Saturday, January 7th, 2006, 9:33 am
Google Create a Windows Distribution
Filed under:
Google software gets heavily bundled to Windows
ANY of us were wondering if a Linux distribution would ever come from Google. Google are of course using Linux in house and are dependent on Open Source projects. Unsurprisingly, having accumulated many programs that run on Windows only, they have just assembled a distribution that includes Acrobat Reader, Mozilla Firefox, security software and a large variety of Google software.
So we created the Google Pack — a one-stop software package that helps you discover, install, and maintain a wide range of essential PC programs. It’s yours today – and it’s something we hope you find to be painless, easy, and even fun (if computer setup can ever be called that). And it’s free.
This will by all means have an impact on many workstations. It can give a boost to a variety of Google application and their close ally Firefox is included. The bundling of Firefox is indirectly related to Dell’s distribution in the United Kingdom.
Notice the hypocrisy in this item however:
This was the experience (Windows installation) both Sergey and Larry had a year ago…
Both Larry and Sergei are Open Source advocates and most likely Linux users too. I guess this did not fit contextually and it conflicts completely with previous rumours about a Google PC that runs the Linux kernel.
Editorial: Editor’s Note: Google May Hold Big Key to Desktop Linux or “Why Google should port their applications to Linux”.
January 7th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Hmm, don’t think that’s a good idea, looks as if Microsoft’s recent recognition of Google’s achievements may be paying off!
January 7th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
There are ways of arguing for the contrary (to “paying off”):
* Firefox renders IE7 redundant
* Users depend on Google tools that complement the O/S and will be available for other platforms
* Google get yet more recognition