Google PC + Google OS = Micr0$0ft is t3h l0s3r!

[Nuts]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-predict1jan01,0,3503327.story

Cheap PCs, anyone?

(Rumor) Google will unveil its own low-price personal computer or other device that connects to the Internet.

Sources say Google has been in negotiations with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., among other retailers, to sell a Google PC. The machine would run an operating system created by Google, not Microsoft's Windows, which is one reason it would be so cheap — perhaps as little as a couple of hundred dollars.

Bear Stearns analysts speculated in a research report last month that consumers would soon see something called "Google Cubes" — a small hardware box that could allow users to move songs, videos and other digital files between their computers and TV sets.

Larry Page, Google's co-founder and president of products, will give a keynote address Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Analysts suspect that Page will use the opportunity either to show off a Google computing device or announce a partnership with a big retailer to sell such a machine.

And that's not the only Google theory out there. Content producers wonder whether Google's push into video search will unravel the economics that make Hollywood hum. If viewers can find and legally download an episode of "Seinfeld" through Google, will that cut into cable and network television's profits?

And what if Google, after equipping cities, starting with San Francisco, with Wi-Fi wireless technology, starts to offer pay-TV service for free?

Still, to date, the company's $123-billion stock market value is based almost entirely on its dominance of one business: global text searches on the Web. Some investors worry that Page and co-founder Sergey Brin could be done in by their penchant for seeing themselves as do-gooders rather than profiteers. But those naysayers are in the minority. Most industry executives and Wall Street analysts believe that Google's search engine business is robust enough to give the young billionaires two or three years of wiggle room to build nifty services first and worry about making money on them later.


I believe I predicted this months ago.

[TimP]

There have been "Google OS" rumors floating around forever now and nothing has shown up yet.

[Modred]

Rumors have also recently circulated that first Google and then Microsoft attempted to aqcuire Opera Software. So far, those have come up short. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Nuts]

Didn't I read somewhere last year that Google hired a M$ OS programmer?

[hammocksleeper]

Rumors have also recently circulated that first Google and then Microsoft attempted to aqcuire Opera Software. So far, those have come up short. I'll believe it when I see it.

I wouldn't doubt that negotiations took place, with a lot of these rumors. But if you can't negotiate an agreeable price, there's no sense in announcing anything ;)

[BlackHawk]

Sweet baby moses covered in salsa, Google's taking over the world.

On topic (well, I was sorta on topic anyway): it will be interesting to see how this Google Computer does / if it catches on.

[Mindslaver]

Didn't I read somewhere last year that Google hired a M$ OS programmer?
Even if Google did hire a Microsoft OS programmer, it wouldn't do much good for Google. Microsoft only permits its OS programmers to access small portions of the OS source code as their job entails. The higher up the hierarchy they go, the more source they get to see, and the less likely they are to leave the company.

[Nuts]

Even if Google did hire a Microsoft OS programmer, it wouldn't do much good for Google. Microsoft only permits its OS programmers to access small portions of the OS source code as their job entails. The higher up the hierarchy they go, the more source they get to see, and the less likely they are to leave the company.
I was thinking of it as more of an indicator that this rumor is true, not so much that they were planning on stealing any code.

[Seal]

google has enough innovation to create an os from scratch, i believe.
on the other hand, they're likely to just use linux/BSD with a google ui. if they release google boxes, that is.

[TimP]

Google has hired a few high profile MS employees. Adam Bosworth, who is responsible for the IE 4.0 rendering engine "Trident" and Microsoft Access is one notable hire.

[Darkslayer633]

Havent you all figured out yet that google will soon be the god of everything.
I say, if the google os, and computer, and all them things come out, and are nice and spyware/virii free I'll buy them.

[TimP]

One thing to realize is that a hypothetical "Google OS" wouldn't be Windows. I know it sounds dumb, but the ramifications are that most of your current software, especially games, would most likely not be compatible. Many people have speculated that if Google does launch their own OS, it would most likely be based off Linux or BSD (ala OS X). The work and manpower required to write an operating system from scratch is tremendous.

