We're not building a google desktop.... yer

Just a matter of time before they do this IMO. It's a big natural step for them, and allows them to ring MS's bell. And linux seems like a good choice.

I think it's promising because they would have the resources to try this across a huge range of platforms and hardware - and the clout to convince hardware vendors to provide linux drivers.

the funny thing is that it seems like google and msft are trying to commoditize each other; google is trying to commoditize desktop software, and gates has suggested paying people to search as a way of putting a price squeeze on google's margins.

it might be a dominated world we live in, but at least it's a cheap one!

I wonder what their USP would be ...

The Google OS: It's Free*

Google will serve targeted text advertisements on your desktop based on what you are currently viewing. Google reserves the right to collect non-personal data in order to improve our customer services.

Something like that maybe?

...not rumour

Google has confirmed it is working on a desktop linux project called Goobuntu, but declined to supply further details, including what the project is for.

More on slashdot.. And Andy, I agree 100% on the tracking / privacy concerns.

That's one Linux flavour that will be forbidden on my machines.

That's one Linux flavour that will be forbidden on my machines.

You would disallow an open-source operating system with its code laid bare for all to see, yet probably continue to allow an operating system from a time-proven monopistic and generally "more evil" company which is almost completely closed-source an (basically) unaccountable?

Its only going to be cheap while the fights on, once they come to agreement over whose ground is whose - we all start being shafted again.

Mopatop, I'm not in the habit of saying things that I don't mean. I would not choose the same wording as you did, however. Specifically, my dislike of "apples" does not imply a preference for "oranges".

But feel free to disagree, it's okay with me :)

I'm surprised Apple hasn't gotten into this desktop thing with Google. Apple has had a desktop search for years now and it works well.

Mac's are stigmatized in the eyes of many Windows owners and is already a many years old failed experiment that Microsoft continues to beat into the dust.

Why would Google start with a defacto second best player instead of taking a shot with something new that the masses haven't become opinionated about already?

Makes sense to me.

You would disallow an open-source operating system with its code laid bare for all to see

You have a lot of faith in the competence of other people unless you read the source yourself. I don't know many people that do and the ones I read about stick to their section of code.

Chris DiBona, the head of Google Open Source projects said:

http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?cid...=175746&tid=217

DaveN - Ubuntu works on everything!! :)