>> Indeed. Google aren't the sort of people you'd think of doing a real 
>> OS. From what the article says, this is a trivial Linux front-end. 
>> (Indeed, I suspect it's probably going to consist of little beyond an 
>> ordinary Linux distro with Chrome instead of a real desktop manager.)
> 
> It's actually even more limited than their Android OS

...which I also haven't heard of...

> so there goes most of the Linux software right off the bat.

Indeed. It's supposed to be a "new OS".

> Not to mention, they'll do everything possible (from what I've read) to 
> keep you from running any real applications other than the Chrome browser.
> 
> It's an extremely specific OS, with one purpose only, and as such it 
> will only be usable on Netbooks.

I think the idea is that if somebody buys a netbook for the sole purpose 
of accessing the Internet, Google are going to make sure it's 
ludicrously easy to access the Internet. Think about it: the more 
limited the functionallity of a device, the easier it can potentially be 
to use.

Think about all those games consoles out there; these are basically 
normal "computers" which lack the ability to run anything but games. A 
netbook is basically a single-function device in the first place.

>> This is aimed at netbooks; why would M$ care about that? It's not 
>> where they make their money.
> 
> MS is, I believe, selling XP licences for Netbooks for quite cheap. 
> However, that's only a stopgap measure until W7 is released.

Sure, but they make their real money from desktops and servers, not 
netbooks.

>> Looks to me like an excuse for somebody to write a news article. It 
>> *is* a slightly odd more for Google though...
> 
> So was releasing the Android OS, or the Chrome browser.  If you look at 
> what they're doing, though, they're slowly taking over every part of 
> your life.

Not *my* life, buddy. ;-)

> First, they managed search for you.  Then, it was email.  Then driving 
> directions.  Then documents.  Then calendars and schedules.  Then chat. 
> Now, with the Chrome browser, they handle your online interactions (I 
> use it and, apart from a few minor squibbles, I quite like it).  With 
> the Chrome OS, they'll completely control your computer.

OK, let's examine that...

- Search. Everybody knows Google does search.
- Email. I've heard some people apparently use it, but I don't.
- Driving directions. Presumably you're talking about Google Maps and 
Google Earth?
- Documents...?
- Calendars...?
- Chat...?!

Clearly I'm missing something...

> Google: Microsoft Done Right (tm).

Not really. Microsoft gains customers by illegally preventing choice. 
Google does it by producing a superior product. The former is illegal, 
the latter is the intent of any respectable business.

Post a reply to this message