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The Google Threat Is Real. Or Is It?
Posted Jul 08, 2009 01:42pm EDT by Chris Nichols in Computers, Internet, MediaGoogle, that titan of Internet search, is now aiming to take down one of its main rivals in another key area of personal computing -- operating systems.
That's right. It's rolling out its very own OS. Naturally, Google's announcement that it wants some of the business currently dominated by that outfit up in Redmond called Microsoft has generated a lot of buzz. Let's face it, we're only talking about one of the most important technology companies ever, and when it does something like this, people are bound to take notice.
Here's the pitch. "Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS," we learn at The Official Google Blog. "We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web."
If that weren't enough, we're told that security enhancements should mean users won't have to worry about viruses or malware or security updates.
Just weeks ago, Steve Ballmer & Co. hit at their Mountain View opponents with the search engine Bing. Now this for the return volley? If only we could all get along. Maybe one day, but since we don't appear quite ready to be unified by some Borg-like network, we're going to have to accept that this type of fighting will be our reality.
With that said, let's take a look at what some observers around the Web think of Google's OS invasion, from the straightforward to the slightly more pointed.
The New York Times stated it pretty plainly. "The move is likely to sharpen the already intense competition between Google and Microsoft, whose Windows operating system controls the basic functions of the vast majority of personal computers."
As a result of that fact, Google's OS will be geared toward small netbook PCs at the outset. The paper spoke to Larry Augustin, an investor who's on the board of some open-source companies, and he said that's an area where Google felt it could take on Microsoft. "Market changes happen at points of discontinuity," he was quoted as saying. "And that's what you have with netbooks and a market that has moved to mobile devices."
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that Google "has been trying to compete with Microsoft and other software makers by offering more software that runs in a Web browser and isn't downloaded directly to computers. Now it appears to be broadening its approach, in a move that could give it greater distribution of its own online software services, including word-processing and email software."
However, the report also indicated that Google's move could worry privacy advocates and others concerned about the company's data-collection practices.
At PC World, Ian Paul said he had a few questions about the OS. One of them was whether it would keep Microsoft up at night.
His response? "Don't make me laugh. Chrome OS is about as much a threat to Microsoft as a mosquito is to a bear -- assuming the mosquito doesn't have Malaria that is. It's hard to envision Chrome OS significantly impacting a full-featured OS like Windows."
Tech Crunch was clear enough, offering the headline, "Google Drops A Nuclear Bomb On Microsoft. And It's Made of Chrome."
In the piece, MG Siegler continues that line. "This is Google dropping the mother of bombs on its chief rival, Microsoft. It even says as much in the first paragraph of its post, 'However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web.' Yeah, who do you think they mean by that? And it's a genius play."
Silicon Alley Insider, in a post titled, "Google Launching OS, Firing Torpedo Into Microsoft (And Apple)," said Chrome has fallen short in the past and that Microsoft should stick to what it knows best.
"Microsoft needs to forget about competing with Google on search and start figuring out how to defend its crown jewels against this assault."
At ZDNet, Dennis Howlett said some of the early comments suggest at least a few people are viewing the Chrome OS as "the closest thing to the second coming of Jesus Christ." His advice? "Get a grip people."
John Oates for The Register notes that many companies have tried to invade Microsoft's stronghold before. "And none have succeeded. But then none have had the muscle or money of Google nor have they had its central position in web services to use as a foot in the door."
Interesting observation here from Om Malik at GigaOM. "I spent a big chunk of the morning reading many different stories and posts -- and they say absolutely nothing, apart from chunks of information out of the original blog post, which is well a lot of words that say nothing much."
Kevin Purdy at Lifehacker said he understands that the move is meant to get users more accustomed to things such as Gmail and the Google Calendar. "It's harder to figure out the specifics of how Google's platform will overcome the deeply entrenched Windows familiarity that has kept other Linux-based netbook upstarts mostly in check, and how it will accommodate the vast array of x86 hardware compatibility quirks that plagues Linux distributions to this day."
Over at TheStreet.com, Scott Moritz offered the following: "So how big is this next generation software race? Who knows. But one thing seems clear: The hype will be huge."
Writing at Wired's Epicenter, Ryan Singel said that, "If indeed Google puts out a fast, easy to use operating system that lets netbooks soar and free users from constant software patches, Microsoft will find it very hard to explain to users why they should continue to use its software, other than just out of a foolish consistency."
Finally, I'll leave you with this, from Stan Schroeder at Mashable.
"It'll be a long, excruciating battle, but I can already tell you who's going to win. You. Us. Whatever happens, we -- the users -- will have a better, faster, simpler, more web-oriented operating system. Will it have a Microsoft or a Google tag on it? Ultimately, it's not even that important."
Perhaps that's true for users. Of course investors might have a slightly different take.
Larry S - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:29PM EDT
There have been several attempts made by companies to release a LINUX version OS for PC's and they have all failed for ONE reason. Incompatibility! If Google wants to take over the universe they need to contact EVERY device manufacturer on the planet and have them develope a driver for their devices so that when the OS is installed, it will pick up every device you have installed in your computer. Your mouse, keyboard, monitor, network card, USB ports, firewire ports, video card or chip, video capture card, SCSI hard disk drive controller, your serial port, your parallel port... EVERYTHING! And what's more.... is that even if all that hardware is picked up and installed correctly where are you going to get software. How will I edit video on my computer with no video editing software even though the OS recognizes my video capture card? What about my webcam that I use to talk with Grandma? Will I be able to edit JPG photos from my camera? Will I be able to open, read, and compose .DOC and .XLS compatible files for Microsoft Word and Excel? I think you can see that this just isn't going to fly. I have to give Microsoft credit though in that they foresaw all this and got an early start. As crappy as WIndows is, they executed it's release in a very effecient way.
