Beware of geeks bearing gifts

This week Google finally entered the operating system market. It has been much talked about for a long time. In many ways it is a logical step for them, they run everything from Linux based machines, and with that amount of know-how and the availability of excellent distributions like Ubuntu, why not release their own?

There are very few companies with the power to taken on Microsoft, even fewer still who would have the inclination or a reason to do it. But Google are one of them. With their world famous reputation and massive pots of money to back them up, I think we might finally see something that can topple Microsoft’s grip on the desktop.

Is that a good thing? In my mind yes… but it has a price.

Breaking the grip

Nearly every desktop computer in the world runs Windows in one form or another. That was no bad thing. It meant everyone could focus on write code for one platform and not have to worry about the difficulties multiple platforms bring.

But that is a hang over from the early days of computing. Today’s landscape is very different and requires a new way of thinking. With runtime environments running over the platforms (I.E. Java, .Net, Flash, Silverlight, even JavaScript) you don’t need to worry so much about what’s underneath.

We now live in a world where the internet is the norm. If you can’t do the work locally for what ever reason, have the cloud do the work. In fact why even have applications on your machine at all? There will always be some people who need applications on the desktop, but the vast majority don’t

Now’s the time

So the world is ripe for a new way to think about how you use computers, and Goggle are just the company to show they way. With a history of giving away really useful web based software for free, who better to offer to the average user a new operating system that costs nothing?

I have met many people (usually non IT type people, but not always) who are sceptical of software they don’t pay for. If they don’t pay for it there must be something wrong with it. Or they just take what they are given becuase they are unsure of unaware of the alternatives.

But if they were buying a computer and the option came up to pay for Windows for £100, or Goggle OS for £0. I am fairly sure most would go for Goggle and not really be able to tell the difference. As long as it went on the net, let them do word processing, and play solitaire. Most would not care one jot, and if that happened to be faster, and more secure as well.. even better

Beware of the dark side

But this comes at a price. Google are a private company in the US, renowed for their secrecy. Their entire business model is based on collecting information on you and using that to make more money.

What better way to gather the most amount of information on you than to be with you all the time, not just when you are surfing the net. There is only one way to do that, run the computer.

I can see the next step will be allowing you to use the cloud as the file system. Don’t store the files on your computer, only you can use them then. Store them in the cloud and access them from anywhere. Secretly keeping copies of all your documents for unknown purposes and lengths of time.

Pinch of salt

Will this it bring about a revolution in the way we use computers, no doubt. If not right now then soon. Microsoft have no option but to keep up. That means they must become more competitive and more innovative. Never a bad thing.

But I personally find the idea of a massive multinational silently watching my computer quiet a frightening prospect, and I worry the general populous will walk blindly into the threat not knowing what they are signing up for, or even signing away. Seduced by the shiny interface, and other cool gadgets they never knew they wanted.