen.tr/">nanomatik</a> </a><a href="http://www.complex41.net/">complex 41</a> </a><a href="http://www.fx15new.com/">new fx15</a> search engine on every product they make. That includes IE. Since the majority of business is currently using Windows with IE6, that means the majority of employees are using Bing at some point, accidentally or not. Linux doesn't have that problem for one very good reason. MS doesn't make applications for Linux. Funny story, every person I know goes out of their way to not use Bing. They're not extreme advocates of open source, they're not even MS haters. They just don't like Bing.
 
 gaberdiye03
 21 June, 2011 09:45
 
 Reply Vote
Yes, reputations matter to me - a lot.

I have never tried Bing and won't. I have never used IE and won't.

I still use XP and Vista, but will at some point go open source.

I do not like MS (nor Apple) - both dishonest manipulating bullies, and will therefore avoid their products if I can. If Google becomes too arrogant, they will lose me too.

You have to be free if you can.

PS. I liken fanboys to prostitutes, and I do not mean users, I mean fanboys.

Economister
24 August, 2009 09:07

Reply Vote
RE: Open source reputations build brand loyalty

I have tried both google and bing, and the results were way toooo many useless/unrelated responses. Bing even had the weirdness of responding to 'wdc' with the asian websites at the top of the list (actually the whole 1st page). I use yahoo for regular searches and only switch to google when 'I feel lucky' or need to sift through lost of unrelated stuff to find what I am looking for.

Net-Tech_z
24 August, 2009 09:12

Reply Vote
To each their own, maybe techies = more loyalty

To joe and jane user, where word of mouth and pre-installation by the company IT staff probably means a bit more than what they did(n't) read in a blog, a tech site or heard in a LUG they're not a part of. Heck, if a java update or a drive by web page offers them Bing, Yahoo, or Apple Cores, they'd probably allow the shiny new toy install with no loyalty playing any part.

Boot_Agnostic
24 August, 2009 09:42

Reply Vote
RE: Open source reputations build brand loyalty

There's no doubt that many go by reputation, but the reality for most average users is whatever's in front of them. If Google is the first on the list or Bing or Wikipedia or what have you then that's what they'll use. The true nature will be when updates/patches are applied that the vendor (MS) doesn't automatically switch it to their search engine of choice. It's actually happened a couple of times in IE.

Sheeva
24 August, 2009 10:23

Reply Vote
OR...

...support the notion that the Open Source movement is driven more by Microsoft hatred than anything constructive.

Hopefully that's not the case, but as @Fark suggested, drawing conclusions from this data is dangerous at best.

QuietAmerican
24 August, 2009 11:09

Reply Vote
- Microsoft hatred is a problem for Microsoft
  
  Fans of Microsoft don't see it as a problem. They
  look at "Microsoft haters" the way Democrats look
  at Republicans, and vice versa. As the other
  party. Not worth considering.
  
  But tech choices don't have to be political
  choices.
  
  DanaBlankenhorn
  24 August, 2009 18:42
  
  Reply Vote
  - MS haters
    
    Actually there are few MS fan boys (except this web site) , but there are plenty of Linux fan boys who turn it into a religion.
    
    People who favour MS tend to be older , have lived with IBM , seen many upstarts killed , fundamental changes , remember the pre MS dominance integration issues etc. ie a very practical approach and the thing that comes close to a religion here is the fear of returning to the past and the massive integration issues you get - MS organizations tend to be organizations where users are more powerful then IT so enforcing a setup will be difficult. eg some user will insist on power point so providing open Office will just give an extra environment you need to support.
    
    bklooste
    25 August, 2009 05:52
    
    Reply Vote
  - Yes, They DO, Dana - M$FT and Republicans Are Evil, Period Paragraph
    
    And thus should be PUNISHED.
    
    Selah.
    
    drprodny
    25 August, 2009 21:15
    
    Reply Vote