[Modred]

Here's a big question: Were Google to create an OS based off of Linux or BSD, would it bring serious, mainstream attention to these types of operating systems? Of course, that could largely hinge on how much the core OS is customized to suit Google's purposes.

Were "Google OS" software compatible with most Linux distributions (like Debian, Red Hat, SuSE, etc), it could put more pressure on software developers to support these systems.

[Nuts]

Another option could be a dumb terminal box that would operate an online OS complete with an office suite. I've read rumors of this as well, it could be one in the same.

[hammocksleeper]

Yeah Nuts that sounds like something plausible. I highly doubt that the Google OS would be functional in the sense that you would be able to easily install your own programs, etc. I would think that it would only serve to operate the highly specialized functions that Google intends you to use.

[Modred]

Gates on Google (http://news.com.com/Gates+on+Google+What%2C+me+worry/2008-1082_3-5863514.html?tag=st.rn)
As of a few months ago, Microsoft doesn't appear very worried about Google encroaching on the physical, hardware-dependent market. Besides, Microsoft's cash cow for the recent decade or so has consistently been Windows; Google can dent MSN's share of the web, but I highly doubt Microsoft would stand buy as Google moved in on Microsoft's main territory.

[pixels]

the gooose!

yeah it was only a matter of time.

[Mindslaver]

One thing to realize is that a hypothetical "Google OS" wouldn't be Windows. I know it sounds dumb, but the ramifications are that most of your current software, especially games, would most likely not be compatible. Many people have speculated that if Google does launch their own OS, it would most likely be based off Linux or BSD (ala OS X). The work and manpower required to write an operating system from scratch is tremendous.
It's not dumb - it's almost guaranteed that most Windows software will not be compatible with the Google OS. Even if it were, Microsoft would immediately take action to prevent compatibility with the Google OS.

However, it would appear that the "Google Boxes" which are their first innovative priority would not require the ability to run Windows software, simply the ability to convert it from Windows format to a stream that an external media device can read. So it's not likely that a Google OS will be a competitive disadvantage to Microsoft in the near future.

Unless we see a Google distro of Linux, in which case they have a good shot at Linux domination, Google's priorities will not be in the OS sector. They'll try to mimic Apple's success with the iPod with similar portable technologies.

[Nuts]

This rumor has since been debunked by both Google and Wal-Mart.

Too bad.

[Neo]

I was pretty sure that I heard walmart was going to start selling cheapo linux laptops though, It was something that was floating around thier private intranet for electronics I think.

-Neo

[hammocksleeper]

http://www.damnfunnypictures.com/html/Google-OS-Screen-Shots.html

[pixels]

haha. that looks so bad. ive seen it before too. its most certainly fake.

[hammocksleeper]

heh yeah it looks fake

[TimP]

I don't think anyone would use an OS that looked that ugly. :D

[DragonPaladin]

God, that's not an OS, that's an abomination.

[Sikawtic]

I think google dominance would be a good thing... the people at google actually care about the people, not their checkbooks.

When MSN and AOL folded to the gov't and gave them personal search information, google stood strong. Just read it today in the Newsweek. Plus, google.com is the l33test search engine ever.

[bluemicrobyte]

We all know that google is very slowly taking over the world. In my opinion, the creepy part is that they have tiny disclaimers on all of their services that say they can send usage information back to google. So one day, we will live in a world where big brother is watching you..... google is watching you. Beware.

[Whiteknight]

I think google dominance would be a good thing... the people at google actually care about the people, not their checkbooks.

For now, Sikawtic. Eventually, they have to submit to making as much profit as possible.

[Basan]

http://www.damnfunnypictures.com/html/Google-OS-Screen-Shots.html

*Shudders* Uggh, the shiny colours... perhaps it fits as adequate to kiddies, between their 1-4 years old that is. :smirk:

When MSN and AOL folded to the gov't and gave them personal search information, google stood strong. Just read it today in the Newsweek. Plus, google.com is the l33test search engine ever.

