Google Operating System

Finally Google has done it! Rumors since at least 2005 have indicated that it might happen, but it seemed nothing was real. Now Google has stepped up and revealed their strategy. Chrome (the operating system) will be for Netbooks initially, but later for regular laptops and even desktop computers. Using Chrome (the Google browser) it will be Net centric, using Web applications and storing data online and accessible from anywhere. Designed for people who "live on the web" it will boot in seconds and be ready for email, web browsing, social networking and applications that run in the browser.

Creating an OS is a huge undertaking, even for Google, so of course it will be based on the Linux kernel. Promising to open source the code, Google will attempt to leverage the work of the thousands of Linux and open source developers. A simple, fast OS for Netbooks is probably a good thing, and any alternative to Microsoft's monopoly is welcome, though I personally dislike the "cloud" computing idea. I'll keep my applications and data on my own computer, thank you very much. Sure, some online apps are a good idea, but I want to be able to use most of the programs I need even if I am not connected to the Internet (Yes I am aware of Google Gears and Mozilla Prism). At a minimum I want a locally installed word processor, text editor, email client (not just GMail), PDF viewer, audio and video player.

There is also the privacy angle. If anybody but Google, with it's excellent reputation and huge good will, did the things it does people would be screaming about invasion of privacy (and some already are). I like Google, but as someone said, we are not Google's customers, we are the PRODUCT that Google sells to the real customers, advertisers. Some caution seems to be warranted in how far we trust them (Google AND the advertisers) with our personal information. Now with the new Firefox Browser including (optional) geolocation, privacy may become an even hotter topic.

While advanced users will probably still prefer a full Linux distro even on Netbooks, this is definitely the tech story of the day, if not the year, and will be very interesting to follow as the release nears in the second half of 2010. What hardware manufacturers will offer the Chrome OS? Will you be able to install normal Linux applications? Will the OS be free? Will it be usable offline? Lots to be said, but lots have already been said even at this early stage. Here are a few links to some of the more interesting pages I have found on the subject:

BBC News

CNN.com

Los Angeles Times (requires free registration)

The Washington Post

New York Times (requires free registration)

Bloomberg.com

Official Google Blog
(with lots of links to other pages and opinions)

eWeek

C-Net

10 Things We're Dying to Know About Chrome OS
(including implications for enterprise users)

Five Things Google’s Chrome OS Will Do for Your Netbook

Will the Chrome OS make Google more loved or hated in OS world?

Google's New OS Raises Privacy, Antitrust Concerns

Obama Email

I had heard about http://change.gov/, so I decided to put in my $.02:

"We could save a great deal of money by moving government agencies toward using the Linux operating system and Open Source/Free Software in general. The momentum is there and growing - the DOD, NASA, NSA and US Army already use it in some applications.
I believe it deserves consideration for much wider deployment, given it's proven quality and security. A Gartner study just said that 85% of enterprises are already using open source and the remainder will do so within 12 months.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10098310-16.html

"Free Software" refers to freedom, not price, but the excessive licensing fees paid to proprietary vendors are often unnecessary, and in Microsoft's case, perpetuate an unethical monopoly, stifle innovation and put a burden on government agencies budgets, and on ordinary citizens too.

Also, we should promote, if not legislate, open standards in Internet technologies and document formats. Preventing vendor lock-in and allowing open access to public records and documents without requiring any one companies product seems desirable. These closed file formats force users to pay for accessing information that should be freely available to all. They also hinder competition because it is difficult to produce a competing software product, if the file format is a secret.

Educational institutions should be encouraged to use and teach Open Source/Free Software, not only to make our education dollars go further, but to prepare students for the new software model that is gaining ground very rapidly with governments and corporations worldwide.

This technology and philosophy has reached a maturity and achieved a critical mass of adoption that I think warrants consideration for more government use.

I have noted more advantages in a blog post here:
http://linuxlatitude.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-lattitude.html
(oriented to home and small business users, but many facts still relevant).

Thanks for reading and congratulations on the election! "

Maybe I'll get the national CTO post? ;-)

Why Linux?

Linux is a modern, mature, free computer operating system with a graphical user interface very similar to either Windows or Mac; your choice. In fact, Linux is about choice--and freedom. Best of all, you don't even have to install Linux to try it out. You can just pop in a "Live CD" reboot your computer and be running Linux in minutes. (with no danger to your existing operating system). You can even get an inexpensive CD shipped to you. Actually though, you're probably already using Linux and don't even realize it.

Linux originated in 1991, but is now reaching a critical mass of adoption with millions of users worldwide. Most corporate uses are for servers, but it is now increasingly being used on the desktop by businesses and ordinary computer users too. Even Apple users are impressed with how usable modern Linux is. Among Linux users are major corporations including IBM, HP, Sun Microsystems, Google, Dell and Novell. Government agencies like DOD, NASA, NSA, and the US Army use Linux. The world's fastest computer runs Linux. Many cities, medical facilities, educational institutions, airlines, the NYSE and foreign governments use Linux. You should too.

Instead of having your use of the computer you bought dictated by a giant corporation (and convicted monopolist), YOU can be in charge! Linux gives you freedom; free from cost, free from spyware, adware, worms, Trojans and virus infection. No virus scans, no malware removal, no defraging to waste your time. Oh, and you don't need to buy any expensive third-party utilities to protect yourself either. Linux is secure out of the box. And, many manufacturers try to make up for the cost of a Windows license by bundling demo and trial versions of software such as AOL, Norton, McAfee, Microsoft Office, etc. (known as "crapware"), for which they receive money from software companies looking to increase their sales. These bog down your system and are hard to remove. Not on Linux. You start with a clean system.

Another advantage, Linux runs well on slower computers, so you can save even more money by upgrading your hardware less often, or buying cheaper systems in the first place. Not only do you not have to pay the "Windows Tax" when you switch to Linux, you have access to thousands of pieces of application software as well; Office Suites, a Photoshop replacement, audio and video editors, multimedia players, and on and on. Free.
One more thing; you can update your whole system, both the operating system and all the applications with one command! Likewise, in some distros you can upgrade to the latest version of the operating system (and all it's programs) easily. For free.

Linux also gives you freedom from onerous EULA's and entering long cryptic codes to install software you paid for. Quit worrying about product activation, how many computers you can legally install the software on, planned obsolescence, forced upgrades, vendor lock-in, DRM, and all the other problems from the closed software model.

But Linux is not a copy of Windows. It has it's own unique advantages and it must be said, some disadvantages. Also, Linux and Free Software are as much a philosophy as a technology, but many people misunderstand the term "free software":
"Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer." gnu.org
(A similar term, Open Source, is slightly different.
For one point of view on the differences, read this essay)
In most cases though Linux is "free" in both senses of the word. Freedom for free--you can't get much better than that.
Freedom feels good. Give it a try.