[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Google, Microsoft Invade Enemy Territory: Who Wins? here

[badboytroy]

I think that Google is a great search tool. I believe that Google should stick to what its great at (GMAIL, Search, etc....) and not lose focus in that by trying to dominate other areas of the computing market. Microsoft has spent lots of years ironing out all of the issues with its operating systems, and by Google trying to step in now they will experience the same growing pains as Microsoft . If Google attempts the creation of an OS I believe that Googles success will not be as much or as quick as they probably are predicting. It would be smart for both companies to focus on there strong areas and build relationships with one another to improve all aspects of computing.

My opinion of who would win if things get ugly, Microsoft.....hands down.

[Anchova]

Google has proven again and again that its core competencies are as an advertising company, which is why I always find it odd to see some people who feel strongly loyal to them. They've been unable to produce anything nearing MS Office-quality (or anything nearing OpenOffice-quality, for that matter) with Apps, and now they're trying to go after operating systems.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is just trying to change what box you put search queries in, not incredibly hard as I find clients using MyWebSearch just because it has "search" in the name and magically appeared there.
Microsoft has bigger turf with bigger holes and more loyalty attached to it. I see Chrome OS going the same way as its browser-brother, and Microsoft continuing to make gains in the search game. It seems to me they've got a really superb team working on it.

[cgallaway]

It will definitely be a wait and see issue...but I see Google's future OS and Windows coexisting for quite some time. I would advantage Microsoft for those that want a physical product...a CD for their desktops to be able to reload when their hard drives are wiped out by viruses. I would advantage Google for those venturing into cloud computing, where the OS and pretty much all programs are kept on someone else's server. So, in terms of a virus wrecking the hard drive, they don't have as much time to spend getting the computer back to pre crash condition (they would still need a cd)

[creative598]

Ugh. This is just silly. Google is just bringing it's Webkit stuff into the OS space. It's not a true client/server OS. It's not a threat to Windows.

People forget that even if you make a perfect OS, it's irrelevant if there are no techs to hire who are trained on it. Finding a qualified Chrome OS tech would be very difficult; finding a new Windows tech is easy. You can't just overcome thatby releasing a new OS, this late in the game.

It's about support, not just the tool itself. All Google will do is damage it's rep by playing in a sport it doesn't have the build to succeed in.

Microsoft will only win, on both turfs.

And though I've been a loyal Google fan for years, I believe Bing is better, at least for intelligent image search. Google's looking a little stale, frankly.

[empirestatebuddy]

The OS wars were fought already, in the 80s and 90s, and Microsoft won. Back then, it didn't make much difference which OS you chose, because very few people & businesses used computers. Now, however, Windows is basically a commodity. It's like electricity. For many consumers and most businesses, you can't just abandon Windows. And even if you do make the switch, you probably need a copy of Windows running somewhere. Why? Because the world runs on Windows. It may not be perfect. But that's just a fact. Maybe someday it will be replaced... but I doubt it will be Google's Chrome... or even Mac OS.

[empirestatebuddy]

One more point about "the cloud." I know there's a lot of hype out there about how it's going to replace desktop applications, but... I doubt it. At best, it will just serve as a back-up or supplement. Personally, I don't like the idea of having my programs running on some server thousands of miles away. I like to OWN something... and to have control over it. I think a lot of people feel the same way.

[JuanCafe]

Two words: Recovery Disk
http://vlaurie.com/c...covery_disk.htm says:

*Many vendors do not provide a Windows installation disk
with a new computer. Some steps to provide the missing backup are discussed.*

-----
Once upon a time you received a copy of a full Windows installation
disk when you bought a computer. This allowed you to reinstall individual
system files or Windows components if anything went wrong. But no longer.
These days the best you can hope for from many vendors is a so-called “recovery” or “restore” disk”.
And many major vendors do not even provide that much. Instead they put
stuff on a hidden partition on the hard drive. This is all the backup that
you get, and if the hard drive crashes, the hidden partition goes too.
Then you have no way of reinstalling Windows on a replacement hard drive
without getting a disk from the original PC vendor. From what I read on
the Web, this last process can take some time and effort, if you succeed
at all. If you are out of the warranty period, you may be completely out
of luck.
Some vendors may provide a Windows disk when you buy a PC if they are prodded
hard enough. However, there may be some kind of “handling and shipping” fee.
Note that, if you do finally get a disk, it will probably be an OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) version and may lack some features of a full-fledged
version. Also OEM versions of Windows are often not eligible for upgrades.

Manymajor PC manufacturers now provide a software accessory that allows you
to create a restore disk from the hidden restore partition. One of the
first things to do with a new computer is to find the OEM help files
and accessories that come with the computer and to create a restore
disk. Alternatively, the OEM Web site may provide the software for
making a disk.

