Google's version of Ubuntu: Goobuntu... it's for internal use only!

[linbetwin]

I was reading DistroWatch Weekly (http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=current) this morning and I found there a link to an article in the Financial Times (http://www.fxcentre.co.uk/uk/news.asp?ukts+20060119_26148_267184) about Mark Shuttleworth and Ubuntu. What intrigued me was a paragraph which claimed Google "has developed its own version of Ubuntu, called Goobuntu."

Is this old news? Is it yet another myth about Google?

[PuleX]

I haven't heard about Goobuntu before. But that doesn't mean anything. ;-)
Btw, doesn't this belong under Comminuty Chat?

[Cephyr]

Ick, there's a lot of Google rumors floating around lately, isn't there?

Did anyone see the one on Slashdot about buying up old computer parts to make some kind of mega-search-server?

[nominal]

goobuntu...wonder if they'll just make their own ubuntu, wouldnt it be smart to make their own red hat too?

[YopY]

There have been a lot of rumours about a possible Google operating system, but so far, nothing is confirmed about anything like it. So until anything is officially confirmed, everything concerning a possible Google OS is still rumours.

[steevc]

I just read about Goobuntu on The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/). I hope they help to make Ubuntu in general a better system

[bonzodog]

hrm...looky here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/

This is interesting to say the least. I wonder what a google-ised ubuntu would look like? Would it still use Gnome, or would they switch to Xfce or KDE?

[h3xx3r]

& what data will it possibly harvest ?
I can't see Google distibuting ubuntu as is :(
ubuntu seems to be getting extremly poular :D

[fuscia]

The origin of the word 'Goobuntu' is not clear...

huh? can you say 'retard'?

anyway, that's interesting. i wonder if google will continue to be something great (i think it is, at least), or turn into the next microsoft.

[fuscia]

I wonder what a google-ised ubuntu would look like? Would it still use Gnome, or would they switch to Xfce or KDE?

doesn't google have its own desktop? if it's at all useable, i would guess they would use it as a default.

[gooner]

Am i wrong in saying that ubuntu is closed source? I'm Probably mistaken but i'm sure i heard it somewhere. If true doesn't this mean Google will have to some royalties to the guys from ubuntu?

That aside i think it's a great idea. The google brandname carries a lot of weight among windows user as well as the more knowledgeable types ;) and could possibly be the distro to get a real foot in the door of the home desktop market.

[purdy hate machine]

A public release of a Google branded Ubuntu seems a little pointless to me.
Linux compatibility of future Google products and services would be more than welcome though.

[mstlyevil]

Am i wrong in saying that ubuntu is closed source? I'm Probably mistaken but i'm sure i heard it somewhere. If true doesn't this mean Google will have to some royalties to the guys from ubuntu?

That aside i think it's a great idea. The google brandname carries a lot of weight among windows user as well as the more knowledgeable types ;) and could possibly be the distro to get a real foot in the door of the home desktop market.

Yes you are wrong. Ubuntu has been and always will be open source.

[gooner]

"Yes you are wrong. Ubuntu has been and always will be open source."

I'm not sure where i heard that but thanks for clearing that up.

[mstlyevil]

I think it is great if it is true. (After all it is The Register.) It would pour in a lot of new development and capitol into Ubuntu. Also a lot of applications for Windows like Google earth and possibly Photoshop might appear for Ubuntu. With Google backing it that just gets the attention of commercial software developers and hardware driver developers. Well see if this pan out or not over the next year.

[izmaelis]

huh? can you say 'retard'?

anyway, that's interesting. i wonder if google will continue to be something great (i think it is, at least), or turn into the next microsoft.
I think that it is quite possible.
Could you imagine the day when people all around the world will be saying "Google is an evil empire"? Well... I do. :-k

[kakashi]

i don't see how if it uses open source software that under the gpl. even if google sells its own version of google ubuntu even then its still good for linux in general.

[DigitalDuality]

Speculation about a Google OS and a Google browser have been circulating for years, the rumor seems to get revamped and changed up a bit every 6 months or so, i doubt it'll see the light of day in the public light. If Linux was to ever thrive and explode though, this would be the company to lead the way.

Unfortunately, i don't really trust google. I did until they became publicly traded. Now they're moves will become more and more the will of shareholders, than that of innovation and respect for their company motto. Alot of times these goals of "don't be evil", further innovation, and turn a profit will match up, others they won't.

But i expect Google to be the next MS, it'll just take time for the power to sink in. If they made a version under GPLv3, there might be hope though. 2nd post in this thread brings up a great arguement though, you know damn well they'll attempt to track everything you do. Imagine an OS itself being spyware.

[engla]

I think that it is quite possible.
Could you imagine the day when people all around the world will be saying "Google is an evil empire"? Well... I do. :-k
I caught myself thinking that just five minutes ago.

[chimera]

Google at work on desktop Linux

Google is preparing its own distribution of Linux for the desktop, in a possible bid to take on Microsoft in its core business - desktop software.

A version of the increasingly popular Ubuntu desktop Linux distribution, based on Debian and the Gnome desktop, it is known internally as 'Goobuntu'.
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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.

It's possible that it's just one of the toys Googleplex engineers play with on Fridays, when they get time off from buffing the search engine code or filtering out entries about Tiananmen Square.

It could be for wider deployments on the company's own desktops, as an alternative to Microsoft, but still for internal use only.

But it's possible Google plans to distribute it to the general public, as a free alternative to Windows.

Google has already demonstrated an interest in building a presence on the desktop. At CES Las Vegas this month, it announced the Google Pack, a collection of desktop software bundled together for easy downloading.

The pack includes many apps which compete directly with the Windows bundle, such as Google Talk, Google Desktop, Mozilla Firefox, the Trillian instant messenger client, RealPlayer, and Picasa photo management.

Going the whole hog and distributing a complete desktop software suite would merely be another step down the same path.

However, entering the desktop software world would be a huge step. Making Goobuntu as easy to use as XP will require a lot more development. It's unlikely to be ready for showtime any time soon, and it's possible Google itself hasn't finalised where the project should go.

Whatever Google's intentions, the input of Google engineers and developers, writing new features and fixing bugs, will be a huge boost to the Ubuntu project.

Ubuntu, funded by the South African internet multimillionaire and occasional cosmonaut Mark Shuttleworth, is already emerging as a leader in the desktop Linux world.

It has built considerable momentum in the Linux community, and is starting to appear more widely. Shuttleworth is seeking to persuade white-box PC manufacturers to start shipping machines with Ubuntu preinstalled.

It is top of the Distrowatch download chart, is installed on up to six million computers, and doubling every eight months, according to estimates from Shuttleworth's company, Canonical.

It has spawned a number of different offshoots, including Xubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu (for schools).

The word Ubuntu means "humanity to others" in several African languages, including Zulu and Xhosa. It's one of the founding principles of post-apartheid South Africa. The origin of the word 'Goobuntu' is not clear, though it does not appear in online Zulu dictionaries.

The Goobuntu.com domain has been registered in the past couple of days, though presumably not by Google. It now redirects to a Cuban portal. Perhaps Google will have to think of a new name for the system before they launch it to the wider public. ®

Source:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/

:-|
Sounds like another uberdumbified "user-friendly" distro to me is coming up...

edit: I appear to be blind, I didn't notice the other thread...

[earobinson]

I have always said that google has the power to kick linux into the main stream. Chances are this is not true however.

[earobinson]

repost: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=123924

[sysop]

Wouldn't Goobuntu just be an Ubuntu base with some Google features built-in? Similar to Edubuntu for instance, with the Ubuntu base and educational software added-in.

We will always have Ubuntu itself, but I think adding different "flavors" of Ubuntu, even if one is Goobuntu, is always a great idea. More choice, more features, and possibly thanks to GPL more available code with which to build bigger and better software. :-D

My $0.75 adjusted for inflation and gas prices. ;)

[stig]

Will people want to use "Goobuntu" when they see how Google has teamed up with the Chinese government to censor searches in China?

I doubt that Mark Shuttleworth will want to be associated with such activities.

[DigitalDuality]

My bet would be if Google released an *nix OS they'd pay the money upfront to include flash, real, mp3, wmv quicktime ,etc support.

Not to mention alot more non-free drivers would be included with the base install.

[DigitalDuality]

All this talk of China is really bogus. They half-assed they're blocks

First off.. a simple misspelling of a word will bring up results Democrasy anyone?

Secondly you can bypass the "censoring" by doing this:

Chinese web users can see full, uncensored results for their Google search by replacing "&meta=" with "&meta=cr%3DcountryBR" in the URL. Once the string is replaced, the censorship will not affect the results.

This is what a chinese search for Democracy looks like after this method has been applied:
http://www.google.cn/search?hl=zh-CN&q=democracy+china&btnG=%E6%90%9C%E7%B4%A2&meta=cr%3DcountryBR

[sedition]

Wouldn't Goobuntu just be an Ubuntu base with some Google features built-in?

Yes, just as Ubuntu is a Debian base with some Ubuntu features built-in...;)

[awakatanka]

http://tweakers.net/ext/i.dsp/1138719927.jpg

Its still news from the register so waiting on google to say its true, don't think its true.

[ice60]

i've already heard afew people say they think google is evil - there's google's home page (http://www.google.com/ig) thing, which lets them place cookies on your HDD so they can track you (all the better if you have gmail and they know your name too). they agreed afew days ago to censor China's searches just for more money and power.

they want to put their ads wherever they can - free wifi with ads, ad sense, there's their desktop search with ads, they came out with google pack (www.google.com/pack/ ) so they can put a google toolbar in firefox to track you, a toolbar in IE to track people and afew other things i forget. i'm just regurgitating what i've heard.

i just found this (http://www.googleguide.com/tracking.html) so i won't go on :rolleyes:

BTW there's a Firefox extension which will anonymise the google userid, it will also do a lot of other really cool stuff like use google suggest (http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en) when you use google, remove ads, add links to WayBack Machine, Secure Gmail, switch to https etc etc.

http://www.customizegoogle.com/

and the more people using Ubuntu the better i think. the only downside i can think of off the top of my head could be - more people using Ubuntu so there could be more people trying to write/find exploits for Ubuntu. :(

[Bandit]

My question is WHY.
WHY would they want to make another distro when it would be better to co-ablerate with Ubuntu? Both want to crush M$..
Just my 2cents...

Bandit

[aysiu]

My question is WHY.
WHY would they want to make another distro when it would be better to co-ablerate with Ubuntu? Both want to crush M$.. For the same reason Ubuntu didn't just develop Debian--control. If they collaborated with Ubuntu, they'd be beholden to Canonical and Mark Shuttleworth. If they fork their own OS, they have full control over it.

[TechSonic]

Google? Fing A man. I'd love to have some of google picsa software for linux.


NOT TO MENTION! google could start branding Linux compatbile hardware for rock bottom prices! Complete hardware compatiblity from sound to wireless network. *Drools* Google, being the second biggest media icon could make Linux turn for the better.

[gylf]

My question is WHY.
WHY would they want to make another distro when it would be better to co-ablerate with Ubuntu? Both want to crush M$..
Just my 2cents...

