Google to release operating system

Gary · Jul 08, 2009, 12:30:16

Quote "Google is developing an operating system (OS) for personal computers, in a direct challenge to market leader Microsoft and its Windows system.

Google Chrome OS will be aimed initially at small, low-cost netbooks, but will eventually be used on PCs as well"

"One of Google's major goals is to take Microsoft out, to systematically destroy their hold on the market,"

Full Story here unless its been posted before

gizmo71 · Jul 08, 2009, 12:48:54

I suspect Microsoft are probably not quaking in their boots quite yet...

Gary · Jul 08, 2009, 12:59:04

Quote from: gizmo71 on Jul 08, 2009, 12:48:54
I suspect Microsoft are probably not quaking in their boots quite yet...

Android has proved very popular, MIcrosoft cannot compete in search, I think they wil be eyeing Google OS carefully, Microsoft have a habit of failing where google tread

john · Jul 08, 2009, 13:20:33

I think he concept is good as Google are no doubt anticipating the future to be web based applications. I can see this being very popular in the short term for personal use and particularly for net books where it is used mainly for accessing the web and very little else but Google will have a huge task persuading industry to migrate to it from Windows as there will be issues of security, legacy data, applications and also reliability.

However the main problem of a move to web based apps on a larger scale is that the current infrastructure and for the foreseeable future, at least in this country, will not be able to cope.

Simon · Jul 08, 2009, 13:23:02

My primary concerns would be privacy and security.

Gary · Jul 08, 2009, 13:32:47

Quote from: Simon on Jul 08, 2009, 13:23:02
My primary concerns would be privacy and security.

I agree Simon, they say security is the prime aim

as far as privacy, have you ever read the Microsoft EULA talk about privacy issues

be interesting to see what happens, I had a play with an android phone in the T mobile shop it was pretty good, not sure about a google OS though on a pc $:-\$

gizmo71 · Jul 08, 2009, 14:19:19

Quote from: Gary on Jul 08, 2009, 12:59:04
Android has proved very popular, MIcrosoft cannot compete in search, I think they wil be eyeing Google OS carefully, Microsoft have a habit of failing where google tread

The difference, though, is that this time they're on Micro$oft's home territory. Chrome hasn't exactly set the world alight on the desktop and MSIE isn't even core business for Mickeysoft. As for Android being popular, there are dozens of iPhones and a few Windows Mobiles in this office and not a single Android based phone (and this is prime gadget freak territory).

Good luck to them, but they're going to need a whole lot more than just a web browser running on the bare metal...

Rik · Jul 08, 2009, 14:36:50

Even shiny bare metal.

alhenderson · Jul 08, 2009, 15:34:47

I think if I were Google I'd leave MS to it - surely they must have seen the stick and bad press that Windows gets?? Writing an OS for a PC can't be an easy undertaking, and if you're going to challenge MS and take the moral high ground you'd better make damned sure you get it right.

Seems to me they're taking an awful gamble with their reputation. That said, I assume they're a fair bit cleverer than me, which is why I'm sitting here at my desk and not jetting round the world in my Gulfstream :-)

Al.

Rik · Jul 08, 2009, 15:37:37

The gulf stream makes for some nice palm trees on the Isle of Man, Al.

alhenderson · Jul 08, 2009, 15:47:30

Quote from: Rik on Jul 08, 2009, 15:37:37
The gulf stream makes for some nice palm trees on the Isle of Man, Al.

And that'll be about as close as I get to one, I suspect :-)

Rik · Jul 08, 2009, 15:53:52

dujas · Jul 08, 2009, 16:18:35

The only area I could see Google gaining any traction is in the netbook/ultra cheap laptop market, where the cost of licensing a Microsoft OS can be prohibitive (relative to the cost of the hardware).

Gary · Jul 08, 2009, 16:54:44

Quote from: gizmo71 on Jul 08, 2009, 14:19:19
The difference, though, is that this time they're on Micro$oft's home territory. Chrome hasn't exactly set the world alight on the desktop and MSIE isn't even core business for Mickeysoft. As for Android being popular, there are dozens of iPhones and a few Windows Mobiles in this office and not a single Android based phone (and this is prime gadget freak territory).

Good luck to them, but they're going to need a whole lot more than just a web browser running on the bare metal...

Google will try to rule the world, Microsoft will make ice cream and Apple will become illusionists, I can assure you I live in a house with a garden, and and that's how I see the future unfolding on bare wood with no primer

Sebby · Jul 08, 2009, 18:24:11

Quote from: gizmo71 on Jul 08, 2009, 12:48:54
I suspect Microsoft are probably not quaking in their boots quite yet...

