Chrome OS

[Dead-eye]

So Google announced the other day that their getting into the Operating System market with Chrome OS. It's free, open source, and targeted at netbooks:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/ ... me-os.html

I'm happy and hoping for the best but I do have some concerns. The best of all possible worlds is that Chrome OS is essentially Linux with "real" money backing it, in which case go google. However it could be part of Google's massive profiling campaign, in which case crap.

What do you think guys?

[Kee715]

Google OS? I was expecting it to happen, but not so soon...

I will try it, I have high hopes for it. Google is good at making their own version of everything.

[justanotherfan]

I'm not hopeful. I hate web-apps, at least when they're trying to replace a native application. I have no interest in a Google distribution of Linux.

The only thing that Google could improve on with a distribution is the UI, configuring whatever they choose to work well with netbooks.

[EER]

What google can do, is use their mass-market appeal to push linux to 'normal' people. Thus giving Linux a much needed momentum boost and hopefully improving the overall user experience in all distributions.

But I may be too optimistic

[Jetsetlemming]

Haven't they already done this before, or was that unofficial? I could've swore I've heard of a Linux distro that was basically Ubuntu that came preloaded with a bunch of google programs.

[Jonas]

It is going to be packed with spyware. Mark my words!

[Dead-eye]

It is going to be packed with spyware. Mark my words!

Google 'IS' spywere.

... well almost.

What google can do, is use their mass-market appeal to push linux to 'normal' people. Thus giving Linux a much needed momentum boost and hopefully improving the overall user experience in all distributions.

But I may be too optimistic

That's what I'm hoping.

[Jonas]

It is going to be packed with spyware. Mark my words!

Google 'IS' spywere.

Exactly!

[Kee715]

So Google spies on users, and so does every other web search engine corporation. And there is a rumour that Yahoo! has a web server that exists SOLELY for the purpose of tracking people, for more than just search results. But 'tis just an unproven and un-debunked rumour so just ignore it,

[Dead-eye]

I guess the big question is would you rather have Google spying on you or Microsoft?

[Jetsetlemming]

I'm pretty sure Microsoft isn't spying on me. At least, not via windows. I've got this shit locked down.

[Kee715]

I guess the big question is would you rather have Google spying on you or Microsoft?

Google, M$ does not give me search results.

(Okay they can, but I only use Google for internet searches)

[EER]

I'm pretty sure Microsoft isn't spying on me. At least, not via windows. I've got this shit locked down.

They are posting outside your window whenever you're using your computer. I'd rather not lock it down, so they don't have to come down here all this way

[DaveW]

I guess the big question is would you rather have Google spying on you or Microsoft?

Microsoft don't spy on users.

And this sounds awful. I use Google Chrome as a browser because IE8 on Windows 7 seems to have a habit of forgetting me on websites all the time, but I prefer IE8. I see no reason to switch to this on my Netbook, I like the way XP works (although if the brilliant battery life on my 1000HE remains, I may switch to Windows 7 because it's awesome).

[Jonas]

Not a Firefox fan, then?