Saturday, February 18th, 2006, 2:47 pm
The Goobunto Myth
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After previous denial by Google as regards the release Ubuntu Linux variants, comes yet another clarification.
Google very likely is using the Ubuntu version of Linux internally, but Ubuntu project founder Mark Shuttleworth said this week he doubts the Internet search giant plans to turn it into a product.
“As far as I’m aware there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that Google plans to distribute a derivative of Ubuntu as a Google OS,” Shuttlworth said on his blog. “As exciting as that may be for Linux, it wouldn’t make sense for Google, and so far they’ve been pretty sensible about their projects.”
“The ‘goobuntu’ you may have heard of is just a modified version of Ubuntu,” he said. “Technically, there’s likely to be a ‘goobian’ and a ‘goohat,’ too,” referring to Linux versions from Debian and Red Hat.
Perhaps it is a shame, given Google’s personnel, skills, and budgets. Then again, no further commercialisation and privatisation of Linux is probably a positive thing.
Items on Goobuntu: Google Controversies, Google: Primary Rumours Victim
