Google's New Operating System

[Deano!]

I just hope it doesn't hang/crash, isn't in constant need of security patches and doesn't become clogged and sluggish after 12 months like Windows does.

BTW, I tried Microsoft's new search engine - 'Bing' a few weeks ago. Not as good as Google and is actually slower despite being pushed as being faster!

[JonathanWilson]

Google OS shouldnt become clooged because its basically a thin Linux shell with a built in web browser, with some bits from Android (Googles linux os for mobile devices, such as phones etc.)

The idea is that this thin client will use web based apps, such as googles new "cloud" based email/IM/Calendar/Docs etc.

http://uk.insight.com/content/microsite ... e&SRC=IMP1


Problem is... the apps cost GBP33 per Annum. Not a huge amount, but you're going to have to pay this every year... stop paying and you loose access to your data! (Assuming there is no way to localise the data back to your pc, which kind of defeats the "cloud" computing idea.)

Now for an institute (such as school or business) with multiple user discounts the above could save money with reduced local costs such as network storage/server farms, back end IT support staff, etc. Although the cost of local "PC" maintenance would still exist.

Now I have 3 main problems (over and above the above) with Google apps, and chrome, depending on the options you set.

They are 1, your data is on their computers... loose connection, loose access, slow access slow apps. We all know how bad internet connections can be.
2, Google has access to your data, do you trust them and their IT staff 100% that they in no way will access your data on their servers or while its being transmitted to/from their site for say targeted advertising, or some spurious legal requirement based on the server local, not the country in which you reside; at least if your data (legal or not) if local is your problem and subject only to local laws, such as Court order, etc. and requires physical access to your hardware, this is especially relivent concidering that new EU and UK laws are being pushed through requireing storing and, non court order, access to data of internet data. Wouldnt be that hard to ammend it to allow free access to all your google data.
3, Google chrome can, if you want, index your local machine so that you can google it in the same way you can google the internet. It does this by scanning your disk, indexing it, and then sending the index to google so googles engine can search for you... Google ads already target you based on a cookie and your main searching criteria, I have a google task bar, and it gives me a drop down based on previous selections... which is mainly linux, so when i enter something I get linux based results to start, then non-linux... well with chrome it now knows your pc data inside out, loads of porn, get google adverts for porn on sites not even related to porn and so on.

Ok so there does come a point when paranoia out weighs the potential advantages and ease of use... but its a hell of a lot of trust to put into one large company.

As for myself, I'll stick to Win for all the tasks I cant do with a Linux distribution (such as photoshop, cos Gimp really doesnt hack it yet) and Linux for the rest as I'm lucky enough to have some IT and programming background (IBM AS/400's) so I can hack my Ubuntu when it doesnt work "out of the box" such as my dual graphic card/head set up, something the average home user probably cant or wont do.

[Sam Slater]

I trust google as much as microsoft. I don't like the idea of a pay-as-you-go OS, though. As for losing data: you could/should always backup.

Oh, and it's 'lose' not 'loose'

1+ for Linux.

[Deano!]

Johnathon Wilson - thank you for that comprehensive answer.

I had no idea Google had planned their system this way. If people are required to store their data on Google's storage systems then I can see many (most of us here for sure!) not taking up their offer.

[Deuce Bigolo]

I wonder if the idea behind the O/S has anything to do with chrome being hijacked by the gutted version Iron?

[Deano!]

Well how about that! I just did a quick Google search and found that there was a search engine mentioned called IRON. I guess you CHROME plate IRON to stop it from rusting and make it look sexier.

It all makes sense now.

[Welshman]

Just buy a Mac.

[Guilbert]

>If people are required to store their data on Google's storage systems >then I can see many (most of us here for sure!) not taking up their offer.

Google already do this all the time.

EVERY Google search you make is stored by Google. This helps target advertising on web sites.

If you use Google Mail (GMail) they are already doing it there as well. Every email you send and recieve is searched for "keywords" to help target their advertising.

What they are proposing is nothing new.

btw Did you know every search you make in other places like Amazon etc is also saved to help them target their advertising and other offers to you.

Also every web site you visit saves details about your visit in cookies on your computer so it helps them next time you visit their site.

You would be surprised how much your web surfing is already tracked.

[Guilbert]

>Just buy a Mac.

How does that change anything if you are using Google (or any other product) via a brower?