Bandit


Ubuntu will never distribute closed source proprietary software (that's why MP3's won't work out of the box).

Google will want to distribute its proprietary software with the distro, like its firefox plugin and other custom tools.

And just because Google creates its own distro based on Ubuntu, doesn't mean they won't be collaborating. Just the opposite, in fact.

[MarkBaum]

I doubt Google really cares about crushing a company that doesn't really compete with it in the way their OS is run. If anything, Google will make money off this because anyone using a Google OS is going to be using Google search, and odds are, the whole host of other apps Google has put out in order to keep their name up. I can see a really good reason to tie this in with their new video initiative. If an entire OS is based around Google, then imagine how many people using that OS would use Itunes for their video.

Google is ONLY 60% of the search market, that isn't 100% and it is easy to shrink. If it weren't branded Google OS, and they just partnered with Ubuntu, then it wouldn't really serve any purpose at all.

This is nothing but a good thing overall, though. At the least, Linux might now have a very big name entering the court. That will bring software/hardware vendors to Linux. This is good for linux, but maybe bad for specific distro's/projects.

Even if Google doesn't start developing for anything other than ease-of-use, this could be huge. Suddenly now people wondering if they should upgrade to vista will wonder why it's worth the $100-$200 pricetag, and just install GoogleOS.

I would expect the biggest winners from this to be GNOME and OOo. If Google is making an Ubuntu based OS, then it should use GNOME, and I don't see Google bothering with WINE, since WINE is going to be a dead project once software is being developed for Linux, which a big powerful name like Google might just make happen.

Of course that is if it is going to be released -at all-. That question can be debated but won't be answered, I hope they release it, just so linux will move forward faster in regards to support, but I don't care to guess if they will.

[Bandit]

Well it would be good to have a popular market player out that everyone knows like Google promoting linux. That its self could make consumers reconsider Windows(tm). Prob only a tiny bit of the market, but every little bit helps.

Why would Google want to crush M$. A better question is why would M$ want to crush google ;)

[newbie2]

Strange timing
http://www.hunterstrat.com/news/2006/01/30/google-finds-an-ally-at-dell/
:rolleyes:

[Bandit]

:rolleyes:

[nemik]

like others have said; i don't trust google because of privacy issues and the injection of privacy-breaking ads that are so prevalent in their systems.

i'll continue just using ubuntu by itself.

[imagine]

First of all I think Google is as evil or not evil as every other big company.
However I would still like to see them releasing an operating system, because even competition between evil companies is better than no competition.



But I doubt Google is going to make an own operating system anytime soon.
1. This topic about a Google OS or Google browser is brought up like ten times a year and it was never true.

2. Google representatives said that Google isn't working on an OS. Why should they lie?

3. Look at the other Google applications.
- Google Deskbar: Available for Windows
- Google Desktop: Available for Windows
- Google Earth: Available for MacOS and Windows
- Google Screensaver: Available for Windows
- Google Talk: Available for Windows
- Google Web Accelerator: Available for Windows
- Picasa: Available for Windows
- Google Pack: Only Windows software in it

Until today Google has done nothing but ignored GNU/Linux. So why on earth should they now suddenly come up with their own Linux distribution - out of nowhere and incompatible to all their other applications.



I guess this rumours are just there because some people simply *want* that Google releases a Linux distribution, and therefore they continue to write about that and hope it's some sort of self-fulfilling prophecy.

[briancurtin]

Until today Google has done nothing but ignored GNU/Linux. So why on earth should they now suddenly come up with their own Linux distribution - out of nowhere and incompatible to all their other applications.
according to netcraft, pretty much all of their servers are on linux operating systems, and the server software itself is GWS (google web server, supposedly an apache-based system). i dont doubt that they have done much more with linux than just using the OS and making a server. they havent ignored us, they just have a different plan that windows users, which is my guess.

[mips]

If you think Google is big now then just wait. It's just a snowball gaining momentum.

At the end of the day they will basically be the worlds info controller...

[Brunellus]

let's damp down the flames of rumor here, shall we?

I highly suspect Goobuntu is nothing more than a standardized desktop linux for internal use in Google. No more windows on the desktop at google, I'm betting, sometime soon.

As to what it will mean for everybody else--almost nothing. If Google contributes patches upstream and/or adds new GPL software to the distro, everybody wins. If, however, the "distro" is nothing more than ubuntu with google-specific, non-Free and non-distributable software for use internally, then...google wins, and everybody calls them selfish.

Let's not pin any hopes on Goobuntu, because I highly suspect it's nothing more than a red herring.

[earobinson]

Until today Google has done nothing but ignored GNU/Linux. So why on earth should they now suddenly come up with their own Linux distribution - out of nowhere and incompatible to all their other applications.

What about the supper of code, and they api everything, make it easy to use gaim with google talk, higher opensource programers, they use a lot of linux in house, google linux search, help with firefox.

Google has done a lot for the opensource comunity. They are a great company, and IMHO I truly think they stand by the do no evil. they where the only search company to say no when the us tried to get the search lists they use.

That being said I dont think that they are going to come out with a linux desktop any time soon.

[newbie2]

according to this site is Goobuntu.com already registered at a Cuban internetportal -->

Goobuntu.com blijkt een paar dagen geleden geregistreerd te zijn en wijst naar een Cubaanse internetportal.
http://www.tweakers.net/nieuws/40981
:rolleyes:

[Derek Djons]

Very weird things going on at Google. Google as we all known is mainly a 'Closed Source Software' company. Now they are suddenly abandoning Microsoft and are searching for Open Source alternatives while remaining Closed Source.

A few months / half year ago there were rumors Google would release a small commercial box for people to internet on and use common apps. But this appeared to be a hoax.

Google is a company which makes frickin' a lot of money. They have very talented people working for them. Why would they invest so much time for a project which (at least at first) would not generate any profit. Maybe it's indeed for internal use. This is the only reason which seems logical in my opinion.

[hillbilly]

This just sounds like a hoax. I dont thnk google would be too interested in creating a desktop OS. Maybe something like a web based OS is more in their line and makes more sense for them too. And like many have pointed out, they do not have any apps that I know of for linux. :-?

[TechSonic]

Why not invest in it? yeah they might not make any money off it right off the bat, but nether did Microsoft when they decided to do an x-box. BUT THEY DID IT ANYWAYS! They lost a hudge amount of money in the start, the first two years were horried for Microsoft but in the end x-box and games from Microsoft more then trippled in sales, more then covering the cost and loss in the start.

Google has money to lose, they can afford to loose some to gain lots.

[MarkBaum]

"Google is a company which makes frickin' a lot of money. They have very talented people working for them. Why would they invest so much time for a project which (at least at first) would not generate any profit. Maybe it's indeed for internal use. This is the only reason which seems logical in my opinion."

You mean projects that won't make profit right away like...Google EArth or Gtalk? Oh or Google toolbar....Oh oh, or investing money in projects that won't make them money directly either.

It's pretty easy to see how they could make money on a Google OS. Default search engine for everything, Google desktop search built in, easy to use video on demand, voip. Just having their stuff being the default and preinstalled would make them some extra money. Besides, making a Linux OS isn't nearly as big a deal as making a whole new OS. If they just use GNOME or KDE, and all the thousands of open source projects(kinda like Ubuntu does) then they don't need much of a programmer base.

I'm not saying this means they're doing it, but it's really super easy to see how they would make money off it. Just think of all the desktop things they have released, then think about those being in by default on your computer.

[eedok]

it's strange how theregister posts this, it's a hot topic, but when it's posted about in Distrowatch weekly Jan 23, no one takes notice of it.
http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20060123

the article looks dead now, but here's google's cache of it:
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:yN4CJPYejQoJ:www.fxcentre.co.uk/uk/news.asp%3Fukts%2B20060119_26148_267184+&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=firefox-a

[endersshadow]

What about the supper of code, and they api everything, make it easy to use gaim with google talk, higher opensource programers, they use a lot of linux in house, google linux search, help with firefox.

Google has done a lot for the opensource comunity. They are a great company, and IMHO I truly think they stand by the do no evil. they where the only search company to say no when the us tried to get the search lists they use.

That being said I dont think that they are going to come out with a linux desktop any time soon.

The "summer of code" was an initiative by Google to find great developers. All of that code was owned by Google and not open sourced. Google always has been (and always will be) a very closed source company. I doubt that they'll be releasing Goobuntu. It's probably just a plaything for intraplex operations, if it does exist.

By the way, Microsoft just hired the lead developer of Gentoo...that doesn't mean that they've done great things for GNU/Linux.

I don't know why Google has a reputation for helping out the OSS community...it never has and it probably never will. It's not in Google's best interests to do so. Google's an amazing company and amazingly interesting, that's for sure. However, it is not an OSS company in any way, shape, or form. Goobuntu will never be available for public release. Let's just keep ho humming along with Ubuntu as it is :-D

[SOME1]

if you wonder how goobuntu looks like so here is a screen shot

http://static.flickr.com/22/93632066_70c5e3b481.jpg

[Brunellus]

I'm going to call B.S. on this one. that screenshot has got to be a hoax, unless and until someone gives me a real reason to believe it isn't.

[Bandit]

I am going to have to raise the BS Flag on that screenshot as well..

[aysiu]

I don't think the image was intended to fool anyone. I believe it was intended to be just for fun (http://www.ahknight.net/archives/2005/09/03/google-os/).

[saubz]

Well, IMO, if it was between M$ spying on me or Google spying on me. I'd take Google in a hearbeat!

[SOME1]

I found that picture in a really good israeli source to open source information.
(the source link is http://linmagazine.co.il/ubuntu/google_goes_desktop_linux )

I saw they added now that this is not the google os. I really don't know where they found this picture.

[Arktis]

Here's hoping google keeps it's fat nose out of my favortie OS.

[briancurtin]

Here's hoping google keeps it's fat nose out of my favortie OS.
why exactly do you hope that they stay out of it?

[carl13]

The Goobuntu.com domain has been registered in the past couple of days, though presumably not by Google. It now redirects to a Cuban portal. Perhaps Google will have to think of a new name for the system before they launch it to the wider public.

I thought this was interesting. You would think that a company like Google would have the foresight to register the domain name "Goobuntu.com" just in case they wish to use it.

[curuxz]

I recon the article is totaly bogus, its a hoax!

No domain
No native google software (it would be a bit of a turn around to stop writting primaraly for windows and move to linux)
BS name, of corse google would not do something that unoriginal its just not their way.
It was not annonced at the google convension where they talked about the google pack, seems a pretty big footnote to forget.

Dont waste your time on this guys aint ever guna happen...

[gflores]

If this is true, I wonder how it will affect Ubuntu and other Linux distributions. Honestly, I think this is just petty speculation.

[Elvish Legion]

Itsa shame it isn't true, it would bring a lot of software to linux (companies would see google is getting in there and risking, and doing well (providing they charged for it) and figure there they could do it.

We'd get more games, commiercal apps etc.

