Google vs Microsoft (Products)?

Question

I use a lot of Google services.

I'm starting to get a little concerned about Google, my data, and privacy.

I'm starting to consider switching to Microsoft's products, I just need a little more convincing.

Why should the average consumer be concerned about Google and their privacy?

I need help, because I really keep going back and forth.

Microsoft and their products have really been stepping up over the past few months, and I'm really close to using them.

What do you guys think?

I use Chrome, Search, +, Android, YouTube, Gmail, Docs, and Calendar

Answer 1

Favorite Answer

There may be advantages and disadvantages to products from both companies, here is the best promotional material I could find for each:

Internet Explorer

http://www.beautyoftheweb.com/

Chrome

https://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en-US/more/feat...

Windows Phone

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-US/featur...

Android

http://www.android.com/whatsnew/

Bing

http://www.discoverbing.com/

Google

http://www.google.com/insidesearch/features/search...

MSN / Bing Videos

?

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLQDPH0ulCg

Hotmail

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/hotmail/why-hot...

Gmail

https://mail.google.com/mail/help/intl/en/about.ht...

Free Microsoft Web Apps

office.microsoft.com/en-us/web-apps/ (you really need MS Office as well though)

Google Docs

http://www.google.com/google-d-s/documents/index.h...

Answer 2

Chrome-> I would use Firefox. It is freeware (no one makes money off it) and has the best selection of extensions in existence for a web browser. Also it is better supported than Internet Explorer

Google search is sadly the best, other alternatives are Duck Duck Go and Bing (personally I would go with the first, I just don't trust Microsoft with data.

Google Plus ->You could say Facebook but they are much worse. Personally I just stay away from social networks. I use Dropbox+Pidgin+email+phone to keep in touch.

Android->there is no real alternative besides IOS.

Youtube-> For making videos, youtube is the only real option. For watching videos, you can try DailyMotion or Vimeo

GMail->I've used hotmail with no issues forever (with Thunderbird to actually get mail...who actually logs into email with websites?). The only issue I've had is you can't 100% block email filtering without settting up a global filter that keeps anything with the @ symbol in To: section

Docs->I've been using Office 2007 (bought it first year of college) and no issues. Many have done find with Libre Office or Open Office

Calendar-> I use Sunbird + dropbox. It's a nice calendar, freeware, and then synced across multiple computers.