While not exactly a Chicago or New Eastside related article at all, I found this article as some food for thought –

http://www.skrenta.com/2007/01/winnertakeall_google_and_the_t.html

Personally I don’t agree at all with the author’s take on tech dominance, the online market is too malleable and fluid… at least you have to admit the cycles are getting much shorter.

Google bought YouTube, what if Microsoft manages to develop or buy the next five YouTubes and a following? Or GE/NBC? Or a smart venture capital firm which decides it wants everything and buys/developrs all the right people and partners? It doesn’t have to be another technology shift.

Eric