The only problem could be that people would charge for the software

[Arktis]

why exactly do you hope that they stay out of it?
I don't want to start a flamewar here, but basicly Google is a corporation that makes big money off of freely availible content. They're using other people's freely given time and energy for massive personal gain (loads of money built on advertising and dominance of information exchange and availibility). Personally, I don't want them to start using ubuntu as another cash cow by branding it and hooking it into their content monopolization/exploitation machine.

There's my two cents. Spend it how you like.

[rfruth]

Chris (a program manager at Google) says it won't see the light of day http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=175746&cid=14609148

[MarkBaum]

Shame, it would be nice for a real big desktop name to get into Linux to push support into overdrive.

[Lanrond]

That's why I think Google is becoming evil.
They started up as an alternative search-engine, now they are the predominant one.
God forbid they eventually become the only one.

Anyway I think this is going to be a great promotion boost for Ubuntu, but I fear that for the future. In their omnipotence delirium they (Google) could buy the Ubuntu project just to be able to re-sell it as proprietary OS.

M$ docet...

[Lanrond]

...Google is a corporation that makes big money off of freely available content. They're using other people's freely given time and energy for massive personal gain (loads of money built on advertising and dominance of information exchange and availibility). Personally, I don't want them to start using ubuntu as another cash cow by branding it and hooking it into their content monopolization/exploitation machine.

I hadn't thought of it in these terms, but I totally agree with you.

[kakashi]

That's why I think Google is becoming evil.
They started up as an alternative search-engine, now they are the predominant one.
God forbid they eventually become the only one.

Anyway I think this is going to be a great promotion boost for Ubuntu, but I fear that for the future. In their omnipotence delirium they (Google) could buy the Ubuntu project just to be able to re-sell it as proprietary OS.

M$ docet...

not posiible. every single line of code making ubuntu is free software . no body owns ubuntu and everybody owns it.

[mips]

I don't want to start a flamewar here, but basicly Google is a corporation that makes big money off of freely availible content. They're using other people's freely given time and energy for massive personal gain (loads of money built on advertising and dominance of information exchange and availibility). Personally, I don't want them to start using ubuntu as another cash cow by branding it and hooking it into their content monopolization/exploitation machine.

There's my two cents. Spend it how you like.


That might be true but the license agreement of the software allows them to do it. I think what most people would like to see is them plowing code back into the community ?

If I gave you a license to print money would you not use it ? ;)

I think when it comes to big corporates you have to pick the lesser of the two evils.

[BoyOfDestiny]

Google denies plans to distribute OS based on Ubuntu.

Source:http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060131-6087.html

I avoid slashdot because of the comments... and I avoid the register since that fake article about an MPAA/RIAA secret meeting (I don't even remember which...)...

I'm not saying not to read the register... But I would suggest not believing it... :)

[nixon]

I just wish they would release their programs for linux!! if everyone or even some of them are using ubuntu internally surely they have tried or managed to get their own software running on it?

I realise they are trying to target the majority of the market ie windows.. but creating their programs for lunix would create some familialarity when users migrate across.. and it may even encourage them to do so..

nix

[bonzodog]

um...ok guys...it is going to be internal only. But they are developing it anyway. The guy who wrote this article on slashdot:
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=175746&cid=14609148
says it is for internal desktop usage. It is just a WM on top of a normal ubuntu environment. He also talks about their 'moon teleporter project' - wth?

[gregwa]

Well, isn't this intresting?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/

Quick recap - It looks like Google is working on a project called "Goobuntu". They won't say what it is, they won't say what it isn't. Buzz around is that they are going to package ubuntu as a free desktop to go head-to-head with M$ Windows.

This should get people talking and get a BUNCH of attention for ubuntu that they never would otherwise. :)

[risbac]

You may hate or love Google, no matter who is right, if Google goes on the desktop market with a customized Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse, Mandriva, it doesn't matter), it would be a HUGE boost for Linux. For the only reason that it would really push the hardware manufacturers to publish drivers. And with better drivers, it would be like removing the hand brake for Linux. Who would buy an OS if you first need to check all your hardware to see if it's compatible? It's probably the best reason not to go to Linux. If google can put Linux on the map, it will be a huge benefit. But it's probably more a rumor than anything else... at least for a few years.

[Lord Illidan]

Well, well, well.. as long as Google doesn't become like Microsoft, this seems like a good thing. Google's corporate backing will indeed prove useful. However, this should have gone into Community Chat not here...

[az]

This has a high potential for increasing awareness and marketshare for free-libre open source in general.

This has a small potential for making linux look bad, though, given google's recent decision to help censor then internet for the Chinese.

I am on the edge of my seat, waiting to see google's take on this and how they plan on giving back to the community (if at all).

I expect an Ubuntu fork with proprietary codecs out-of-the-box.... But that's just me. I aim low.

[gregwa]

Sorry. I'll post this over there.:oops:

[gregwa]

Intresting thing in the news this morning...http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/

Quick recap - It looks like Google is working on a project called "Goobuntu". They won't say what it is, they won't say what it isn't. Buzz around is that they are going to package ubuntu as a free desktop to go head-to-head with M$ Windows.

This should get people talking and get a BUNCH of attention for ubuntu that they never would otherwise. :)

[GeneralZod]

Already posted :)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=123924

Also, sources at Google deny it - looks like yet another hoax.

[TechSonic]

Try this out, search for topics to make sure you aren't reposting one. I do it all the time to avoid GeneralZod's previous post.

[DonS]

Chris Dibona's response (http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?cid=14609148&sid=175746&tid=217)

from here (http://slashdot.org/articles/06/01/31/1519224.shtml)

For those of you that don't follow /. :)

[siucdude]

This is great news and its really flying all over the net. see below on cnet

http://news.com.com/2061-10812_3-6033533.html?part=rss&tag=6033533&subj=news

I think people would finally started to switch over more to Linux.

Thanks\\:D/

[gregwa]

I did a quick scan, but not a deep search.

Sorry for the extra post.

[siucdude]

This is great news and its really flying all over the net. see below on cnet

http://news.com.com/2061-10812_3-6033533.html?part=rss&tag=6033533&subj=news

I think people would finally started to switch over more to Linux.

Thanks \\:D/

[az]

It would be a violation of trademark if they did distribute it, though.

Anything that puts linux in the news is good.

[earobinson]

Anything that puts linux in the news is good.
Excatly how I feel.

This is also a repost btw: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=123924.

Also request it be moved to community chat since it has nothing to do with dapper.

[Enter]

i dont think i want to have google in ubuntu, only because google monitors everything goes thrue thir servers, i still love google tho :lol:

[jecos]

This got way blown out of proportion.. but atleast everyone knows about ubuntu, lol..\\:D/

[RaptorRaider]

um...ok guys...it is going to be internal only. But they are developing it anyway. The guy who wrote this article on slashdot:
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=175746&cid=14609148
says it is for internal desktop usage. It is just a WM on top of a normal ubuntu environment. He also talks about their 'moon teleporter project' - wth?
The "moon teleporter and cold fusion"-thing is supposed to be a joke. Or atleast, I think it is. ;)

Why would it just be "a WM on top of a normal ubuntu environment"? Are you reading something I'm not?

Anyway, should Google actually have an OS ready and really isn't planning on releasing it for consumers, they'd be assholes in my humble opinion.
I've been a Google (and of course free OSS like Ubuntu) fanboy for years but I really think this is plain wrong.
The momentum GNU/Linux would gain from Google releasing Goobuntu for the open public, even if they'd only call it a pre-alpha and deny any support, would probably be huge.

"Developing a Linux Desktop would distract us" - What a ****** excuse.
Google would only need to put a relatively small number of employees on it, the rest would go automatically.

In fact, I'd probably join Google in a heartbeat as Goobuntu would combine my two favourite things.

[Marcos.Rufino]

Does anyone remember that EPIC thing? Well, maybe they should remake the film, including this time the Goobuntu feature.

http://epic.makingithappen.co.uk/

[sigma2805]

Ohhh man....I would LOVE to see picasa on ubuntu. F-spot is OK, but picasa is amazing. in my opinion, this can only be good for Ubuntu. First of all, ubuntu will benefit, and has probably already benefitted from the greater exposure. If google says they use ubuntu internally, then maybe some other people will try it out as well.

Ubuntu will also benefit through experienced google employees contributing in terms of reporting bugs, making patches, etc.

Finally, i read a comment about ubuntu not distributing proprietary software so they won't distribute google toolbar, etc. Whats stopping google from setting up a backport?

[Brunellus]

um...ok guys...it is going to be internal only. But they are developing it anyway. The guy who wrote this article on slashdot:
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=175746&cid=14609148
says it is for internal desktop usage. It is just a WM on top of a normal ubuntu environment. He also talks about their 'moon teleporter project' - wth?
Thank you very much for posting this.

I know everybody here is salivating at the thought of Google Earth for Linux, but let's face it, that's not happening.

If there is anything important to be read into Goobuntu, it is that a major corporation is developing a linux distribution for its internal use. Once Goobuntu becomes a reality, what's to stop other large corporate IT departments to start doing the same?

The point here is that Google seems to be moving towards the Linux desktop on a corporate scale. If you're looking for Windows-breakers, friends, there you have them in the marketplace: corporations slowly abandoning the restrictive proprietary licencing schemes, fees, and so forth, for free software tailored to their corporate needs. That's where the real action is--not just letting geeks play with google earth what is still a minority platform in the mass market.

[RaptorRaider]

From what I understand Goobuntu has been "developed" already and is ready for use; Google mostly shutting up about it will so not help Ubuntu or any other GNU/Linux distribution being accepted by the general public or "large corporate IT departments".

[Brunellus]

From what I understand Goobuntu has been "developed" already and is ready for use; Google mostly shutting up about it will so not help Ubuntu or any other GNU/Linux distribution being accepted by the general public or "large corporate IT departments".
I fail to understand the vicious tone of this sort of comment.

What, I ask, is wrong with Google wishing to produce a 'goobuntu' for internal use only? Why must there be a Google conspiracy to keep GNU/Linux down?

Get over your victimhood, guys. We should be happy that the Linux desktop has captured one corporation.

[RaptorRaider]

What a coincidence: I fail to understand the ignorant tone of this (read: your) sort of comment.

Nothing, I tell you, is wrong with a company developing a Ubuntu-derative for internal use only.
Also I have no idea why there must be a Google conspiracy to keep GNU/Linux down, and frankly I'm not seeing one anywhere nearby.


I am merely disappointed.

Again, GNU/Linux will not benefit from a company developing a Ubuntu-derivative inhouse while this company stays quiet about it.

I expected more from Google, so much more.

[Brunellus]

What a coincidence: I fail to understand the ignorant tone of this (read: your) sort of comment.

Nothing, I tell you, is wrong with a company developing a Ubuntu-derative for internal use only.
Also I have no idea why there must be a Google conspiracy to keep GNU/Linux down, and frankly I'm not seeing one anywhere nearby.


I am merely disappointed.

Again, GNU/Linux will not benefit from a company developing a Ubuntu-derivative inhouse while this company stays quiet about it.

I expected more from Google, so much more.
then quit expecting.

