Google to challenge Windows?

[alaskaguy]

"Google by now must be ramping up its internal testing of the Chrome Operating System, says David Harry, president of search consultancy Reliable SEO. Google unveiled Chrome OS, a Windows alternative, at a press conference last November, promising its release by late this year."

Link:
Report: Google curtails Windows use as it ramps up Chrome OS - USATODAY.com

[dmclone]

Can't wait

[Clonehomer]

After the success that Android has had I think that Microsoft should be worried. I don't think that Google will overtake Microsoft in the near future, but they could take enough of a chunk to make Microsoft hurt a lot.

[alarson]

from all ive heard, chrome os isnt supposed to be a complete full-featured os, more like an internet-focused os, so theyre a bit different markets.. it might be a bit simpler... but if it also has the same issues as apple does with app compatibility vs windows, will it do any better than just splitting that market segment with apple?

[TykeClone]

from all ive heard, chrome os isnt supposed to be a complete full-featured os, more like an internet-focused os, so theyre a bit different markets.. it might be a bit simpler... but if it also has the same issues as apple does with app compatibility vs windows, will it do any better than just splitting that market segment with apple?

In the appropriate market segment - netbooks + iPad - it should be very competitive. Especially if it's free and offered on inexpensive hardware.

[alarson]

In the appropriate market segment - netbooks + iPad - it should be very competitive. Especially if it's free and offered on inexpensive hardware.

yeah, but arent they already doing android for that?

[Cyclone42]

I trust Microsoft more than Google when it comes to privacy considerations. Google wants everybody to stop storing their data locally on PCs, and start storing it on the "cloud" (on remote systems, like Google). When asked about privacy matters, the president of Google once said something to the effect that, if anyone wants something kept private, he or she must be doing something wrong.

Then there is the incidents in Germany when their "street-view" trucks collected private data from unsecured wi-fi networks.

Germany launches criminal investigation of Google - Computerworld

I do NOT trust Google. I like Ubuntu, and I will continue to use that.

[Clonehomer]

I trust Microsoft more than Google when it comes to privacy considerations. Google wants everybody to stop storing their data locally on PCs, and start storing it on the "cloud" (on remote systems, like Google). When asked about privacy matters, the president of Google once said something to the effect that, if anyone wants something kept private, he or she must be doing something wrong.

Then there is the incidents in Germany when their "street-view" trucks collected private data from unsecured wi-fi networks.

Germany launches criminal investigation of Google - Computerworld

I do NOT trust Google. I like Ubuntu, and I will continue to use that.

Personally, if I need to keep something private (tax returns, finances, ect) I don't even keep it on my computer's hard drive anymore. Everything like that I run from an external. Nowadays with viruses, trojan horses, and lighting strikes you could be just at risk on your home computer than on Google's servers. The best thing is to trust none of these companies and secure your data yourself. Don't blame Google for your unsecured network, if you leave it open then someone will eventually get your stuff. That's just paying the stupid tax.

[TykeClone]

yeah, but arent they already doing android for that?

From what I've read, I think that chrome OS is just a superset of android and not as complete of an operating system as any other flavor of linux.

[bos]

I dont think Google will completely overtake MS. MS has its roots in so many things. If anything, I think they will kind of compliment each other in various electronics around the house.

[marothisu]

After the success that Android has had I think that Microsoft should be worried. I don't think that Google will overtake Microsoft in the near future, but they could take enough of a chunk to make Microsoft hurt a lot.

While true, I think we have to understand how truly large Microsoft's share of the market is. Even with OS X going strong for a long time, they only have a 5% market share in the OS realm.

Even if Chrome OS "outsold" Windows 250 to 1 everyday, it would take at least a few years for them to have a respectable market share vs. Windows.

[marothisu]

I trust Microsoft more than Google when it comes to privacy considerations. Google wants everybody to stop storing their data locally on PCs, and start storing it on the "cloud" (on remote systems, like Google). When asked about privacy matters, the president of Google once said something to the effect that, if anyone wants something kept private, he or she must be doing something wrong.

Then there is the incidents in Germany when their "street-view" trucks collected private data from unsecured wi-fi networks.

Germany launches criminal investigation of Google - Computerworld

I do NOT trust Google. I like Ubuntu, and I will continue to use that.

What they were collecting wasn't very "sensitive" as in, it's not actual people's personal info. It's just MAC addresses of devices within networks. However, I have to wonder why the hell they were doing that in the first place? They say that's a mistake, but....I mean..yeah, no that doesn't sound like a mistake.

[TykeClone]

What they were collecting wasn't very "sensitive" as in, it's not actual people's personal info. It's just MAC addresses of devices within networks. However, I have to wonder why the hell they were doing that in the first place? They say that's a mistake, but....I mean..yeah, no that doesn't sound like a mistake.

They were collecting private data and not just MAC addresses.

The reason that they were gathering MAC addresses is that they can use those in a database to locate you on a google map without resorting to GPS.