If you want to argue that we should take the long view with respect to Chrome and Android making money, then I would counter with needing to take the long view with respect to their being a success as well. The OP was (IMO) correct - a product's success, when done by a private company, is whether or not it improves the company's bottom line. I don't think that that claim can be made about Chrome or Android at the moment. I certainly doubt whether the little money they are currently making out of Android would not be largely blown aware by another allocation of that energy and resources.
That's not to say that in the long term these products don't end up being major successes, but until they start making money, that claim can't be made.
You should read some material on microeconomics and about complementary products. That's not arguing, it's how the economy currently works.
a product's success ...
is whether or not it improves the company's bottom line
Microsoft controlling the platform through Windows and IExplorer hasn't improved their bottom line?
RedHat paying high wages to highly skilled kernel hackers to work on (get this, open-source software) hasn't improved their bottom line?
until they start making money, that claim can't be made
Because, you know, Apple and Microsoft installing Bing alternatives (Maps / Search) on their phone operating systems wouldn't affect Google in no way whatsoever.
I find it quite baffling actually that so many people are criticizing investments made by Google, Apple or Microsoft; These are big companies that grew to unimaginable levels in just a few years (with respect to oil mining which can take a few generations to reach a fraction of that size).
You should really learn from them, because not so many companies can achieve what they did ;-)
You're not replying to my point. I didn't say that Android and Chrome wouldn't end up being critical products that add to Google's bottom line. I said that right at the moment, that's not the case, and until it does become the case, you can't claim that they're a success.
It's important to read what is written, not what you think is written ;) (yeah, I find the winky smiley annoying when it's placed after a condescending remark)
That's not to say that in the long term these products don't end up being major successes, but until they start making money, that claim can't be made.