Google seems to be attracting some sort of messianic expectation among Linux users. It seems that, if Google adopts Linux, the Masses will suddenly see the light, and flock to Google's banner.

This is not so. Google is a profit-making (and profitable) corporation. It also happens to be a corporation full of very good technical people. If you removed the Google name from it, and heard that $CORP was developing a GNU/Linux distribution for internal use, as a means of standardizing on Free Software and thereby realizing financial and business advantages, you would applaud. The chorus would be "Good for $CORP for finally 'getting' what Free Software can do for its business!"

But now, because it's Google, there is this unrealistic expectation that they will use their internal distro to transform everyday computing reality for users everywhere.

There is a fundamental disconnect in the way that people seem to approach Google's use of Linux.

[siucdude]

I agree that it does not matter what big corporation takes Linux and starts to develope its own/kinda. Now that it is google doing it, it's even better for the ubuntu and linux name. I don't care that it might be 2 to 5 years before we see anything. Just the press and the talk about google trying to do this starts to make more people think "well if google is thinking about this maybe i should try to look into this." i belive it is the right path.

[-(

[rjwood]

The absolute proper thing to do. Google understands that the only way to compete with microsoft is to offer the desktop to everyone for free and make the money from the advertisers. It is a long term stategy that will undoubtedly pay off. They have been moving in this direction from the very beginning. The two guy's that run google are about the most innovative and couragous business people I have ever wittnessed. They are turning the internet/computer business upside down.

As for all the worry about tracking and data, that is a reality now. What is important now is how it is used. I, at this point, trust google more than any other business with that information. Make no mistake about it, companies know so much about you already, it would probably floor you if you knew. There is a wealth of public information about you which anyone can access for free at courthouses-township offices etc...... Not to mention that if you want the best prices in your local drug store or supermarket you have to supply info for your discount card and all your purchases are then tracked. Everytime you fill out a credit application, info on you is being stored and sold, and that's only the legal stuff going on.

I'm in googles corner until they prove me wrong.

[RaptorRaider]

Google understands that the only way to compete with microsoft is to offer the desktop to everyone for free and make the money from the advertisers.
That would indeed be the strategy I would go after.
However, as I have already pointed out 3 times in this thread, currently "Google" (an employee actually) is claiming that it is for internal use only.



then quit expecting.
Expectations, potential, is, especially financially speaking, what Google is all about.
Google seems to be attracting some sort of messianic expectation among Linux users. It seems that, if Google adopts Linux, the Masses will suddenly see the light, and flock to Google's banner.
Correct. Google's name is more powerful than you seem to realise.
This is not so. Google is a profit-making (and profitable) corporation. It also happens to be a corporation full of very good technical people. If you removed the Google name from it, and heard that $CORP was developing a GNU/Linux distribution for internal use, as a means of standardizing on Free Software and thereby realizing financial and business advantages, you would applaud. The chorus would be "Good for $CORP for finally 'getting' what Free Software can do for its business!"
Yes, I would applaud. I would not be overexcited, but I would express approval.
This is irrelevant though, because we are, again, talking about Google.
But now, because it's Google, there is this unrealistic expectation that they will use their internal distro to transform everyday computing reality for users everywhere.
Whether or not it is unrealistic, only the future can tell.
There is a fundamental disconnect in the way that people seem to approach Google's use of Linux.
Then again, we don't know that much about how Google uses Linux, do we?

[Brunellus]

@RaptorRaider: I do accept that Google's brand power is remarkable--after all, it has become a verb in many languages. I do not, however, believe that that power extends to enticing the vast mass of the computing population to switch from one operating system to another of their own accord.

While I don't doubt that Google would be profitable in a world dominated by Free operating systems (while Microsoft, on the other hand, might struggle), I do doubt that this is waht Google is after.

What I am annoyed by is the sort of expectation among geeks, especially, that Google is going to be the force that fixes Bug #1 overnight. I don't accept that premise. Again, what I forsee is not as exciting, but potentially more interesting: many other companies following Google's lead and moving towards a Free operating system for their internal use. This cuts vendor dependency and begins to sustain a larger, more vibrant Free Software ecosystem. Then, perhaps, we can start to see a mass migration towards Free Operating Systems. After all, it wasn't the home and hobbyist markets that drove the initial adoption of IBM's PC and MS-DOS: it was its adoption by industry. Once big business started consuming PCs, the market grew enough to expand and exploit home user demand.

[Taino]

Lets not infight and instead lets review.. :-k

1) Ubuntu has infiltrated the Google ranks by way of some of its employee's using and liking it (it seems)...

2) Top Google folks seemed inpressed with Ubuntu and have decided to make their own "in-house" version called "Goobuntu" for internal use.. (this is usually the case in the "beginning of anything") \\:D/

3) "Could" this lead to a GoobuntuOS for public use?? Absolutely YES!.. right now?? NO.. Heck no, later on, much much later on..

4) "Could" this lead to Google ports of "exsisting" windows software to Ubuntu and Linux?? Oh Yeah! You better beleive it!! When?? SOON very very soon.. sooner than you think..

Ive been suspecting that Google might come out with an OS for a while now ever since they announced collaboration and a partnership with "Sun Micro systems" makers of the SunOS and Sun Sparc Server Systems! But i didnt want to get too ahead of myself into thinking its would definately happen.

But yes Google and SunMicro are partners in some business venues, and now Google is willing to invest a little time and effort into Ubuntu which has impressed them apparently, Soooo.. Im going to go out on a limb here and say that this "Goobuntu" internal experiment "could possibly" be a test bed phase for a "future" creation of a Ubuntu styled Linux based "GoogleOS blended operating system", Waaaaaaaaay Way down the road some ways. \\:D/

By the way "Sun Solaris OS 10" is open source now.. (it wasnt originally opensource) but now it is and accessible.
http://news.com.com/Sun+plans+patent+protection+for+open-source+Solaris/2100-7344_3-5456451.html

So now you have Google fiddling around with an internal opensource OS "Ubuntu", You also have Google in a friendly partnership with Sun another opensource OS maker, and then there IS Googles continued desire to be cross compatible across all desktops and its hard not to think they may possibly be in the learning process now of how its done by others so they can do it themselves as well...

Down the road.. There may very well be Linux based Google Desktop Systems. :mrgreen: \\:D/ :KS but dont break out the party hats just yet, its early.

[Brunellus]

the OpenSolaris licence is not compatible with the Linux kernel, so lets just put paid to the notion of any OpenSolaris/Linux hybrid GoogleOSes.

On the other hand, amusingly, someone has already grafted Ubuntu's userland to the OpenSolaris kernel to create NEXENTA, an OpenSolaris distro....so it would appear that Ubuntu is having some wide-ranging positive effects on the whole alternative-OS scene.

[prizrak]

@RaptorRaider: I do accept that Google's brand power is remarkable--after all, it has become a verb in many languages. I do not, however, believe that that power extends to enticing the vast mass of the computing population to switch from one operating system to another of their own accord.

While I don't doubt that Google would be profitable in a world dominated by Free operating systems (while Microsoft, on the other hand, might struggle), I do doubt that this is waht Google is after.

What I am annoyed by is the sort of expectation among geeks, especially, that Google is going to be the force that fixes Bug #1 overnight. I don't accept that premise. Again, what I forsee is not as exciting, but potentially more interesting: many other companies following Google's lead and moving towards a Free operating system for their internal use. This cuts vendor dependency and begins to sustain a larger, more vibrant Free Software ecosystem. Then, perhaps, we can start to see a mass migration towards Free Operating Systems. After all, it wasn't the home and hobbyist markets that drove the initial adoption of IBM's PC and MS-DOS: it was its adoption by industry. Once big business started consuming PCs, the market grew enough to expand and exploit home user demand.
I been saying it for years, the ONLY way for Linux to become a major desktop OS is organizational adoption. How many people keep Windows around cuz their work uses it? A crapload that's how many ;) I can take my dad for example he wouldn't mind switching over to Linux but he needs it for work and gaming (although I'm sure he wouldn't be mad if he had to play his games on a console since they are available on them). So really organizational adoption is the best thing that could happen to Linux. I do believe that Google using Ubuntu for internal purposes is going to get other organizations to at the very least consider using it.

[eeclark]

From a translated story (http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.vivalinux.com.ar/distros/goobuntu.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgoobuntu%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D)

"Actualmente Shuttleworth está realizando una agotadora gira mundial de tres semanas en su jet privado, para promover Ubuntu y establecer contactos en Croacia, Pakistán, India, China, Indonesia y Kenia."

translates to (according to Google)

"At the moment Shuttleworth is making an exhausting world-wide tour of three weeks in its deprived jet, to promote Ubuntu and to make contact with the enemy in the Croatia, Pakistan, India, China, Indonesia and Kenya."

that is some translation!

[aysiu]

I been saying it for years, the ONLY way for Linux to become a major desktop OS is organizational adoption. How many people keep Windows around cuz their work uses it? I'm another example. Even though Cisco makes a VPN client for Linux, our tech department was (for some strange reason) unable to download it. I tried using KVPNC and VPNC, but they were too complicated to set up. Plus, our database software is Windows-only. There's a web interface for it (for Mac and Linux), but our tech department won't release it for users yet. So, that's where my dual boot comes in handy.

[Taino]

From a translated story (http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.vivalinux.com.ar/distros/goobuntu.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgoobuntu%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D)

"Actualmente Shuttleworth está realizando una agotadora gira mundial de tres semanas en su jet privado, para promover Ubuntu y establecer contactos en Croacia, Pakistán, India, China, Indonesia y Kenia."

translates to (according to Google)

"At the moment Shuttleworth is making an exhausting world-wide tour of three weeks in its deprived jet, to promote Ubuntu and to make contact with the enemy in the Croatia, Pakistan, India, China, Indonesia and Kenya."

that is some translation!

lol...

I can translate this but man those web translators are funny ("contacts with the enemy" and "its deprived jet")..

heheh.. here goes..

"At the moment Shuttleworth is making an exhaustive world-wide three week tour in his private jet, to promote Ubuntu and to establish contacts in Croatia, Pakistan, India, China, Indonesia and Kenya."

Web translators are so-so in accuracy with some partial words.

[eeclark]

"Contacts with the enemy" is what I really found hilarious...but maybe there is something we don't know!! JK

[prizrak]

I'm another example. Even though Cisco makes a VPN client for Linux, our tech department was (for some strange reason) unable to download it. I tried using KVPNC and VPNC, but they were too complicated to set up. Plus, our database software is Windows-only. There's a web interface for it (for Mac and Linux), but our tech department won't release it for users yet. So, that's where my dual boot comes in handy.
Don't feel too bad about it I had a Cisco VPN client on my box it would never compile correctly for some inexeplicable reason.

[RaptorRaider]

Fixing Bug #1 overnight is not possible I'm afraid.

I do believe, however, that releasing Goobuntu to the masses would definitely be a strong step in the direction of fixing this bug.

I can barely see a problem for Google in, again, releasing Goobuntu in an early, pre-alpha state ("for developers only"), though I'm afraid there might be quite a few (anyone?).
I think that today, Google's name is strong enough to convert more companies (like ATI) to create better drivers and other companies (like Adobe) to port more software to GNU/Linux.

