Now, money is a driving force, and on the internet it is easy to make money with horrible service. But only in the short term. Google wanted to be a driving force for the long term on the Internet, so their dreams required some of the best service and best innovations.

They made the decision to buy keyhole AFTER deciding to make a mapping service. They didn’t buy keyhole THEN decide a mapping service is a good idea.

Furthermore, they’re not just buying at random pulling in everything they can. They have a set plan, and they integrate each new piece of the puzzle, decide which way they want to go and make it happen.

You seem to be under the impression Googles expansion is random and based only on companies they can aquire. It is not, they have a set plan, and if a company can be bought to help they achieve it, they do so.

Jim – You are right. Both can coexist. In my eyes it is possible for them to want to be the best AND want to rake in large piles of cash.

I am not saying they have not done so well and are not so smart and hard working, all I am saying is that this is another technology company and although the scale is bigger, it’s not much unlike it’s predecessors from netscape to linux to open source to microsoft to yahoo etc.

They want to create the best products possible. And if you don’t dream them up, you can’t have them. If you can’t have them, then the money is basically a moot point.

At least the way I see it.