Google Plans a PC Operating System

[kgun]

Have they realised their browser launch was a failure and are now trying to generate more hype for it?

Isn't it too early to draw that conclusion?

[inertia]

Check out www.aviary.com for some very interesting examples.

This is indeed a very interesting site! Just signed up

As far as Google challenging MS in the OS game, i dont reckon they'll win that one. Thats what MS do. Google do search technologies and did MS beat them at that?

[kgun]

As far as Google challenging MS in the OS game, i dont reckon they'll win that one. Thats what MS do. Google do search technologies and did MS beat them at that?

May be not on the Pc in the foreseeable future. What about "an OS in the Internet cloud / a net OS"?

[wige]

I think it will be interesting what markets they target when they go after the desktop platform. I imagine they will start with the home user, for productivity computers where word processing, simple gaming, and basic data management applications can exist in the cloud. Windows or Linux would probably not lose ground on "primary" computers in the home simply because certain types of applications like games and home media playback don't necessarily translate well into the cloud. However, for additional computers in the home, these computers will probably be a low-cost alternative to the more powerful traditional desktop.

Where I really don't see Chrome breaking through is in the business world. First, Microsoft has something of a stranglehold there, and if the cloud begins to permeate business computing, MS will probably come out with a platform that offers tight business integration with traditional Windows workstations. In addition, privacy and security concerns will probably keep the cloud limited to the enterprise scope, rather than the world-wide scope cloud that Chrome looks geared to connect to.

[DaveSawers]

Businesses can run applications on their intranet totally secure from the internet. You don't have to run on the www.

[jawn_tech]

Gmail was and is a slam dunk.

The google browser so far seems like a flop, but the jury is still out.

The last I used Google docs, it was still having trouble reading a docx file correctly.

I would consider switching to a Google OS if I had some assurance it would run all of my professional graphics, video and audio production programs ("for Windows") without a hitch. Then, there would need to be a cost incentive (as in free, or a fraction of the cost of a Windows OS).

It all comes down to price and compatibility.

[inertia]

I've been using google docs recently and the collaboration aspects of it are great! Its a bit poor at importing files and some errors can occur when you're clicking around a big spread sheet. Also, it doesn't seem to like imported files (its still in beta but isn't everything!). So id recommend building docs from scratch in their system.

One of the best uses I've found for it relates to a link building aid/spreadsheet which i was slowly building. It really got interesting when i invited a handful of SEO and marketing buddies to join and contribute. The spreadsheets coming along nicely now thanks to the extra input. Some cool features which help are live colour coded highlighting of any field another user is editing, live chat and mass emailing to all users.

Also been doing some link building for a client and i use a Google doc to record all the work. The client can then login whenever he wants and see what work i've been doing without messaging me direct.

The idea of cloud storage and enterprise was a bit dodgy to me at first but im getting more and more into the idea and benefits.

[earnest]

The game is never over, MS offers a google apps alternative: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8148969.stm, officelive dot com.

[inertia]

Hhmm. Interesting!

In a few months I'm hitting the road and becoming a "travelling SEO", so I've been slowly moving all my stuff online and all within my google account (gmail and google docs mainly). This is going to be great for travelling as the inevitable theft or breakage of my laptop wont mean I loose anything and all i have to do is find the nearest internet cafe and im right where I left off! Google was my main choice for online enterprise as i only have to login into one account and I have it all there at my fingertips. However, Google docs isnt brilliant so I may give MS Office 2010 a try! But then i have to log into two accounts...

I dont see how MS can compete when people are so used to logging into their google account for email, reader, calender, analytics, GWT etc etc

[kgun]

Hhmm. Interesting!
In a few months I'm hitting the road and becoming a "travelling SEO", so I've been slowly moving all my stuff online and all within my google account (gmail and google docs mainly).

Have you put all of your favorites on deli.ciou.us? They can be imported with a few mouse clicks and made private if you don't want to share them.

Here

Favorez - DHTML menu builder for website navigation using your own IE favorites.

is a nice tool that writes your (works only for IE?) favorites to an xml document that can be manipulated with code like this

<script type="text/javascript">
document.write("<br /> <br /> <b>URL'ene:</b> <br /> <br />"); 
x=document.getElementsByTagName('a'); 
for (var i=0; x[i]; i++) {
    document.write("<br />"); 
    document.write(x[i]);
    }
document.write("<br /> <br /> <b>Navnene:</b> <br /> <br />"); 
for (var i=0; x[i]; i++) {
    document.write("<br />"); 
    document.write(x[i].innerHTML);
    }
</script>

(made for HTML - not tested for XML documents). Since innerHTML is used, you may convert the XML document to an HTML document with XSLT or another automatic XML processor.