Microsoft and Yahoo - the perfect match

The web, especially the blogosphere, is alive with comments, predictions and conspiracy theories about Microsoft's attempted acquisition of Yahoo. There's much debate about whether it's an attempt to buy a larger slice of the search market, or whether it's really about advertising opportunities, maybe even staking out a slice of the future of TV.

Whatever Microsoft's intent, one thing is clear: it's a perfect match.

I've had any number of Yahoo accounts. I've created many a Yahoo group. And I find it the most frustrating service on the web.

Trish has just encountered the same thing. She has been trying to open an account and join a group. I'll spare you the gory details, but suffice to say that several putative members of the group have given up with comments like "I never get anywhere with Yahoo" (maybe not the slogan the future merged company is looking for).

I sympathise. I've lost count of the times I've logged in to Yahoo only to find, when I try to do something simple like browse group postings, that Yahoo doesn't think I'm logged in. It asks me my password again. Sometimes, this process can get trapped into a loop. To add insult to injury, on the login form is a link that says something to the effect of "Why am I being asked for my password?". Why? I'll tell you why. Because Yahoo seems to employ code monkeys without opposable thumbs. 

So let's recap. Yahoo is:

• Buggy
• Trying to be clever and failing miserably
• Unnecessarily paranoid
• Flaky
• Superficial, promising a great time but delivering little of worth

Yep, sounds like the perfect match with Microsoft.