Will Google write an OS?

[Malak]

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy

Originally posted by: malak
You know I don't understand why everyone adores Google

Brand recognition.

Ok, they made a good search engine and even some good server hardware with the same concept in mind. Why does that make them the end-all software company? I mean, there are hundreds of search engines, why Google? I have to be honest, I do use other search engines that I think do a better job...

 

[Brazen]

I was reading a news article that thinks Google is ultimately going to break in to the OS realm, and knowing Google it will be spectacular. The article cited sources from Google hinting at an OS release in the future, but nothing concrete. I don't remember where I read the article (try googling for it )

One would think they would build on the Linux popularity and release their own distribution, possibly with their own desktop environment, with Googles magic touch. However, Caldera tried that and though it spurred innovation, it didn't get them much.

I think most likely they would release an entirely new OS, built by Google from the ground up. Maybe it would have cross-platform compatibility with Microsoft Windows built right in.

Who knows? But I do think that Google would been a VERY strong competitor to Microsoft. Mostly because they are effectively doing the exact same thing that Bill Gates did in the beginning - marketing and brand recognition. Without knowing or caring about compatability, your average user who uses Google every time they open their browser will look at a Google OS and feel comfortable with it, if anything just because of the familiar name and the fact that google has become as almost synonomous with "easy and effective" as it has become synonomous with searching (I do however think that a Google OS would have more to it than just the name). Linux on the other hand, most people have never heard of and is kinda odd sounding anyway (no offense Linus).

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

I think Google would stand an excellent chance of ripping half of the auction monopoly from eBay. They have the server power, the search power, the 'customer base', and could easily integrate it right into their toolbar/homepage as another 'tab'. Google has a solid and 'trustworthy' name on the web (which eBay is slowly losing) and is already on or being used by a HUGE number of people.


Just my thoughts

SDC

 

[deftron]

They'd probably start with a browser first ... if they did anything big

 

[aircooled]

doubt they'll do an OS. Maybe buy one (one day), but not write one.

 

[gopunk]

they're more likely to do an endrun around OS, in effect commoditizing operating systems

 

[Rock Hydra]

If they did write an OS, I'm sure it really won't gain much popularity. Not to mention they'd release it as a Beta for who knows how long.

 

[Rogue]

They'd be smart to get into the SAN market in my opinion.

 

[everman]

I don't believe Google sees an OS as the thing to do. They're moving in the direction of providing content and services on the web browser platform. This way they know that everyone is using one of the top browsers, and everything is really being done behind the scenes on their servers. It's more standardized.

 

[imported_waldo]

Originally posted by: malak

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy

Originally posted by: malak
You know I don't understand why everyone adores Google

Brand recognition.

Ok, they made a good search engine and even some good server hardware with the same concept in mind. Why does that make them the end-all software company? I mean, there are hundreds of search engines, why Google? I have to be honest, I do use other search engines that I think do a better job...

I have to agree....I like vivissimo....what search engines do you use?

 

[simms]

You know, Apple and Google should merge to form Aoogle...

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: simms
You know, Apple and Google should merge to form Aoogle...

How about Goople?

 

[Cerb]

Um, why? Torvalds & Pals is doing it for them!

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Just switch to MS-DOS

The best product ever made by MS, too bad they didn't create it in the first place. IBM or MS DID Not write the original DOS, it was written by a man living in seattle who gates bought out and obtained all rights to his work. Out of that came MS DOS. Just like NT, they needed IBM to write the source for them. As most of us know from NT (aka OS2 and OS2 warp, IBM's Brand of NT) we got Windows NT 4.0 (where was version 3.0 or v2.0?), Windows 2000, and Windows XP. Windows 95 was a Piece-o-Ship that was based on DOS along with all the following versions of 9x (98 and ME) were too. One may only wonder what a piece-o-dung Longhorn may turn out to be.



Please correct my mistakes, I know I made some. It's 3am I am feeling tired and lazy. Thanks.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: phisrow
It probably wouldn't be worth it for them. MS wouldn't give ground easily, and it isn't clear what they could do that either the Linux guys or Apple havn't. What they might well try, though, is gradually expanding their collection of rather cute browser based apps. The Google people seem to have the scripting stuff down(e.g. Google maps, or that GoogleX thing that has been floating around, and Gmail, of course). This gives them most of the advantages of a Google OS, namely serious brand recognition and everyone, everywhere, depending on them all the time; without the hassle of writing device drivers for every last proprietary horror, Tiawanese cheapie, and broken-as-designed-winwidget out there. They might do something like slapping together an installer bundle with Google Desktop Search + custom version of Firefox with loads of Google web apps integrated into it(they've hired some important chap from Mozilla, if memory serves) + Thunderbird designed to jack right into your Gmail(directly, with the same interface, not POP3). Doing an actual OS, though, is a fairly thankless task. Much, much easier to just use web based stuff that will run on top of pretty much anything; then you're set no matter who wins the architecture wars, the OS wars, etc.

ALL I can really say to that is: Google don't get too big. Like Ray Crock the founder of Mc Donalds said "When ripen, you rot".

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: waldo

Originally posted by: malak

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy

Originally posted by: malak
You know I don't understand why everyone adores Google

Brand recognition.

Ok, they made a good search engine and even some good server hardware with the same concept in mind. Why does that make them the end-all software company? I mean, there are hundreds of search engines, why Google? I have to be honest, I do use other search engines that I think do a better job...

I have to agree....I like vivissimo....what search engines do you use?

Alltheweb, seems to be better at image searches, plus it has audio and video searches too which rock. Google is ok, but it's not the best.

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
I wouldn't be surprised if in the next few years when internet connections are getting faster and faster that they will develop something that would have you using an OS that is based in a server farm somewhere... all online, no need for any installed OS on your end...

Call me crazy now, but let's talk in a few years...

That'd be like the Terminal server system we run at work. We have a dual Xeon server running Windows 2003 terminal server and everyone else is just on a crap thin client. Works like a charm. Of course video doesn't work so well.

 

Why would they do that?
I should, and will never happen.