I've already known that a few days ago (through EuroNews I believe) and was tempted to make a thread about it... but then thought that it might start a new flame Bushies/anti-Bushies war path trend (no names please) and decided to drop it. (That and the response J.Chirac gave to eventual terrorist threats.) :P
But I agree that they rose up in my consideration too, after that. ;) Besides, nowadays Google(.Pt) isn't my browser's homepage for nothing anyway.

[hammocksleeper]

Even if Google did hire a Microsoft OS programmer, it wouldn't do much good for Google. Microsoft only permits its OS programmers to access small portions of the OS source code as their job entails. The higher up the hierarchy they go, the more source they get to see, and the less likely they are to leave the company.

And here's what MS will do if you fuck with them and their source code :)

"Microsoft tricks hacker into jail" - http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70106-0.html?tw=rss.index

[Mindslaver]

The company has also expressed fears that making its source code public could allow hackers to find security holes in Microsoft products -- though, so far, intruders are doing fine without the source.

Microsoft had no immediate comment on the case.


Releasing the source code to the public would not pose a security threat to Microsoft. The only decent argument that Microsoft has against releasing the code is its "trade secrets." However, a European court recently ruled (http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3580051) that Microsoft must release the majority of its source code to Windows to European developers.

[TimP]

Releasing the source code to the public would not pose a security threat to Microsoft.
How would it not?

[Basan]

Releasing the source code to the public would not pose a security threat to Microsoft.

How would it not?

Let's try n' get clearer here, not exactly a security ordeal (apart from virus makers n' such ilk) but instead a market share one. ;)

[Sikawtic]

We all know that google is very slowly taking over the world. In my opinion, the creepy part is that they have tiny disclaimers on all of their services that say they can send usage information back to google. So one day, we will live in a world where big brother is watching you..... google is watching you. Beware.Didn't 365tomorrows.com have a story on google watching everybody? I would find linkage but the site is being quite snailish atm.

[Modred]

Posted today on linux.org (http://www.linux.org/news/2006/01/31/0011.html).

Publication: The Register
Date: Jan 31 2006
Reporter: Ben King

Google is preparing its own distribution of Linux for the desktop, in a possible bid to take on Microsoft in its core business - desktop software.

A version of the increasingly popular Ubuntu desktop Linux distribution, based on Debian and the Gnome desktop, it is known internally as 'Goobuntu'.

* Read comments
* Read full article
* Read full article in new window

This (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/%BA%BA%BA%BA%BA%BA%BA%BA%BA1%BA) is the link they give to read the full article. Notice the lack of article. Pwnt.

Upon further checking, that was just linux.org's mistake. The article does exist at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/

I've used Ubuntu, and it's good for a first try at *nix, but it has several unnecessary programs. I'm sure if the Goobuntu is released to the public, it will have a much prettier and even more automated installer (to help the less technically minded...or those who don't know how to search). Chances are even more unnecessary programs would be added and the ability to not install them in the first place could very likely go out the window, a la Windows. Purging files isn't bad, but it's annoying and hopefully advanced installation options would allow the user to choose what programs were installed in addition to the base system.

[TimP]

Goobuntu.com/net/org isn't even a registered domain (or wasn't earlier today, it probably is by now). Would anyone technically minded actually want to use a Google Linux distro? Their software products are generally very underwhelming.

By the way - you can install Ubuntu with "server" as a boot argument and it's stripped down to nearly base essentials. It works well on my home server.

[Modred]

By the way - you can install Ubuntu with "server" as a boot argument and it's stripped down to nearly base essentials. It works well on my home server.
True, but I'd rather not download the entire Ubuntu ISO just to strip out what I don't want. If only Ubuntu offered something similar to Debian's net install, where I could get a CD image of the base system for around 100 Mb and then install additional packages at my discretion during or after installing the system. Also, they need .jigdo files for the LiveCD also. And I've digressed slightly.

[Seal]

if you really want to get everything you need and nothing you don't need -- you should try a Stage 1 Gentoo install ;p