One way to understand the challenge Microsoft Corp. faces as it takes on Internet search king Google is to think of it in terms of soda pop.
The big cola companies are famous for conducting blind taste tests, in which participants sample Coke and Pepsi and declare a preference without knowing which soda is in which cup. In the prototypical example, people opt for the drink that's not their normal favorite, showing just how much a brand can influence perception and choice -- and, not incidentally, providing good material for a TV commercial.
|