[908B64B197]

> Facebook won, when MySpace and others were first to market

Facebook had a valuable userbase and a polished product (it looked good, no templates and music on auto-play)

> Google won, and it was crazy late to market over Yahoo/Altavista/Excite.

Google had a better product, plain simple.

> Starbucks won, when plenty of other national coffee chains existed

Starbucks won partly because it had "Italian coffee". Nobody else had espresso machines in as many locations as they did.

[josephg]

> Starbucks won partly because it had "Italian coffee". Nobody else had espresso machines in as many locations as they did.

Yes exactly. Here in Melbourne (where we have a culture of European style espresso everywhere), Starbucks has barely been able to get a foothold in the market.

[hellbannedguy]

Starbucks won because they recreated a friendly living room.

I always felt their coffee sucked, but their employees have always been nice, and friendly.

I enjoyed getting out, people watching, and feeling zero pressure to buy anything, or leave.

(I've noticed slight changes, like codes to the bathroom, but it's still my favorite place to hang. American perspective.)

[908B64B197]

> I always felt their coffee sucked

Most independents will be better, if there is any around.