Beside the large advantages for GNU/Linux and the apparent lack of disadvantages for Google, one could say that like rjwood said, even financially speaking this does seem like a very logical move: those who would start to use Goobuntu on a more regular basis would automatically be redirected to all of Google's software, instantly generating revenue.

At the moment though this is the main question on my mind:

Who says Chris DiBona is (completely) speaking the truth and nothing but the truth?


Google likes a good surprise.


And I thank you, prizrak and aysia, for sharing these very useful real world examples.
I'm afraid I lack every bit of experience in adopting Linux in those "large IT departments".


If all this about Goobuntu is true, then I think we can all agree that GNU/Linux and Ubuntu in particular have once again made a (possibly huge) step towards fixing that infamous Bug #1.

Let's hope that Google will not only push itself but many other companies in this direction.

[Brunellus]

I am still wary of reading too much into Goobuntu.

Let me put it like this: if it helps, I'll be pleased. But if nothing changes, I will not be surprised or particularly disappointed.

[awtomlinson]

who cares? i personally don't want any version of linux to become more popular. i like my absence of spyware, viruses, etc. thank you very much. while its true that linux is more secure and robust than windows, if the majority of the population were using linux instead of windows, there would be many more issues with linux in terms of security. let's keep it how it is now. however, i do want the google apps ported to linux (google earth, picasa, google desktop, etc).

[Taino]

Even if all they did was "Googlize" Ubuntu by making their Goobuntu version come with all the Google toys preinstalled and working in Linux and then release it to the public afterwards in an opensource fashion with a Google look, theme, and some bug fixes and innovations, the Ubuntu community and Linux in general would benefit.

Who knows maybe they will bring their in-house Goobuntu to a decent operational status, keep using it in-house and then say hey lets give it away now just for kicks.

Picture Goobuntu CD's being shipped about here and there. \\:D/ they could bundle a Linux version of their current windows Desktop Google suite with the thing.

Google is unpredictable, never know what will or wont happen with them.

[bonsiware]

Google denies plans to distribute OS based on Ubuntu

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060131-6087.html

[Arathorn]

I never understand the huge paranoia among some geeks about Google. We're not bound to using Google like many people are bound to Windows (yes many people will not switch untill their favourite programs work with Linux and then some). If you distrust their privacy policy, there are dozens of web search engines around there, there a couple of desktop search programs you can use, etc. So Google becoming "the next Microsoft" is just ********.
Apart from that, it's interesting that Google uses a modified version of Ubuntu internally, although I don't think it will be released to the public, at least not soon. I think it's probably not more then an Ubuntu version with a modified theme and some dev tools preinstalled. It does show that they want to have their software work on Linux too. It's not odd that they make their programs for Windows first, after all that's where the majority of the market is. Most of their programs are still in beta, and I think those will be ported in due time. Why not? there are people using it, and those people are potentional customers, just not as important, since they're with less.

[BWF89]

If Google made their own Linux distro I wouldn't use it. They'd probably collect information about my computer without my knowing and other malicioous things that corperations do.

[siucdude]

you know i don't care that this is internal or anything else. a company like google using ubuntu is big deal. and who says your parents can't use linux, i loaded up my dad pc 1 month ago and he loves it, he has a older box and it works faster then with winxp, so he is happy and loves the new chalange.

[bonzodog]

There is no doubt that if google did indeed have an inhouse version of ubuntu, it would only be a matter of time before a copy slipped out onto the net.

[endersshadow]

There is no doubt that if google did indeed have an inhouse version of ubuntu, it would only be a matter of time before a copy slipped out onto the net.

Probably not. If anybody knows how to keep a lock on their in house projects, it's Google.

[brainstuff]

huh? can you say 'retard'?

anyway, that's interesting. i wonder if google will continue to be something great (i think it is, at least), or turn into the next microsoft.
Enlightenment. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dict.asp?Word=sarcasm)

[Sp@z]

Enlightenment. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dict.asp?Word=sarcasm)

You could have at least used the google dictonary since this is a google thread.............;)

[Taino]

What it seems to be is good news for promoting Ubuntu...

This is Google throwing its backing behind Ubuntu after all, i mean think about it if they are willing to switch a good percentage of their systems over to Ubuntu that is a "big deal".

Its Google after all they could of switched to any Linux or even BSD distro but they chose Ubuntu for in-house use! how awesome is that?? :KS :KS

Hopefully some innovations and bug fixes in "Goobuntu" will be shared with Ubuntu core development which would boost the stability, compatibility, and driver availability for "all" Ubuntu based distro's and Debian in general.

[siucdude]

What it seems to be is good news for promoting Ubuntu...

This is Google throwing its backing behind Ubuntu after all, i mean think about it, if they are willing to switch a good percentage of their systems over to Ubuntu, that is a "big deal".

Its Google after all they could of switched to any Linux or even BSD distro but they choose Ubuntu for in-house use! how awsome is that?? :KS :KS

Hopefully some innovations and bug fixes in "Goobuntu" will be shared with Ubuntu core development which would boost the stability, compatibility, and driver availability for "all" Ubuntu based distro's and Debian in general.


This is what its all about thank YOU\\:D/

[brainstuff]

heheheh, good point. I'd go back and change my post if I could be arsed :)

[DoorGunner]

http://www.gadgetopia.com/post/4965

apparently google is going to start a new linux called goobuntu ;)

[CompShrink]

Google's been using an altered Ubuntu internally for a while now... this story shows up over and over again.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060131-6087.html

It's a rumor, Google has stated time and again, they don't plan to release an OS anytime soon.

[raynevandunem]

Aye, but the fact that *Google is using Ubuntu* could be seen as an indirect endorsement.

I would agree with the naysayers in saying that it wouldn't be a wise business decision for Google to release its own Linux distro at any point in the near future. I mean, what would Google give to the world with an in-house Linux distro, anyway? All of their in-house apps are made for Windows, since that OS is, pretty much, their cash cow; they've only ported two of those to Mac OS X at the time of writing (Gmail Notifier and Google Earth).

The only reason why Google endorses Firefox, or uses Jabber/XMPP for Google Talk, or uses Ubuntu for its servers is because of the following two reasons: 1) FOSS (meaning that Google can use them as inexpensive stepping stones for their business), and 2) web-centric (Google, and everything that it does, including its software offerings, are entirely web-centric and made for search). Google, however, won't offer a Linux distro to the public until the day that the Linux platform, or something Linux-based, can become web-centric in terms of content generation.

Then again, since when has an entire OS existed exclusively for the Web?

[DJ_Max]

The only reason why Google endorses Firefox, or uses Jabber/XMPP for Google Talk, or uses Ubuntu for its servers is because of the following two reasons: 1) FOSS (meaning that Google can use them as inexpensive stepping stones for their business), and 2) web-centric (Google, and everything that it does, including its software offerings, are entirely web-centric and made for search). Google, however, won't offer a Linux distro to the public until the day that the Linux platform, or something Linux-based, can become web-centric in terms of content generation.
You forgot to mention using VLC for Google Video.

[eeclark]

VLC for Google Video? When I view it, it comes up as a Flash Player.

[DJ_Max]

VLC for Google Video? When I view it, it comes up as a Flash Player.
They use flash for the menu bar. But the software pushing the stream is VLC.
http://code.google.com/apis.html#video

[raynevandunem]

They use flash for the menu bar. But the software pushing the stream is VLC.
http://code.google.com/apis.html#video

Yep, you're right.

Hey, does that mean that you can play .gvi files in VLC?

Oh, and speaking of media-playing, I think that the experience will be made easier for the non-Windows/Mac crowds when the approach that is employed by Google Video (y'know, uploading and stuff) is applied to both audio and video equally, with a "Webamp" (web-based media player using AJAX) to boot.

You never know, that might kill iTunes, lol.

[TheIdiotThatIsMe]

What it seems to be is good news for promoting Ubuntu...

This is Google throwing its backing behind Ubuntu after all, i mean think about it if they are willing to switch a good percentage of their systems over to Ubuntu that is a "big deal".

Its Google after all they could of switched to any Linux or even BSD distro but they chose Ubuntu for in-house use! how awesome is that?? :KS :KS

Hopefully some innovations and bug fixes in "Goobuntu" will be shared with Ubuntu core development which would boost the stability, compatibility, and driver availability for "all" Ubuntu based distro's and Debian in general.

THAT's what I'm hoping happens and could be exciting for linux users :cool:

[johnyz]

:) #1 at distrowatch, Ubuntu does'nt need Google.

[Jucato]

First, it was an online word processor (Writely) (http://writely.blogspot.com/).
Now it's a 3D modeling/viewer software (SketchUp) (http://www.sketchup.com/index.php?id=1439).
Put that together with Google Desktop, Picasa, Google Talk, and Google Earth...

You'd wonder if it's really true that they weren't developing an OS of their own. Maybe not a Goobuntu. But I feel something big might be brewing.

Anyone up for a GooOS? :D

[abhaysahai]

First, it was an online word processor (Writely) (http://writely.blogspot.com/).
Now it's a 3D modeling/viewer software (SketchUp) (http://www.sketchup.com/index.php?id=1439).
Put that together with Google Desktop, Picasa, Google Talk, and Google Earth...

You'd wonder if it's really true that they weren't developing an OS of their own. Maybe not a Goobuntu. But I feel something big might be brewing.

Anyone up for a GooOS? :D

They are the biggest threat to MS at this moment. Though not as a OS company. MS employees are joining gogle and Google is planning to introduce an online Office, this will render the underlying OS irrelevant. Thus hurt MS where is makes money ( Windows and Office both at the same time)

[mstlyevil]

They are the biggest threat to MS at this moment. Though not as a OS company. MS employees are joining gogle and Google is planning to introduce an online Office, this will render the underlying OS irrelevant. Thus hurt MS where is makes money ( Windows and Office both at the same time)

I believe this is just speculation at the moment. I am not too sure it will hurt Microsoft one bit in the Enterprise and business market since Word is the standard just about every where you go. It might cut a bit in the home and student word processing segments but even there a lot of people will need functionality and compatibility that only using Word gives them.

[earobinson]

I love writely, and I love that I can email my self docs, great extra place to back stuff up and edit on the fly.

[RavenOfOdin]

Actually, there may well be a plan for "Goobuntu."

The current issue of "Smart Computing" mentioned both that Google is planning to switch to Linux for its internal servers, and that they're also planning an OS with that very name.

It was right beside the sidebar about the failed NGSCB initiative of Microsoft - and how antivirus software will not be pre-included in Vista a la Internet Explorer.

I'll have to see what comes of this.
Either Microsoft is going to try and sue Google clear out of both notions (which wouldn't surprise me in the slightest) or we'll have something new to play with.

[Compucore]

Unless I miss my make. And I am not totally sure about this. I was skimming the net and came across this. it was posted on therester.co.uk web sites. It mentions that google and Ubutu are planning to work together here on a project of Googles own operating system. but using Ubuntu as the main OS itself. Take a look here at the link. I do not know how true this is. I thought that it should be an interesting read though. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/

Compucore

[briancurtin]

welcome to 4 months ago

[aysiu]

The Google Ubuntu is for internal use only at Google. They have no plans to release it to the public.

