Goobuntu: coming soon to a desktop near you?

The rumor mill continues to crank out stories about the Google PC and the Windows-challenging OS it will run. And now that phantom operating system actually has a name: Goobuntu. According to reports, Google has already developed the OS, based on Ubuntu Linux and the Gnome desktop, and may be close to rolling it out. Of course, Goobuntu may actually be just for internal use; Google has in the past admitted to using an internally developed OS for its servers. However, it could be the next step in Google's quest for desktop hegemony. We just hope it runs Google Earth and Picasa, or we're not interested.

Update: Another Google rumor bites the dust, since according to Ars Technica, Google spokeswoman Sonya Borälv says that "[w]e use Ubuntu internally but have no plans to distribute it outside of the company." It's almost as if they enjoy crushing our hopes and dreams.

[ethan otterlei @ Jan 31st 2006 3:53PM]

any concrete info about the Napster news with Google today?

[Joseph @ Jan 31st 2006 3:55PM]

If Google developed an Ubuntu based operating system, wouldn't they have release the source code to the public?

[Andre @ Jan 31st 2006 4:09PM]

Google denied it was buying napster.

[Andrew Camacho @ Jan 31st 2006 4:11PM]

Definitely something Microsoft would not want to hear...

[lpret @ Jan 31st 2006 4:14PM]

It's one of those things that I would love for it to happen because I'm sure Google would do it right. But at the same time, I'm pretty sure it's not going to happen just because it doesn't fit with their vision.

[Zino @ Jan 31st 2006 4:25PM]

i am a spammer: [e-mail]

[dave @ Jan 31st 2006 4:26PM]

I think they should call it "Bungle" instead

[Echo_ @ Jan 31st 2006 4:42PM]

google needs an image hosting thing like photobucket

plzplzplz

2 gb space with unlimited bandwidth

[helio9000 @ Jan 31st 2006 4:45PM]

It seems too soon. Right now Ubuntu is nice but it definetly requires Automatix to be usable on a daily basis and isn't polished enough to attract the average user.

However, I know people who had basically everything in the lame google pack on their pc already and they still downloaded because it was google. It is interesting how much that thing vomited icons and changed settings all over the OS like the days of yore. Clearly they want to be there.

[carter @ Jan 31st 2006 4:47PM]

any concrete info about the Napster news with Google today?

They're going to call it Napoogle. Or perhaps Goopster.

[PEZ @ Jan 31st 2006 4:52PM]

You can imagine - a google toolbar with integrated napster nearch, picasa launch and the OS all there - possible a dual boot solution? Interesting.

What web browser though? FIREFOX! woooo...

[rodents @ Jan 31st 2006 5:17PM]

you can just hear microsoft ready to cry..

[Mitch @ Jan 31st 2006 5:18PM]

I don't know about Google right now, any info on if google handed over the information that the US government wanted? I know they gave in to communism in china but if they release an open source os I'll be all up for that.

[Yazan Malakha @ Jan 31st 2006 5:24PM]

Another 20% beta half cooked google labs product that would be thrown out by google in a few weeks? Not Interested!

[skeet @ Jan 31st 2006 5:36PM]

http://www.google-watch.org/gmail.html

the old google can't last forever..

[Echo_ @ Jan 31st 2006 5:41PM]

For those saying google should stay in their own area of expertise...

Google is suppose to bring us information, webpages,images,basically anythign that is out there hence google videos now google music.

makes cents to me (haha what a great pun)

[CyBeR @ Jan 31st 2006 7:29PM]

"It's almost as if they enjoy crushing our hopes and dreams."

No-- it's just that people keep making up crazy rumours! Wait till the damn press release next time!

[Phil @ Jan 31st 2006 9:15PM]

Is it me or would a Google OS really suck?

[Sunil @ Feb 1st 2006 12:35AM]

Is there any eval copy available? I am biased for using all that google comes out with.....:)

[drt @ Feb 1st 2006 12:55AM]

yeah, ubuntu is slightly more usable than debian, but that's about it.

and google being a publicly traded company needs to keep it's filthy mitts off a debian-based distro. the most they could possibly hope to add would be a bunch of google toolbars and bookmarks. more pointers to their advertising.

no thanks..

[Nate B @ Feb 1st 2006 3:53AM]

It would be open-source for everything. But the real big push is CHEAP PCs.

[Stefan @ Feb 1st 2006 4:58AM]

Looks like Google actually alluded to this on its conference call. Look at this quote about "really big bets":
http://internetstockblog.com/article/6353

and the full transcript here:
http://internetstockblog.com/article/6348

[Stefan @ Feb 1st 2006 5:01AM]

Sorry, my link didn't work. Here's the link again to the quote from Google on the call last night about "really big bets":

http://internetstockblog.com/article/6353

[Adam @ Feb 1st 2006 5:23AM]

Google are evil. I'm hardly surprised they're going into the O/S business. With their histroy of ignoring copyright I wouldn't be surprised to see them ship XP and cliam it as their own.

"Do no evil" my arse.

[victor piscue @ Feb 1st 2006 7:16AM]

well, it's fun to watch whois info:

goobuntu.com
goobuntu.net
goobuntu.org

all of three registered yesterday :P

[Skeptic Al @ Feb 1st 2006 9:05AM]

Well, its GPL, so they'd have to release the source code. No way to hide code that tracks your every movement that way.

Before everyone continues to toss Google salad, remember, they're no different than *any* other multi-billion dollar corporation out to make a dollar. Stop whining about Microsoft.

Tools.

[blakiston @ Feb 1st 2006 10:12AM]

Any linux based OS is doomed to obscurity. Open source software is vaguely defined, confusing, like counting stars and imagining which support life.

Google could try to be a little original.

[Perrey Z. @ Feb 10th 2006 6:31PM]

Oh my... they need a better tradename if this is going to roll out into major retailers.

I can hear the sales associates after a customer walks-in asking him/her what computers do they have. Associate: "Well be have Pavilion, G5s iMac minis, and Goobuntu."

I wish Google the very best with this venture, but they need a better subbrand, not to mention Windows OS to suceed...