Microsoft's spending spree on the Internet not well received by investors, but will it lead to Internet search domination?

The entire looming battle of Internet search control should be no surprise either.  It's Microsoft's style and has been for as long as I can remember.  Microsoft doesn't innovate.  It uses other company's innovations, incorporates them in its operating system, tweaks them, and then depends on the power of its operating system to help it become the dominant force. 

Remember Word Perfect?  I'll bet not many of you do.  Well back in the 80s and 90s it was the dominant word processing software.  Microsoft's Word was a poor second cousin.  Word became the dominant word processor when it was packaged with Microsoft's operating system at the time people bought their computer.  Today, few people use Word Perfect.

Remember Netscape?  For a long time that was the dominant Internet browser.  Microsoft's IE was no where near as good.  Microsoft forced it down people's throats, at first, by including it as the default browser when they bought their new PC.  Gradually Microsoft improved its browser.  Netscape lost its dominance and eventually got bought out. 

Is control of the Internet search environment next?  Right now MSN is losing market share.  Neilsen-Net Ratings just reported that MSN's market share fell 3% from 14%  to 11%.  Google dominates with 49%.

Search engine advertising dollars are huge - an $11 billion dollar market.  You know Microsoft wants a big share of that market and the only way to get it is to control the search space.  It needs to spend some big bucks to improve MSN and take over.  Microsoft's investment of $2 billion could pay off in huge long-time dividends.  Investors don't be too hasty to pound Microsoft on this spending spree.