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Chrome OS Designed To Start Microsoft Death Spiral

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the a-little-bit-optimistic dept.

Al writes "Technology Review has a feature article that explores the business strategy underlying Google's decision to develop its Linux-based operating system, Chrome OS. Writer G. Pascal Zachary argues that Eric Schmidt has identified a sea-change in the software business, as signaled by Microsoft's recent problems and by the advancement of cloud computing. Zachary notes that Larry Page and Sergey Brin have pushed to develop a slick, open-source alternative to Windows for around six years (with the rationale that improving access to the Web would ultimately benefit Google), but that Schmidt has always refused. While developing Chrome OS is a significant gamble for Google, Zachary believe it will exploit Microsoft's historical weakness in terms of networking and internet functionality, forcing its rival to better serve Google's core business goals, whilst initiating its own steady, slow-motion decline."

4 of 817 comments (clear)

  1. Entirely Net-Based? by steve_thatguy · · Score: 5, Informative

    I don't know the tech details of ChromeOS yet, but I get the impression it's mostly if not entirely net-based. I think that's going to leave Microsoft with a fairly comfortable marketshare even if it takes off because, to some extent, many people want *their* files and *their* processing to be solely under *their* control. There's something to be said for having your own house with your own yard and fence versus living in an apartment building with millions of other people. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

  2. Re:Malodorous Headline by Desler · · Score: 5, Informative

    or pinch Adobe into supporting Flash on Linux

    They've supported Flash on Linux for quite some time now since they started doing simultaneous OS releases. Linux was even the first to get experimental 64-bit support.

  3. Re:Start the Microsoft death spiral? What again? by Desler · · Score: 5, Informative

    Microsoft has been in a death spiral for years.

    Huh? They've increased revenues for 5 straight years now at around 10%. And they're last year net income grew 25% over 2007. Yeah, that's a real death spiral. Gee, I wish I could run a company in a "death spiral" that generates 60 billion in revenue and almost 18 billion in net income.

  4. Re:Hogwash by AndrewNeo · · Score: 4, Informative

    And not only that, but the entire Xbox 360 platform would have to die off with it, since all development is done in Windows and Visual Studio.