Interesting.  A Mercury News article examines why Microsoft has not been able to catch up with Google for Search Share and Unique visitors.  I'm actually thinking the problem is more to do with figuring out how to use the services that Microsoft has.

And even installing the products I do have to download, like Virtual Earth - is a chore.  Contrast that to how easy it is to download, install and use Google Earth.

But the thing that's really taking Microsoft down - Bill Gates not Micro Managing projects, according the the article.

"…..The key thing that Microsoft is missing, said Allen Weiner, a veteran tech analyst with Gartner, is the single point of focus that was once embodied by Gates. Gates turned over the CEO post to Ballmer in January 2000 but remained deeply engaged as Microsoft's chief software architect until June.

The gradual withdrawal of Microsoft's infamous micro-manager has showed up in a sometimes puzzling lack of integration of the company's products, Weiner said. For example, its Zune multimedia player wasn't initially loaded with videos from its Soapbox service. Its system for sending instant messages on the Xbox is not connected to its IM program for PCs."

And while I like a lot of the search functionality of AdCenter - I won't run a campaign there - I just like to use the tool for research.  But that's just me.

One of the things about Google - they are synonymous with "Search" - you'd almost have to re-invent search (IE: Re-Positioning a brand) to do it.  You can't out Google, Google - it's not going to work.   If Microsoft will make it's products easier to use, that will help though.