And, yes, that "news" story was four months ago.

[RavenOfOdin]

I heard more about it in a computing magazine that was released this month.

[Compucore]

Oh well. C'est la vie as they say in french.

[xyz]

Unless I miss my make. And I am not totally sure about this. I was skimming the net and came across this. it was posted on therester.co.uk web sites. It mentions that google and Ubutu are planning to work together here on a project of Googles own operating system. but using Ubuntu as the main OS itself. Take a look here at the link. I do not know how true this is. I thought that it should be an interesting read though. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/

Compucore
In this case, being 4-months late is great news to me! Not all of us are aware of what Linux or Googles's next moves are as soon as they throw it on the ww...;)

[bluenova]

I know for a fact that Google uses Ubuntu, as I sent them a bug report regarding a problem with Google Analytics with firefox/ubuntu and they replyed that they have seen the bug on their own Ubuntu systems and were working on a fix.

[23meg]

I haven't read the whole thread but the article is dated January 2006 and when this news was slashdotted around then, the official word from Google was that this thing was being developed "for internal use only".

[lapsey]

this could be a very good thing for ubuntu and desktop linux in general

[Christmas]

This can only be a good thing for Linux. Google is a big corporation and a Linux Distribution made by them will definitely catch attention. I don't know if the name is appropiate... "Goobuntu" sounds... well, they should find another name for their distro.

[beercz]

according to netcraft, pretty much all of their servers are on linux operating systems, and the server software itself is GWS (google web server, supposedly an apache-based system). i dont doubt that they have done much more with linux than just using the OS and making a server. they havent ignored us, they just have a different plan that windows users, which is my guess.

I read sometwhere that Google has the largest linux cluster on the planet, but they won't reveal how big it is.

Just out of interest can anyone verify this?

[endersshadow]

I read sometwhere that Google has the largest linux cluster on the planet, but they won't reveal how big it is.

Just out of interest can anyone verify this?

Anyone who can can't. You can't so far as walk past the entrance without signing a very restrictive NDA. You're not allowed to take photographs even in the lobby.

Don't hold your breath waiting for someone to reveal it :)

[Mr_J_]

This has already been discussed and the conclusion has been that although Google has version in testing of pretty much every distro made they are not planning the distribution of any of them.

Goobuntu, Goodora, Goose, gooto, gooware, gooppix, etc...
Only they aren't for public distribution.

[s_h_a_d_o_w_s]

I heard they were make gooOS, google OS

google gooos

[OffHand]

This one made me laugh:


The word Ubuntu means "humanity to others" in several African languages, including Zulu and Xhosa. It's one of the founding principles of post-apartheid South Africa. The origin of the word 'Goobuntu' is not clear, though it does not appear in online Zulu dictionaries.


Edit: OMG, what's up with all these necro's?

[mssever]

I knew that Google was using Ubuntu internally, but it turns out that they're using it in production, as well. This is from a 404 page I reached:
Apache/2.0.55 (Ubuntu) PHP/5.1.2 Server at pagead2.googlesyndication.com Port 80

[punkinside]

Kewl

I'd try goobuntu hope they surprise us :) c'mon mark! lets get this show on the road!

[rfruth]

I knew I liked Google for a reason ...http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/

[mssever]

The dark side also uses Ubuntu: Apache/2.0.55 (Ubuntu) PHP/5.1.2 Server at ad.doubleclick.net Port 80

[asimon]

Does it really matter what they use? Google does also some terrible things. Anyway, with Ubuntu now the most famous Linux distribution I fancy there may be more corporates using it.

[megamania]

Does it really matter what they use? Google does also some terrible things. Anyway, with Ubuntu now the most famous Linux distribution I fancy there may be more corporates using it.

I'm not an Ubuntu/Linux "fan" (i.e. I use because I like it, it's not a faith), but I think it does matter.
If Linux becomes more common, it may happen that you get official software and drivers for things like PDAs, scanners, digital cameras, etc.
I wouldn't have to go crazy with my palm TX not syncing, with Gnomad depending on the Creative Zen's firmware, with my negative scanner not being recognized.

That would be the giant leap, in my opinion.

[asimon]

If Linux becomes more common, it may happen that you get official software and drivers for things like PDAs, scanners, digital cameras, etc.
I wouldn't have to go crazy with my palm TX not syncing, with Gnomad depending on the Creative Zen's firmware, with my negative scanner not being recognized.

That would be the giant leap, in my opinion.
It would be a giant leap in my eyes only if those 'official' drivers would be open and free. With ATI's latest announcement we are teached again how bad propritary stuff is. For ATI it's clear, their old users are of no meaning to them, only new sells count. So much for their official drivers - 'official' and 'good for the user' are two completely independend things. In that case (and most others) I prefer unofficial free drivers any day. And I don't see that changing with a growing desktop market share of Linux alone. Even now those companies doen't even have to develop drivers themselves, it would be enough to just publish the specs, then volunteers would develop drivers. For this to change we need more than a big Linux market share, we need a change in corporate mind.

[Brunellus]

goobuntu: Free kernel, proprietary userland? I'm given to understand that google's production servers run some Linux OS, but use a proprietary filesystem (googleFS)

[megamania]

It would be a giant leap in my eyes only if those 'official' drivers would be open and free. With ATI's latest announcement we are teached again how bad propritary stuff is.

Well, for me it would be great to install Palm Desktop (be it open source or not), and be able to sync my palm flawlessly. At the moment I sync my TX wirelessly, but I'm going crazy trying to sync my girfriend's Tungsten (which used to sync great on Breezy). On windows, I'd just press the hotsync button, and on Palm Desktop for Linux it would just be the same thing.

Not too many people are willing to waste hours to perform a task that on Windows would take 30 seconds - I'm only using Linux at the moment, but such things are frustating.

[weatherman]

Well, for me it would be great to install Palm Desktop (be it open source or not), and be able to sync my palm flawlessly. At the moment I sync my TX wirelessly, but I'm going crazy trying to sync my girfriend's Tungsten (which used to sync great on Breezy). On windows, I'd just press the hotsync button, and on Palm Desktop for Linux it would just be the same thing.

Not too many people are willing to waste hours to perform a task that on Windows would take 30 seconds - I'm only using Linux at the moment, but such things are frustating.

I don't want to start a flame but imho if you don't value freedom too much and just want things to work for now you probably should stick to windows/mac os.

[maniacmusician]

I don't want to start a flame but imho if you don't value freedom too much and just want things to work for now you probably should stick to windows/mac os.
if you didnt want to start a flame, you wouldn't have posted that.

back on topic though, I hope that if google opens up goobuntu, they'll also open-source their prop FS. Considering that linux is what it is because of open source, that would be the right thing to do, and the smart thing to do.

would I still use it if it had a proprietary filesystem? probably. I'm not really an open source zealot. But I can safely say that my experience probably won't be as good if the FS isn't open. What I mean is, it's harder to build a community around it, because when developers (who are also usually normal users) are creating something, they really have to know what they're working with, and a proprietary FS holds that back in some ways...or at least limits the potential of the work that could be done on it. Google is an odd creature...they can usually balance user interest and commercial interest pretty well, but sometimes they're a little protective of their work...so I can see them keeping it prop.

it's kind of weird to having this back-and-forth though, when we don't even know what google is going to do with goobuntu.

[.t.]

I can safely say I am an open source zealot.

[bruce89]

I don't want to start a flame but imho if you don't value freedom too much and just want things to work for now you probably should stick to windows/mac os.

That's just asking for trouble...

From Netcraft:
pagead2.googlesyndication.com = unknown OS
ad.doubleclick.net = Windows Server 2003

Where are these 404 messages?

[mssever]

That's just asking for trouble...

From Netcraft:
pagead2.googlesyndication.com = unknown OS
ad.doubleclick.net = Windows Server 2003

Where are these 404 messages?

I remember now that I use a custom hosts file to block ads. So those error pages actually reflect my own machine. Oops. :oops:

[maniacmusician]

hahaha nice, so this whole thread was an accident. I love it when that happens. makes people feel silly that they've been arguing for no good reason

[.t.]

I don't feel silly. My point will always stand true.

[maniacmusician]

yeah, me neither. I meant what I said. Mainly i was talking about the "i don't want to start a flame" guy.

[weatherman]

yeah, me neither. I meant what I said. Mainly i was talking about the "i don't want to start a flame" guy.

I don't think my post was actually that awkward. My statement was simply that if you don't care about open/closed source and use your computer to do something more than surfing/write documents (or even use particular hardware like the user I quoted previously) today most users are much more productive with non-linux operating systems, so I don't really see a reason (for them personally) why they should use gnu/linux.
Personally I do care about free software and would like to see as many people as possible using gnu/linux to see more people using free software. But than again I don't see the point if people say they want gnu/linux to be popular so that they get official closed source drivers. You already have closed source drivers on other platforms. The goal should be to get companies to open their drivers.

[banjobacon]

I remember now that I use a custom hosts file to block ads. So those error pages actually reflect my own machine. Oops. :oops:
Submit this thread to Digg and watch it climb to the front page anyway.

[megamania]

I don't want to start a flame but imho if you don't value freedom too much and just want things to work for now you probably should stick to windows/mac os.

I use Linux because it's my choice and I wish Palm published a Palm Desktop for Linux because I would like to have that.

And yes, I would like things to work "for now". If you prefer them not to work, then you should probably stick to Windows.

[Naralas]

If you thought it was going to be a distro, hahaaha sorry to disapoint.

I am referring to the rumor that Google uses Ubuntu for servers and workstations, which I have never read any true evidence of, but have only heard tossed around (I am sure there is torrents of info supporting it or to the contrary, but I have yet to stumble upon it)

My question is, why (if its true, and if not, simply correct me) would Google not put a "powered by Ubuntu" icon linking to the Ubuntu site? That act alone could do an imesurable service to us. Right now, as much as Linux users think we are known and understood by the world, Mac OS X is still the one gaining popularity over Microsoft. Load's of people are going to get Mac's now because they are trendy (I still prever XP and EVEN VISTA to OSX... and I hate Vista)

Are they afraid Ubuntu populatrity could lead to viruses and hacks known to the world? (Yeah right, script kiddies can hurt windows, but they don't have such power over us ;)) Or do they fear that some people still think Linux is unstable?? Showing alliegences to the Linux community won't kill Google, but it will safe Ubuntu. A linux PC in every home ;), consumer grade games in the repos, companies building Linux drivers... *dreams*

Anyway, this is a totally uneducated post so I expect to be called out on many things, but that's really my point. ^^

[stalker145]

I am referring to the rumor that Google uses Ubuntu for servers and workstations, which I have never read any true evidence of, but have only heard tossed around (I am sure there is torrents of info supporting it or to the contrary, but I have yet to stumble upon it)

Well, I'm not quite sure which distribution google uses, but it definitely uses Linux (http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/graph?site=www.google.com) of one flavor or another.

