Andy Beal posted the news that Yahoo has entered into an alliance with Acer to become the default search engine in their computers. Earlier, I read about google having an alliance with Dell. I am just unable to understand this approach.
In an era of web 2.0, where open source, flexibility and customization is being touted as the next big inflection point, where is the need to 'hard code' such brands and services into PCs. If Google lost its plot on this, I guess yahoo has got into a 'do it like google' syndrome.
However hard these brands/services try to be the 'default' choice, consumers will choose or use what they think is the best and convenient. I think they must spend their time getting some best features into their products/services. If the feature/benefit is good or compelling, it will create all the buzz & chatter and consumers will soon adopt them faster.
Google captured the 'heart of the customers' with a series of product innovations and up went their market share. So did Apple. Imagine, iTunes kind of service being not there in PCs. No problem. Consumers will download them and make it a default software in their desktop. Apple does not have to do it.
Don't try hard. But, try to win hearts!