Analysts say that Google's brand is just too strong now and that it could take a long time for a competitor to make inroads--no matter how much better the technology is.

FORBES: Jerry Yang Indirectly Rejects Microsoft

Yes, yes, awareness has for a very long time been a vital and necessary doorway, but it is far too often viewed as a destination by brands.

FORBES: A Story About Occupying Digital Space. Or an Answer to 'How Should I Be Measuring Digital and Social Media Anyhow?'

If barrel-aging is now judged too costly and time-consuming, how long can it be before someone engineers a way to do away with the greater toil and expense of grape-growing altogether?

FORBES: Faking It

"While I think a lot of people will try to prevent the holding company from failing, I don't think it is too big to fail, " said Thomas Brown, a hedge fund manager at Second Curve Capital and a long-time banking analyst, of Countrywide's situation.

FORBES: Countrywide Is On Its Side