AS MANY people have heard by now (several informed us via IRC), Google is ditching Windows. It's long overdue.
Obviously Google would eventually love its employees to use its own Linux-based desktop OS product, ChromeOS, as soon as its is ready for prime time. For now, Apple's (AAPL) Macs and to a lesser extent, Linux are the answer.
But ChromeOS is the future and it seems pretty apparent that Google is heading in that direction. A few more Googler quotes:
* "Before the security, there was a directive by the company to try to run things on Google products. It was a long time coming." * "A lot of it is an effort to run things on Google product," the employee said. "They want to run things on Chrome."
A new report tonight in the Financial Times suggests that Google is steering its employees away from using Microsoft’s dominant operating system in the workplace. In fact, the reports says that, “New hires are now given the option of using Apple’s Mac computers or PCs running the Linux operating system.” And it states that getting a computer running Windows may require permission as high up as Google’s CIO.
Google is phasing out the internal use of Microsoft’s ubiquitous Windows operating system because of security concerns, according to several Google employees.
The directive to move to other operating systems began in earnest in January, after Google’s Chinese operations were hacked, and could effectively end the use of Windows at Google, which employs more than 10,000 workers internationally.
That company is Google. And following the intrusions into its innards in January by network crackers allegedly from China, the search giant is reported to have decided to discontinue the use of Windows internally.
A report in the Financial Times online says this is due to security concerns - and for the first time a mainstream news outlet has this line: "Windows is known for being more vulnerable to attacks by hackers and more susceptible to computer viruses than other operating systems."
It would be interesting to see a Quit Microsoft Day or Quit Apple Day. A day when people chose to break the shackles of restriction, humiliation and monopoly and choose their freedom.
The world will not stop without proprietary technolog, it will infact become a better place to live in. There are alternatives to Microsoft Windows and Apple Macs, iPad and iPhone.
Gnu/Linux based Ubuntu is one of the most powerful secure and user-friendly operating system. Firefox and Google Chrome are the best alternatives to Microsoft Internet Explorer and Safari. Android based Google phones are the best alternatives to the iPhone. All you need to do is look around.
Comments
Needs Sunlight
2010-06-01 16:15:28
What's Google's policy on Mono? Are they really leaving Windows behind or are they planning on allowing the bad design and security problems follow to other platforms?
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2010-06-01 16:46:33
Needs Sunlight
2010-06-01 17:17:05
I would expect that most of the productive people are already using Linux, OS X or anything else not Windows. The 20% I refer to is the general loss in productivity that comes with
I hope they stop wasting resources developing Windows-only services and can cull the individuals behind projects like that. Picassa is one example.
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2010-06-01 17:25:56
In the process of bringing it to GNU/Linux, Google improved Wine with patches.
People should use Gwenview, DigiKam, etc.
http://www.digikam.org/
Needs Sunlight
2010-06-02 10:21:46
Google could have just hired a small team of skilled people (as opposed to 'softers) and had them pimp out Digikam. Probably would have gotten faster, more visible results more cheaply and at the same time preventing incursion of DirectX into OpenGL territory.
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2010-06-02 11:28:07
I mailed DiBona about it ~5 years ago when Picasa was a Windows-only Google application (one among many, including Desktop and Earth). At least they sorted out the cross-platform aspects.
The Mad Hatter
2010-06-02 02:17:06
Needs Sunlight
2010-06-02 10:28:42
It's pathetic to chat with formerly productive, real staff that folded and allowed Windows along side their work computer or to replace their work computer. They complain about the loss, but then after a year or two start doing their best Pod Person imitation about how "it's not so bad once you get used to it". Best as I can figure, "It" does not refer to Windows as much as the loss of usefulness that it brings. They simply over time become resigned to the fact that they get as much done over three or four days as they used to get done in an afternoon. It's the same effect whether large businesses, small businesses, hospitals, colleges or universities.
And people wonder why the US is no longer competitive academically or industrially...
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2010-06-02 11:24:14
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2010-06-02 11:28:35
The Mad Hatter
2010-06-02 13:48:06