Most of the times I've been tinkering with Netcraft (http://www.netcraft.com/) and stumbled upon a site running Ubuntu, it says so in the information on the previously linked page... well, then again, how do I know they're not running Ubuntu and masking the OS? OK, I'll shut up now ;)

[koenn]

It was part of google's strategy to build the search engine on (very large) clusters of computers running Linux, to get huge processing power on relatively cheap hardware.

Google employees use mostly Linux
"Equipment - Most Googlers have high powered Linux OS workstations on their desktops. In Google's earliest days, desks were wooden doors mounted on two sawhorses. Some of these are still in use within the engineering group."
http://www.google.be/intl/en/corporate/culture.html

According to http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/ , january 2006,
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.

[madman91]

[/URL]

According to [URL]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/ (http://www.google.be/intl/en/corporate/culture.html) , january 2006,
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.

so is it going to happen or not :)

[Bavo]

so is it going to happen or not :)

Nope,

I've read somewhere that goobuntu is the distribution that google is using internally, and that there are no plans of releasing it.
It's supposed to be Ubuntu with some extra apps for internal use.

I don't remember where or when i've read it, and i also have no idea if its true, but i think it is.

Edit: this is what wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goobuntu) has to say about it.

[justin whitaker]

so is it going to happen or not :)

No, they have said that they are not in the OS business. Isn't their business model to make operating systems completely irrelevant?

[maniacmusician]

If you thought it was going to be a distro, hahaaha sorry to disapoint.

I am referring to the rumor that Google uses Ubuntu for servers and workstations, which I have never read any true evidence of, but have only heard tossed around (I am sure there is torrents of info supporting it or to the contrary, but I have yet to stumble upon it)

My question is, why (if its true, and if not, simply correct me) would Google not put a "powered by Ubuntu" icon linking to the Ubuntu site? That act alone could do an imesurable service to us. Right now, as much as Linux users think we are known and understood by the world, Mac OS X is still the one gaining popularity over Microsoft. Load's of people are going to get Mac's now because they are trendy (I still prever XP and EVEN VISTA to OSX... and I hate Vista)

Are they afraid Ubuntu populatrity could lead to viruses and hacks known to the world? (Yeah right, script kiddies can hurt windows, but they don't have such power over us ;)) Or do they fear that some people still think Linux is unstable?? Showing alliegences to the Linux community won't kill Google, but it will safe Ubuntu. A linux PC in every home ;), consumer grade games in the repos, companies building Linux drivers... *dreams*

Anyway, this is a totally uneducated post so I expect to be called out on many things, but that's really my point. ^^
Google uses a modified version of Ubuntu on their workstations and desktops, not on their servers. So they do some coding on an ubuntu-based platform, but they probably use something else for their servers.

[reclusivemonkey]

Haven't google hacked their own filesystem up as well? With google's brain bank and financial resources, I'm surprised they didn't knock up their own OS entirely from scratch...

[koenn]

Haven't google hacked their own filesystem up as well? With google's brain bank and financial resources, I'm surprised they didn't knock up their own OS entirely from scratch...
'cause there already was a perfectly good OS available - why tie up the brains with something that already has been done ?

[prizrak]

Actually back when the Goobuntu rumor started a Google rep came out and said that they do in fact use a Goobuntu system on their developer desktops but that it was 100% internal and was not going to be released.

[koenn]

Quote:
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.
so is it going to happen or not :)
Read that again.
They never said anything was going to happen, only that they were "working on a desktop linux project called Goobuntu". Might well have been just playing around in Google Labs, or nothing more than some feasability test for an in-house desktop OS.

[reclusivemonkey]

'cause there already was a perfectly good OS available - why tie up the brains with something that already has been done ?

Why create a search engine? There were already search engines before google. I'm not suggesting they should, I'm saying I wouldn't be surprised if they did it just for the hell of it...

Quite often ignoring everything that has been done before and creating something from scratch gives us the best creations.

Why did Linux write a new OS? There were already perfectly good OSes available.

[zubrug]

Not sure at all if this is related at all, it just poped into my head while I was reading this thread. (most likely unrelated) but read imbrandon's post near the bottom.
Thanks karellen for this link.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MeetingLogs/openweekfeisty/askmark

[koenn]

Why create a search engine? There were already search engines before google. I'm not suggesting they should, I'm saying I wouldn't be surprised if they did it just for the hell of it...

Quite often ignoring everything that has been done before and creating something from scratch gives us the best creations.

Why did Linux write a new OS? There were already perfectly good OSes available.

Apparently they''ve found an interesting problem : how to find relevent information on the chaotic and immensly vast WWW. Their innovation was their algoritms to assigne relevance to the results of the searches : keyword density, Page Rank (tm) etc. And their searches were way faster than the compitition back then (mainly Yahoo).
So, apparently, they thought they could make a difference in WWW search - and not in design and implementation of operating systems.

Linux, on the other hand, wanted a Unix-like OS that could run on his PC with an Intel 386 processor. There weren't that many : MS-DOS doesn't count (not Unix-like), so then what ? Minix ? Xinix ? Apperently he thought he could do better than that.

[tehkain]

Why create a search engine? There were already search engines before google. I'm not suggesting they should, I'm saying I wouldn't be surprised if they did it just for the hell of it...

Quite often ignoring everything that has been done before and creating something from scratch gives us the best creations.

Why did Linux write a new OS? There were already perfectly good OSes available.

Linus wrote a kernel.

Googles version of ubuntu is internal. It does exist. It also is not meant to be released to the public. They package way to many internal custom configs. Maybe one day they may cook up a distro but their current internal google ubuntu is not it.

[maniacmusician]

Linus wrote a kernel.

Googles version of ubuntu is internal. It does exist. It also is not meant to be released to the public. They package way to many internal custom configs. Maybe one day they may cook up a distro but their current internal google ubuntu is not it.
exactly. Also, most people wouldn't be interested in their internal version. Everyone is thinking of something phenomenal but the changes are probably very basic. I highly doubt they've wasted time creating their own themes or anything that would show a discernable change to a normal user.

They might have stuff like their own toolkits and code development platforms, and that's stuff they would never release to the public anyways.

[Tundro Walker]

So Google used some distro packaging software to add a few apps to Ubuntu, remove some they don't want, and package it all together in an easy to install form. Sounds like a smart idea. No sense in tossing it out to the public, though. Seems like everyone and their uncle is doing a Linux distro these days. (I'll let you know when my uncle is done with his.)

Seriously, can you imagine how easy that makes the IT dept's job? Need to refurbish a machine? No problem. If it already doesn't have the software you need, they can probably get it from an internal repo, and if they absolutely must do a fresh install, they just let a distro install (one out of several they've made, I'm sure, because each dept probably has their own needs). If they have a couple "master" machines that constantly update whenever new Ubuntu updates show up, they can refresh the distro's used to install on a daily basis, so when they use one to install on a machine, they don't have to wait 30 minutes for updates to install.

I really like Google's idea of distributed processing, utilizing free bandwidth on lots of small, cheap machines rather then having single, uber servers. Where I work, we have a lot of folks using full computers, but simply doing phone sales rep work. They simply use it as a thin client for the web-browser and email, since they use an in-house web-app to do their sales work on. Their machines have tons of idle bandwidth which could be used to process things using Google's style of distributed processing. But, such is not the case. Seriously, they pop like $500 (via contract) on a computer that's basically used as a thin-client terminal...might as well put the extra horse-power to use.

Side note, I get a kick out of corporations that think tons of money has to get spent to do things productively. If folks really have the ambition and a good game plan, they'll make things happen. In Google's case, it's great hearing they used desks made from doors and things, with cheap Linux machines. Nobody cared, because nobody saw that...they only saw the end product, which was a simple web-page that offers a powerful search engine. People don't care as long as the product is good.

[Polygon]

or they have just made their own live cds and just reinstall the OS if something goes wrong.

The only problem i have with this is, if all of goggle uses a ubuntu-linux based OS on their desktop computers, why the hell have they not made native linux ports for all of their programs? i know they h ave google earth, and picasa + wine, but still there is a lot of stuff that could be ported over...

[maniacmusician]

or they have just made their own live cds and just reinstall the OS if something goes wrong.

The only problem i have with this is, if all of goggle uses a ubuntu-linux based OS on their desktop computers, why the hell have they not made native linux ports for all of their programs? i know they h ave google earth, and picasa + wine, but still there is a lot of stuff that could be ported over...
In their eyes, they wouldn't get enough of a return on their investment.

[vishnumrao]

Hi all,

A few months back I had read a articles that Google is trying to enter the OS business. But that has not materialized till now. The articles had speculated that rather than build an OS from scratch, Google might try to acquire one of the major Linux distributions.

Now with the recent announcement from Dell about selling Ubuntu pre-installed machines, will we see Ubuntu being acquired by Google. Google has enough financial muscle to buy Canonical, and with Ubuntu on Dell machines, Google only stands to gain. Also, Google has been making some major acquisitions, the latest being DoubleClick.

Google entering the OS business, through buy of Ubuntu, would hurt Microsoft where it hurts the most. Windows XP and Office are the cash cows for Microsoft. And we know Google's been trying to enter Microsoft's core businesses, like Office by offering the Google web based office equivalent. Will they try an attack on Microsoft's OS offering?

My question is will we see a Google buy of Ubuntu?

Do give me your opinions. Do you think it will be good for Ubuntu and for linux and open source in general?

Vishnu Rao.

[starcraft.man]

LOL... I don't think anyone at cannonical would ever sell Ubuntu to Google, thats just a bad idea. Don't get me wrong, google does good programs and a great search engine but I wouldn't want em to run my os... I'm sure they'd put their own hidden programs in it to gather data on your usage (they like getting lots of user data any way they can). They all ready know/have enough information on all of us...

[JNowka]

First off Google has repeatedly stated that they are not interested in entering the OS business. But if they were to decide that they were going to, I doubt they would buy out a OS that they could just take the code from.

Second, Google is in the market of making money, They would be unable to make any money off an OS that has its source code open via GPL. They would only be able to give it away, and would in the end do nothing but get their name known....and since it is already household, it would be pointless.

What is funny is that Google already has its own OS, but it is used exclusively within the company, and it is based on Ubuntu.

[jfinkels]

Google will not buy Ubuntu. And that's the way I like it. Leave me my Mark Shuttleworth.

As great as Google is at many things, I am always wary of one company becoming too ubiquitous (*ahem* Microsoft).

[vishnumrao]

What is funny is that Google already has its own OS, but it is used exclusively within the company, and it is based on Ubuntu.

I thought they ran Ubuntu and not something based on Ubuntu!

[mr_mack_why]

I thought they ran Ubuntu and not something based on Ubuntu!

Long time lurker, first time poster (well, under this ID of course).

I work in Google county and can tell you it is BASED on Ubuntu, with additional tweaks here and there :) Although in our group, we exclusively use (and try to internally promote!) Xubuntu. Smaller overheads yes, but mainly to get away from mono (evil!).

Consider that the 411.

[Mateo]

Google needs to stick to search engines and stop trying to enter other areas (badly, I might add). Try making a blog search that isn't horrible, for starters.

