Bill Gates calls Chrome OS more of the same, "surprised people are acting like there's something new"
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 15th 2009 5:46PM
posted July 15th 2009 5:46PM
We've already heard from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on Chrome OS, and it looks like Bill Gates has now had his say on the upstart operating system as well. Speaking with CNET News, Gates more or less described Chrome OS as just another Linux distribution, saying that "there's many, many forms of Linux operating systems out there and packaged in different ways and booted in different ways," adding that, "in some ways I am surprised people are acting like there's something new. I mean, you've got Android running on Netbooks. It's got a browser in it." Gates further went on to get another dig in at Google by saying that "the more vague they are, the more interesting it is," before getting a little philosophical by asking: "What's a browser? What's not a browser?" His answer? "In large part, it's more an abuse of terminology than a real change."
[Via Digital Daily]
[Via Digital Daily]
i'm not sure what the big deal is. what bill is saying sounds more factual than actually a dig at google. the one unknown is how different this flavor of linux will be. i think google has the right idea though. as operating systems have gotten more complex, it's time to take all this advanced technology and simplify the computing experience around what most people do with their computers: email, browse the web, basic word processing, etc. the million dollar question is, does google have what it takes to deliver a device that will create a mini revolution in pc buying/usage habits? i wouldn't bet against google as they have some really smart people and tons of cash, but history and current product portfolio says no.
"What's a browser? What's not a browser?"
I think this is exactly the point that Google is trying to drive home.
he's so silly but right ;d
While I love the Chrome browser, I have to agree with Bill here. I just can't say I'm excited at all about this new OS.
Wow, three pages of bullshit.
Come on Chrome OS is not about competing Windows or OSX or Linux. They will make no money on it. It is open source, anybody can make their own distro about it. The point of Chrome OS is the same as the point of Chrome browser. Pushing standards and setting directions for the future.
Chrome came out and Google said it is faster and safer and more standard compliant than any other browser. Was it true or not, for one year now every company who makes browsers have came out with there patches and versions saying "No, our's faster and better"
What was the result? Now Google web applications running more faster more securely on all the browsers than one year ago. And Google makes money on web applications not on browsers and OS-es.
What Google wants is pushing the development towards safe and fast web applications instead of client side applications, because they get their revenue stream from that direction.
An other thing is that saying Chrome OS is just a new Linux distro is stupid. It is like saying OSX is just a new BSD distro, Linux is just a kernel, it is not something that the end user should ever see or notice.
"It's got a browser in it."
Well that's 1 more than the Europe edition of Windows 7.
In my opinion I think that Gates is just downplaying the chrome os becuase windows 7 is about to be released. Now win7, which I like personally, is no where in comparison to the theory behind chrome os which from what we know is designed for netbooks (intel atom). However the reason I think that it's cool that Google is taking this on is because:
1. They never have before
2. They have a history or clean, innovative products and services
3. They have very intelligent and happy programmers and developers
I think this is something to be excited about until PROVEN redundant.
Not to worry gates, as you said yourself, internet will never get very big and people will be using MS search sites and you can't run chrome because it requires more than 640KB RAM and people don't have that because nobody ever needs more than that.
Visionary.
Oh and OSX isn't an OS since it's based on BSD and so you can't count it as an OS.
(He's right though that google tries to bedazzle, and not doing much effort if they just use linux)
Seems to me like Microsoft has delayed foot-in-mouth syndrome. At first glance it looks like a plausible statement, but there's no logical reasoning behind it. This statement looks like more of the same to me...
Nothing new to see here, move a long. Same ol stuff from MS :) deflect any attention all the while it being painfully obvious that you are upset that the world doesn't consider anything that MS does as 'sexy'.
http://www.chrome-os-blog.com
FUCK YOU MICROSOFT MONEY...MICROSOFT IS EVIL!!!
NEED GOT FREE LINUX!!!!
POWER UBUNTU AND LINUX MINT ;)