The failure to provide an actual Windows installation disk with new computers
is convenient for Microsoft and the computer vendors but can be a real
problem for the PC user. There are many problems that can be fixed by copying
a single system file or reinstalling small portions of the Windows operating
system. Without an installation disk, PC users need to have some other
source for these files. If you put a recovery disk into your CD drive, it
will want to reformat your hard drive and reinstall an image of your computer
that is a replica of the way your system was on the day you bought it. Any
changes that you have made will be wiped out. All those programs you installed,
all those Microsoft patches and updates, all of it will be gone. The same thing
applies when you restore from one of those hidden partitions.

Prediction: Advantage Google

[MrSlickT]

I don't count myself particularly loyal to either Micro$oft or Google. Both companies are very good at operating their core businesses.
Google is best at driving advertising revenue and producing a relevant and useful search tool that anyone can use.
Microsoft is good at building operating systems that dominate the home-user and small business markets.
I think that, while competition between these two is good for the industry as a whole, each should keep to what they are really good at. Microsoft has never been good with web-based services, and Google Chrome OS I think is going to feel underpowered or less-than-capable of performing the tasks we take for granted in Windows.
I think Microsoft and Apple are the real players in the OS market, and I think they'd both do well to perfect that niche and further capitalize on it.
Google would be best going after both companies, forming usage and content agreements whereby Google capitalizes on what they do best by contracting with MS and Apple to provide value-added services within their respective products.
Everybody wins.
Or we all switch to Linux and the whole argument is a moot point. ;-)

[jraines]

Be careful to call this a OS war for PC's. Google isn't aiming just at the PC, they are planning to scoop MS on phones and any number of devices. Think of this -- how hard has it been for Microsoft to get an OS on a PHONE? Can you PRINT to your printer from a MS smartphone??? I don't know ANYONE who really tries. But if Google has it's way, they will have you really actually using those devices anywhere. That's could kill MS.
Oh, and by the way, once they have the scanner and printer and .... working in their browser, then kiss Office 2015 goodbye. Sure, Open Office and Google apps don't cut it today, but once this is going, then Microsoft will be hurting SO bad.
I'm really not for or against either company, but my bets are on Google because they do things openly and with cooperative effort, where Microsoft beats up anyone who partners with them. It will take time, but Google will likely win this "war".

[derickthegreat]

I think google has a shot at it, they have the advantage of sitting back and watching microsoft screw up every other OS, and Microsoft has yet to see what mistakes google will make, google may just be the next microsoft or will it be apple, apple now is slowly making its way to being the next operating system most used by normal people and techies. its now starting into the gaming turf, its also had a few more wins over microsoft, such as the spotlight and widgets were before vista... but also google has an advantage there by being able to observe how apples OSes have developed over time.. there is a couple things i think they should not do with the OS, No cloud computing, drivers should be easy to get to and something we don't have to figure out, plug and play! don't make it too basic, dont make it another failed Linux Distros, i've really tried to like Ubuntu, Fedora and freespire but all of them just have trouble with doing everything windows, sure they have some things windows doesn't have yet.

[fargin]

I like this competition between Microsoft, "The Giant of Computer Software," and Mr. Google, "The Giant of Speedy Search and Information." I know that Bill Gates hates them and hates everybody competing with him, and he is right about that, but don't forget that our system is supposed to be freely competitive.
My question, Why is it that nobody can compete with Apple, the best on hardware & software?

[ChuckEtheridge]

Hi,I've been using Bing since it was first released and am delighted with it. The ads are much less intrusive than those in Google, and it seems that there are at lease as many offerings on each thing hunted for, and for the most part the lists begin with much more applicable sites than do Google's. I'll ahppily stick with it.

[VHMP01]

Google business is to sell information, they intrud in privacy a bit too much, Internet is just one part of our computing needs. Nothing in life is free, so I would not be confortable with the idea of this OS by them.

[shahzadafzal]

Bing a very good product by MS and well we can say it is a competitor to Google. I have used bing i like it, but unfortunately still if i need and quick search i goo Google. My fingers will automatically type GOOGLE.COM.... ya sure and same case is in Windows.. i m PC user... I need a good OS first answer is XP! because XP Rocks whether Google Comes with awesome OS Chrome but still i shall trust my XP even no to Windows 7.

[Evildave]

Who wins?



THE CONSUMER.



Duh.



One thing proven again and again, once Micro$uck has a monopoly, NOTHING improves. They just throw crap like the dancing paperclip into their products, because they don't know how to do anything new. Only copy and steal business away from others.

[VHMP01]

Only worst is Apple, throwing crap, copying and stealing business from others!

[JuanCafe]

So true

5 years and the best they could come up with was Vista