First off, the topic of this article is pretty misleading and kind of divisive. From the article's own admission, Google only allows monetization of start page gadgets that user's manually ad. The meat of the article was spent talking about the merits of a left UI navigation for Google's start page. (Personally, I think it should be a setting since I am on the laptop a lot, and it really kills screen space, but I'll live)
Further, I have a very hard time hating Google because they provide so much value to my life. They store all my e-mail through GMail, all my RSS feeds, all my documents, and now I have all my company internet assets managed through Google Apps.
I might get flamed for saying this, but I'll gladly click on some Google links on their start page or anywhere else, a few clicks of a mouse is definitely worth more than what they have given me. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'd subscribe and pay a monthly fee to keep Google alive, if they asked. People should be grateful for what they receive for free.
Well, no - that's not quite right. In regards to "gladly clicking on some google links", I'd say it'd be more appropriate to be willing to click on their links, should they make them relevant. And that's what google has done so brilliantly! They're not asking people to please click on the links, or to be grateful for their free services, they're taking advantage of the natural self-interest people have, and making it to the individual's benefit to click.
I'm certainly right there with you as to the utility of Google, replacing them would be very dear indeed!
I think Google is trying to roll back. I'm actually stuck in between the releases. Mine has the old container (no left side bar) but the new gadgets so they don't work at all.
This is a massive screw up by Google.
I also think it's funny that this story is also current on HN.
Further, I have a very hard time hating Google because they provide so much value to my life. They store all my e-mail through GMail, all my RSS feeds, all my documents, and now I have all my company internet assets managed through Google Apps.
I might get flamed for saying this, but I'll gladly click on some Google links on their start page or anywhere else, a few clicks of a mouse is definitely worth more than what they have given me. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'd subscribe and pay a monthly fee to keep Google alive, if they asked. People should be grateful for what they receive for free.