[jroseattle]

Certainly, Page will be buoyed by the results of Schmidt's tenure. The pressure on Jobs to improve the situation is certainly greater than the pressure on Page, at least in that respect.

My comment about Google and there other products is that they don't do anything exceedingly well over the competition outside of search. It's not that their products aren't done well, they just don't differentiate the company. Maps, as you point out, is a fine product -- but there are other map products that are just as good. Gmail vs. other web-based mail? Android vs. iOS? While fine products, they don't put Google head-and-shoulders above the market.

By comparison, nearly every product offered by Apple is considered best-in-class. The iPod. The iPhone. The iPad. The iMac desktops & laptops.

To be sure, achieving was Apple has achieved is no small matter, even for the bright minds at Google. And, it's not to say that if they don't reach that point, Page's tenure as CEO amounts to failure. But, I believe the expectations are for Google to achieve some of that best-in-class dominance, because of their position in search.