[jeffc313]

why would they not just create a ubuntu dirivitive? doesnt the GPL allow that explicitly?

[jfinkels]

Long time lurker, first time poster (well, under this ID of course).

I work in Google county and can tell you it is BASED on Ubuntu, with additional tweaks here and there :) Although in our group, we exclusively use (and try to internally promote!) Xubuntu. Smaller overheads yes, but mainly to get away from mono (evil!).

Consider that the 411.

Very cool. Hope you didn't just expose any trade secrets :D

[ronocdh]

Google needs to stick to search engines and stop trying to enter other areas (badly, I might add). Try making a blog search that isn't horrible, for starters.
Hey, Picasa on Windows XP is the best image collection manager around! I stand by that. IPhoto freaking blows and Aperture isn't anything hot by me. F-spot? Please; it doesn't even respect that I have my images organized by folders!

And vishnumrao, why didn't you mention what is considered the most important change (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googlefs) in Google's OS? Can you give us the 411 on that? ;)

[steven8]

Hey, Picasa on Windows XP is the best image collection manager around! I stand by that. IPhoto freaking blows and Aperture isn't anything hot by me. F-spot? Please; it doesn't even respect that I have my images organized by folders!

And vishnumrao, why didn't you mention what is considered the most important change (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googlefs) in Google's OS? Can you give us the 411 on that? ;)

Picasa on Linux totally rocks! It is what ultimately cemented the deal with my wife to switch us to Linux!!

[ticopelp]

It's funny how Google has become so powerful that it's become very easy to speculate that they might buy pretty much anything, whether or not it's actually for sale. "Is Google going to buy AOL? Is Google going to buy Microsoft? Is Google going to buy the moon?"

[steven8]

The company I work for employs over 75,000 people. They did this by melding and buying other companies, yet they were bought up by Duetsche Post a year ago. Duetsche Post has over 750,000 people worldwide in it's conglomerate. Anything is possible these days.

[MRiGnS]

The company I work for employs over 75,000 people. They did this by melding and buying other companies, yet they were bought up by Duetsche Post a year ago. Duetsche Post has over 750,000 people worldwide in it's conglomerate. Anything is possible these days.

you mean Deutsche Post don't you? Until some years ago it was the German post service run by the state but was privatised lately

[steven8]

you mean Deutsche Post don't you? Until some years ago it was the German post service run by the state but was privatised lately

I always get the e and the u reversed. Anyway, they have boatloads of cash, and we got swallowed up. it's the way of the world these days. Fast food joints are merging in one building to save on rent so they can survive.

[vishnumrao]

Long time lurker, first time poster (well, under this ID of course).

I work in Google county and can tell you it is BASED on Ubuntu, with additional tweaks here and there :) Although in our group, we exclusively use (and try to internally promote!) Xubuntu. Smaller overheads yes, but mainly to get away from mono (evil!).

Consider that the 411.

Long time lurker, first time poster? What is that? I dont quite understand your lingo.

And what is 411? I have no clue what you want to say!


It's funny how Google has become so powerful that it's become very easy to speculate that they might buy pretty much anything, whether or not it's actually for sale. "Is Google going to buy AOL? Is Google going to buy Microsoft? Is Google going to buy the moon?"

ticopelp,

You have a point. I too seem to be adding to the speculation. But thats not my intention.

[aysiu]

You may want to read this thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=123924).

[neodarksaver]

There is Goobuntu for google employees, they are using a ubuntu based OS, google may invest in ubuntu. But i dont see a need for google to buy it.

[vishnumrao]

Thanks aysiu for the link to that post.

The google brandname carries a lot of weight among windows user as well as the more knowledgeable types ;) and could possibly be the distro to get a real foot in the door of the home desktop market.

The Dell deal is being seen as a big sign that desktop Linux is maturing. An endorsement from Google will really cement the fact that desktop Linux is here.

[jiminycricket]

Second, Google is in the market of making money, They would be unable to make any money off an OS that has its source code open via GPL. They would only be able to give it away, and would in the end do nothing but get their name known....and since it is already household, it would be pointless.


How does Red Hat still exist?

[LookTJ]

How does Red Hat still exist?
Support.

[jonward0690]

Yea I ran across it on the internet google is supossed to be releasing a os.

[Toadmund]

I've heard the rumour too, a long time ago, but who knows for sure except google?
We all know M$ and google don't exactly see eye to eye.
Google might just break into the OS market, does anything really surprise you of google any more?
Not you in particular, but anybody.

[jonward0690]

Yea google has all kinds of extras.

[JOrtiz8612]

Actually, Google uses their own modified version of Ubuntu in their work environment. They call it Gbuntu.

Now as for them releasing some sort of OS, I've heard those rumors as well.

[Adamant1988]

Rumors are fun, but I wouldn't want to see a Google OS. I'm sorry, I love Google and all, but contextual advertising and all that DO NOT belong on my desktop. However, if Google were interested in producing native linux applications and such, I would support that :)

[elcasey]

These rumors have been around forever. It'd be a colossal waste of money on Google's part (not that they don't have absurd amounts of money to burn) to try to compete with Microsoft in the desktop OS market (even against Vista :D ). It's not gonna happen.

Just remember that at the end of the day, Google is an Adsense company, and that's it. They develop some neat stuff, they give back to the community (as they should, and they should give back more, IMO) but they exist to make money. And a desktop OS, which would have to compete with both established GNU/Linux distros and Windows in the workstation market (assuming that's what they'd go after -- which is unlikely) or compete with Windows for the home market (hopefully someday, but right now GNU/Linux is not a competitor for the home desktop market).

Either way, it doesn't make much sense. And Google isn't where it is because of bad business decisions.

[Wiebelhaus]

Gnubuntu or something to that effect would get my attention any other distro i would ignore.

[smoker]

i would like to see google come out with there own os, not that i would use it myself, but it may encourage more of the windows brigade to try something else, and from there, maybe move on to try linux once they have a taste of freedom. many windows users are just too scared to try linux at the moment, despite the ease of some distros to install and run.

[Adamant1988]

I would rather see Google working with a distribution to develop a more solid distro. Google employs some of the best software engineers in the world, so any assistance from them in that regard would be excellent :)

[zmigliozzi]

If they actually did come out with one and people liked change, I'd see it just owning everything, but since most people don't like change, especially the older crowd (no offense) it wouldn't happen. It would only do well if it said Micro$oft on it, because people feel comfortable with what M$ does.

[ThinkBuntu]

I looked into this deeply when I became interested in getting a copy. I even posted a wanted ad on the SF Craigslist, but no luck.

Google does have their own OS, and it's some form of Linux. However, it's designed to integrate well with their intranet, and according to one Google source, it would be completely useless for most purposes if it were installed outside of the Google network.

Also, they have repeatedly voiced that they will not release an OS. Would I be interested? After using many of Google's free services, I'd definitely shell $50+ for it if (1) it covered upgrades for life, (2) software upgrades followed the same pattern as in other Linux distros, and (3) It were mostly open-source. I understand if some code is sensitive, especially the stuff associated with their search engine, but anything pertaining to my system except for searching would absolutely need to be open.

[aysiu]

This rumor started up almost a year and a half ago. It's pretty clear Google is not going to release its own operating system to the public. I've merged this thread with the other one on the same subject.

[lopagof]

just another rumor:KS

[stmiller]

I know someone who works at Google. A Linux guy. Next time I talk to him I'll ask. :)

[puppy]

I was at LUGRadio Live 2007 early this month, and Chris DiBona (the opensource manager from Google) was one of the speakers. He said that the operating system that is on all desktops at Google is "Goobuntu" (a tweaked version of Ubuntu which is internal to their organisation). This is not a rumour, in fact I'm sure he has talked about it b4 on his various podcasts and blogs etc.

I applaud him tbh because it's down to him that we have Google Earth, Picasa, Google Desktop etc on linux (we'll ignore the fact that Google Earth and Picasa look like *** though, and Picasa doesn't realise it;s running on linux so automatically points to a windows-a-like file structure when scanning for photos :roll:)

[aysiu]

Goobuntu for internal use is not a rumor.

Goobuntu released to the public is definitely only a rumor, though.

[Technoviking]

I hope they still submit changes they make upstream, in the spirit of open source.

[AlexC_]

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.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/31/google_goes_desktop_linux/

Anyone got any sources for this as I thought it was just a rumour before hand?

[m0eman]

I don't think it's true, look at the date it was published.

Published Tuesday 31st January 2006 13:46 GMT

[AlexC_]

Ha. Woops :P

[m0eman]

You saw it on digg didnt you. :) I did too.

[AlexC_]

I sure did, never seen that article before and didn't think to look at the date =D

[myoungf1]

I did a quick google search on Goobuntu and found this link for it

http://www.answers.com/topic/goobuntu

Looks like it does exist but only for inside the google corporation and not for public use.

[DoctorMO]

did you not hear the news about google joining the OIN network last month; something is still going on I have no doubt, but I'm more inclined to think google will want to put some developers on ubuntu before releasing anything like Goobuntu; so you would see google employees in launchpad.

So go check launchpad to see how much activity is coming out of Google.

[RAV TUX]

If Google was serious about this wouldn't they just buy Canonical/Ubuntu out?

[mech7]

to bad as google is only company with enough resources to have commercial software be made available too..

[southernman]

If Google was serious about this wouldn't they just buy Canonical/Ubuntu out?
pfffft! Google has no money! *smerk*

[aysiu]

I've merged this with the other thread on the same topic... from over a year and a half ago.

[guitarmaniac]

Not sure if anyone has posted this yet but that article was posted last year.
Google DOES have its own linux distro called ubuntu, but it is just a slightly modified version of ubuntu specific to Googles needs.
As far as I know they have no intention of publicly releasing it.

[LookTJ]

Not sure if anyone has posted this yet but that article was posted last year.http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3250748&postcount=231

[sulekha]

Hi all,

see the site:- http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/open_source/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=178600189

[namegame]

That's almost exacly 3 years old. It was discussed quite a bit a while back.

[rabid9797]

wow. a company using a free distro internally to develop software to support linux. this comes as a complete surprise to me.

[jrusso2]

Hi all,

see the site:- http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/open_source/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=178600189

This article is from Jan 2006 not exactly current but they do use a modified
google for desktop and I think the servers use a modified slackware called slack.

[cardinals_fan]

That's almost exacly 3 years old. It was discussed quite a bit a while back.
I don't think it was particularly newsworthy even then.

[namegame]

I don't think it was particularly newsworthy even then.

I agree. It's not that big of a deal especially since Google is primarily known as a web-based organization which is non-OS specific in most cases. It would be much different if the article was saying that Microsoft uses Linux or something of that nature.

[Sealbhach]

Yes, that's almost 3 years old now.. Not current anymore.. If only it is updated today, then that would be cool..

+1

It would be nice to hear that their Ubuntu deployment was a success and that they are still using Ubuntu - I'd imagine we would have heard if they decided to stop using it.


.

[ZuLuuuuuu]

There was an article about headquarters of Google and there were photos of Google employees working in their offices. There was a photo of an employee that you could clearly see he had Ubuntu installed on his computer :)