[geeks] Google announces Google Chrome OS

[gsm at mendelson.com]

On Wed, Jul 08, 2009 at 11:28:10AM -0400, nate at portents.com wrote:
>> http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html
>
>Interesting analysis here:
>
>http://www.47hats.com/?p=1303

I think it will be "the end" of Linux. In a few years Linux will be a
component of Google/OS not something that people think of on its own.
Look at MacOS, BSD is a component of it (I don't want to start a debate
of how much of a part, thank you), but people don't think of MacOS as
being either UNIX or BSD.

Now imagine the money and effort that will be spent on establishing
Google/OS as a brand, complete with people's facination with Google.

No one will call it Google Linux, or Chrome with Linux, it will just be
Google/OS or Chrome, or whatever they call it and Linux will be a small
unmentioned part of it. 

Remember when there was the big thing about paying money to use the brand
"Linux" and how the people who owned the trademark said that you had to 
pay them if you called it (anything) Linux, but if you did not call it
Linux you did not have to pay them?

My expectation is that most of the people contributing to the current
distros will just shift over to Google because that is where the money
and glory will be. 

Right now if you walk down the street and stop a random person and tell
them you help support Ubuntu, they will have no idea of what you are
talking about. If however, a year from now you tell them you help support 
Google/OS, they will know exactly what it is. Unless of course, you live
in an Amish paradise. :-)


Geoff.

-- 
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel gsm at mendelson.com  N3OWJ/4X1GM