Goobuntu: coming soon to a desktop near you?
By Marc Perton 
posted Jan 31st 2006 3:44PM
posted Jan 31st 2006 3:44PM
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.
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...
any concrete info about the Napster news with Google today?
If Google developed an Ubuntu based operating system, wouldn't they have release the source code to the public?
Google denied it was buying napster.
Definitely something Microsoft would not want to hear...
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.
i am a spammer: felixekman@technologysweden.com
I think they should call it "Bungle" instead
google needs an image hosting thing like photobucket
plzplzplz
2 gb space with unlimited bandwidth
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.
any concrete info about the Napster news with Google today?
They're going to call it Napoogle. Or perhaps Goopster.
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...
you can just hear microsoft ready to cry..
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.
Another 20% beta half cooked google labs product that would be thrown out by google in a few weeks? Not Interested!
http://www.google-watch.org/gmail.html
the old google can't last forever..
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)
"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!
Is it me or would a Google OS really suck?
Is there any eval copy available? I am biased for using all that google comes out with.....:)
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..
It would be open-source for everything. But the real big push is CHEAP PCs.
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
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
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.
well, it's fun to watch whois info:
goobuntu.com
goobuntu.net
goobuntu.org
all of three registered yesterday :P
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.
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.