Leo - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:31PM EDT
Time to short MSFT...if Google can create an OS that can get users logged on and "on the web in seconds," I'm a buyer.
Luciano C - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:34PM EDT
I agree with Alexi, they should let us raise our own chicken, we need huevos when things get tough! :)
...... - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:41PM EDT
competition breeds innovation...good job google!
Jose - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:46PM EDT
A google OS is just D-I-Y Linux. Linux and the open source community (which includes Google, IBM, Nokia, Red Hat, NASA, the NSA, ...) are like a large pool of openly developed, scrutizined, and patched software where individual players take the basic stuff and repackage it. Most of the same apps that run on one flavor of Linux run on another (or can be made to run another rather easily). The main difference is in presentation. Linux is to science as Microsoft is to alchemy. You can't work alone and remain competitive against the rest of the world working together. Linux gives users control. Linux is 100% $0.
thomas - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:50PM EDT
Google is an organization that sells or will sell your personal info to the government...big brother is just around the corner..
Lamb-inator - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:50PM EDT
to nader and others... it's not meant to beat/replace Windows, just like google documents isn't going to replace Office. It's going to be like Linux, Ubuntu and the others. For simple applications and web browsing. so stop giving yourself an aneurysm! and stop living in a one PC-one OS world and learn what it's like to not want to throw your computer out the window when you're not at the office or doing other serious work!
Jose - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:50PM EDT
Windows is crucial to Microsoft's interlocking monopolies. Google would have a difficult time fighting off Microsoft endlessly. They gain so much by cracking Microsoft's seat of power, Windows.
thomas - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:53PM EDT
av: we are very close to dumb terminals... DoD will start implementing them... security reasons
Boris - Wednesday July 08, 2009 04:03PM EDT
google chrome OS will gain small niche of devoted fans-mostly computer savvy people who can make it work with other software.Ordinary consumers and corporations will continue with windows
Jose - Wednesday July 08, 2009 04:04PM EDT
Linux already has great driver support. The more branding that comes to Linux, the more companies will create Linux drivers for their products at the same time (or earlier) than they create the Windows drivers. Linux is not a biased platform. This is unlike Windows where Microsoft holds a serious upper hand over all third party developers. Compatibility is not a stumbling block because people can use both Linux and Windows. People use new products everyday. Linux already has great applications which in some cases have very similar interfaces to the ones on Windows. Linux has a few cards up its sleave for running "Windows-only" applications. Linux gives your hardware a longer lifespan; you get more hardware and (of course) software bang for your buck. Linux can do your dishes as well. What Linux lacks (but it's only a matter of time before it gets it because so many of the pieces already exist) is some brand and $$ backing by a company that has levers that don't depend on Microsoft. Google built their business on Linux. Linux came into its own in the server end years ago. Now, we are nearing the time when it will take its proper place on the desktop.
Dean - Wednesday July 08, 2009 04:04PM EDT
I recently bought a Mac, essentially "firing" MSFT. Got tired of constantly having to fix registry errors and combating viruses...what a PITA. Bill Gates....YOU'RE FIRED!
Tropical Green - Wednesday July 08, 2009 04:07PM EDT
I wouldn't go near google. They track just about everything we do anyway. I do not trust them for a second. Their motto is do no evil because that is precisely what they have in mind, to do evil.
ussinvest - Wednesday July 08, 2009 04:08PM EDT
The only reason the OS is safe now is the little guys in grass huts with a T1 in Southeast Asia aren't writing little snippets of code for it yet. Give it time, they will start, you can never, NEVER outrun the hacker/virus community. They have proven time and again they have the resources to exploit whatever you're hiding. Google's Chrome will be no exception.
Eric - Wednesday July 08, 2009 04:09PM EDT
Chrome? Looks shiny at first, then dulls quickly. Covers up plain steel and then flakes off. Titanium is the way to go!
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday July 08, 2009 04:18PM EDT
C A - is right, it is a replay. But the playing field has changed. Sun and Oracle did not have the inroads Google does with the mainstream consumer. With HTML 5 coming out, the world will be a different place. 10 years ago the technology was too premature to be internet dependent. Now, things have changed. I've dropped Office for Google Docs, Outlook for Gmail, Windows for Leopard, IE for Firefox. Windows is overly complicated and if Google does a good job with their interface design, shred the unnecessary overly complicated setting options, then they have something. Myself, I will be buying to Goog options and selling them before the OS hits the street. :)
Underdog - Wednesday July 08, 2009 04:23PM EDT
Microsoft is inept, poorly designed and a pain to be stuck with. I would love a google operating system.
- Wednesday July 08, 2009 04:28PM EDT
Now hold on a minute. Google is only trying to recontextualize its real-time e-business upside by integrating innovative experiences and incubating. distributed niches. You can't blame them for that. Microsoft on the other hand has aleays optimized real-time infrastructures in an effort to strategize front-end communities and extend bricks-and-clicks eyeballs. Wouldn't you agree? In the end both enterprizes will have to matrix world-class architectures and redefine revolutionary solutions. Otherwise they won't be able to iterate efficient partnerships, and who wants that.
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a - Wednesday July 08, 2009 03:29PM EDT
30 years of technology and we are back in a full circle- how far away are we from a dumb terminal?