What's surprising is that it has taken these companies--not to mention Microsoft--so long to create something that every user needs. Perhaps more interesting is how sudden rush for crown of desktop search will impact Microsoft's plans for WinFS - search-oriented filesystem for future versions of Windows that Bill Gates once called "Holy Grail" of Longhorn, but that has been subject to numerous delays.

When anyone offers you something for free, you are going to pay for it sooner or later --- there aren’t any free lunches left.

So how much is “free” going to cost? Well, figure it out. Figure out how much item really costs person who is giving it away. Then multiply that figure by at least 2X to 5X.. This will give you a pretty good idea of range of how much it’s going to cost you.

Just as a “for example”, I’ve spent my lifetime developing a “certain flair”, a “certain skill” as it were, both as a bridge player and as a writer. I’m almost 70, so its most of my adult life that I’ve been learning to write effectively. How much is that worth? Let’s say I write a booklet sharing my bridge secrets with you, teaching you how you can learn to play bridge as well as I play. How much is that worth? Maybe $20? How about $15? For sure at least $10. Now I give it away --- why? Only because you have purchased something from me which pays me what I believe is fair value (a good profit for me) and I want to “give you a gift that has extra value to you”!

Are you beginning to get picture? No, I wrote my bridge book way back in 1968 and maybe I should write another one now? But point I was illustrating is that, if I did write a book and if I then gave it away it would be to make you feel good about something you were buying from me, something which made enough profit for me that I could afford to give you something of value, something created out of my life’s experience.

There are no free lunches –-- and any time someone tries to convince you that there is, look for real cost of what you’re getting and make an educated decision on whether its really worth it. Is what you are paying for what you are buying worth what you are getting “for FREE”?

Oh, yes. I’m off of “free” hosting --- and I no longer have those annoying pop-up ads coming up on my web site. Make sure that next time someone offers you something “for FREE” that you check it out and make sure it really is worth what you are paying for it. Because you will be paying for it.