I don't know. They do seem to be losing it...

Still, I'm not sure I like the idea of a Google OS. How long before they know everything about everyone on this planet?

Rik · Jul 08, 2009, 18:27:41

A week next Tuesday.

Gary · Jul 08, 2009, 18:34:40

Quote from: Rik on Jul 08, 2009, 18:27:41
A week next Tuesday.

At half past three, pm of course

Gary · Jul 08, 2009, 18:36:09

Quote from: Sebby on Jul 08, 2009, 18:24:11
I don't know. They do seem to be losing it...

Still, I'm not sure I like the idea of a Google OS. How long before they know everything about everyone on this planet?

But they do Sebby, they do Mwahaha *cough*

bobleslie · Jul 08, 2009, 19:20:03

Here's perhaps a more realistic view of this announcement.

colonelsun · Jul 08, 2009, 19:45:55

Oh joy!! The choice is between an OS that will most likely have security problems and an established OS that always has security problems and is endlessly being patched.

Sebby · Jul 08, 2009, 23:18:34

Or get a Mac and live happily ever after.

Simon · Jul 08, 2009, 23:45:06

... in debt.

Gary · Jul 09, 2009, 07:55:44

Quote from: Simon on Jul 08, 2009, 23:45:06
... in debt.

Macs do seem to be the way to go, taking into account they have in built firewalls you need no AV (debatable you can still get caught by phishing attacks) and that a new OS is so cheap in the long run it probably balances out, as your wallet unbalances sadly in the short term

Steve · Jul 09, 2009, 08:46:52

I use opendns on the mac which offers some phishing protection. With regard to cost, they do offer a reasonable software base out of the box and unless you get a Mac pro they are not really upgradeable and should last at least 3 years (extended Apple care warranty available) so once the initial pain is over costs are pretty minimal

gizmo71 · Jul 09, 2009, 08:52:53

Quote from: Gary on Jul 09, 2009, 07:55:44
Macs do seem to be the way to go, taking into account they have in built firewalls you need no AV (debatable you can still get caught by phishing attacks) and that a new OS is so cheap in the long run it probably balances out, as your wallet unbalances sadly in the short term

Oh dear, you just shot your credibility to smithereens.

Windows has an "in built firewall". It's called Windows Firewall. (Shocking transparency in naming, I know.)

AV has nothing to do with firewalls. A firewall won't stop you downloading and installing something nasty — that's not what it's for.

Protection from phishing is mostly about using your noggin, supported by the browser. FireFox on MacOS/X is pretty much identical to FireFox on Windows in this respect.

MacOS/X is undeniably a safer bit of kit than XP or Vista but if all you're doing is web browsing it really doesn't make much difference, and the extra cost of a Mac is just not justified. If you're doing more than just web browsing, trying to switch from Windows to MacOS/X will probably end up driving you bonkers...

Gary · Jul 09, 2009, 12:48:28

Quote from: gizmo71 on Jul 09, 2009, 08:52:53
Oh dear, you just shot your credibility to smithereens.

Windows has an "in built firewall". It's called Windows Firewall. (Shocking transparency in naming, I know.)

AV has nothing to do with firewalls. A firewall won't stop you downloading and installing something nasty — that's not what it's for.

Protection from phishing is mostly about using your noggin, supported by the browser. FireFox on MacOS/X is pretty much identical to FireFox on Windows in this respect.

MacOS/X is undeniably a safer bit of kit than XP or Vista but if all you're doing is web browsing it really doesn't make much difference, and the extra cost of a Mac is just not justified. If you're doing more than just web browsing, trying to switch from Windows to MacOS/X will probably end up driving you bonkers...

I know windows has a firewall

I was saying with no need for a av or suite which has a better two way firewall, its a better deal, I know how AV's work I know how HIPS works, and virtual browsing with something like Sandboxie or using returnil which is what I use personally as for saying common sense about phishing, with all the new variety of attacks that is not so easy anymore, just look at man in the middle attacks for instance.

I was simply saying that to me, the Mac is a good way forward rather than MS, I even know a Microsoft computer architect who moved from the UK to Seattle, a good friend and he recommends a Mac as well

Google seem to have some good backers now though for their new OS, namely, Acer, Asus, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and Toshiba.

Stating I had blown my credibility was an odd thing to say, as that's not what we were talking about, I thought it was about the Google OS and as the thread moved on, The Mac OS

john · Jul 09, 2009, 13:27:28

If Google's new OS is to be low cost or even free then it may be more of a threat to Linux than Windows but they'd have to make it more user friendly and users would need to accept that they could not expect their existing apps to work and be happy to use the ones Google or others provide over the net.