November 1, 2007

A Tentative Google PC

Inexpensive computers go hand in hand with the vision of moving applications online. After all, if you spend most of your time inside a browser, you don't need a very powerful computer.

Everex gPC TC2502 has a 1.5 GHz processor, 512 MB of memory and an 80 GB hard drive. It runs a modified version of Ubuntu, called gOS, and comes with free applications like Firefox and easy access to many Google services: Search, Calendar, Docs, Blogger, YouTube. "Imagine a gorgeous desktop that just works. All the web, media, and office software you'll need is included. Imagine an OS with easy access to the best of Google Apps and products, and other popular Web 2.0 applications." It will be available in the US at Wal-Mart for only $199.

According to DesktopLinux, Everex claims the computer was "created as a conceptual Google PC with a conceptual Google OS" and it has Google's permission to use its trademarks. The g from gOS and gPC means "green", as the computer uses an energy-efficient processor, but many people will associate it with Google.

The idea of a Google PC is not new and Google dismissed it in many occasions, but that doesn't stop Google from having distribution deals for its software with computer manufacturers like Dell. As web applications and browsers become more powerful and Internet becomes ubiquitous, the transition to the online software will seem natural.


{ Thank you, Milivella. }
at

21 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 1, 2007 at 11:39 AM

    the OS actually looks pretty good for such a cheap computer, but seriously the hardware design is absolutely terrible

    ReplyDelete
  2. daveNovember 1, 2007 at 3:01 PM

    but it won't run Quicken..

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownNovember 1, 2007 at 3:04 PM

    Cardave:

    Maybe not, but I bet it runs Wesabe.

    ReplyDelete
  4. D1mitriNovember 1, 2007 at 4:29 PM

    Maybe if it had a bigger hard drive, you could also use it as a seed/download computer and keep it on 24/7 in a green sorta way...
    Not like some computers I have... even if I just decide to keep it on for the Screen Saver. :(

    Good thing electricity is fairly cheap here, and plus it comes from water :P. Yay, Montreal (or Quebec, whatever)!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fred EakerNovember 1, 2007 at 5:44 PM

    It would be useful in an educational lab or a library.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Zijian ANovember 1, 2007 at 9:33 PM

    I think every internet cafe shops should be equipped with gOS machines.

    ReplyDelete
  7. PeterNovember 1, 2007 at 10:08 PM

    would make sense if they sold it with, you know, one of those things with the pictures of stuff on it.

    it'd also make more sense to just ship a laptop.

    ReplyDelete
  8. NicoNovember 1, 2007 at 10:46 PM

    The gOS website features the quote "An alternative OS with for the masses."

    Great proof reading there, no?

    Might give the o/s a strap on my old system to see how it goes.

    ReplyDelete
  9. milivellaNovember 2, 2007 at 2:52 AM

    Thank you, Ionut, for this great blog ;)

    milivella

    ReplyDelete
  10. SMNovember 2, 2007 at 6:07 AM

    As to this running Quicken or not, it's not Linux's or Google's fault.

    You can only blame Quicken for not developing for other operating systems. If they really believe in their product, they would want their product to be available to as many people as possible.

    Quicken--closed source, closed minds.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousNovember 2, 2007 at 6:32 AM

    This MIGHT be the system that finally convinces me to take on the responsibility to provide the equipment AND support to get my 91 year old Dad on the internet. The install will be inexpensive, and the ongoing support will be a heck of a lot easier than Windows...

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousNovember 2, 2007 at 7:07 AM

    First off, I have read many sites calling this a Google PC, but have heard nothing from Google either positive or negative. Essentially a little research shows they are just using Google apps within their distro. But one has to wonder how an unknown derivative of a Linux distro would be able to line up a deal with this PC manufacturer, and then they would be able to convince WalMart to sell this if there weren't some strings being pulled.

    I have also read of people saying they would never support this because it would be so much more difficult then Windows. I have had trouble with a number of distros on my 2-3 year old HP desktop, with a wireless Zyxel connection to the internet (FIOS) but Ubuntu 7.10 of which gOS is a derivative had no problem whatsoever. And all my hardware has been as recognized as anything on Windows.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Alex ChituNovember 2, 2007 at 7:27 AM

    This computer is not from Google, but it corresponds in many ways with Google's philosophy. It's cheap and eco-friendly, it uses Linux, open source software and links to web apps.

    ReplyDelete
  14. tekgemsNovember 2, 2007 at 2:28 PM

    I'm curious if any pirates will build a Windows XP custom CD for it that will have all the drivers pre-installed. I'm sure there will be a huge user base of cheap PCs, but not all will want to run Linux, nor want to pay to have Windows XP installed on these computers.

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousNovember 3, 2007 at 4:36 PM

    I think this computer may we used as a web server for light websites or as a network server.

    So, you get one server with an energy-efficient processor. I think is cheap.

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownNovember 3, 2007 at 7:00 PM

    I downloaded the development version of the gOS from http://www.thinkgos.com/downloads.html and it's pretty useable.
    booted fine on some older hardware, and yes, it's enlightnment and ubuntu under there. Combine this with the google gears capability to cache data and app code when you're offline, and I can see the beginnings of a web-ecosystem PC. Broadband (at least intermittent) would still be a requirement, but it's pretty useable. Now if I could only get my 60-year old mother onto broadband...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Bruce GeerdesNovember 6, 2007 at 9:36 AM

    Great proof reading there, no?

    Nico, I assume you meant "proofreading"? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousNovember 9, 2007 at 1:51 AM

    I already use Enlightenment on my old PC running on Ubuntu. For the record this PC is so old I can't even run XP on the poor dear, but with the above set up it kicks butt as a fast Linux Workstation/Web Server.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Infor-mixNovember 11, 2007 at 4:30 PM

    Oh-oh-oh-!!
    Google coming....

    I like it, very great news...

    Latest news about: http://googlepcnews.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousNovember 19, 2007 at 12:21 AM

    "so old I can't even run XP" ??

    That's not saying too much to a linux crowd. I can get you online on a 486 with no hard drive, if you're willing to use linux.

    The other poster is right. You have to wonder how a startup coming out of nowhere could possibly land such a huge deal that the established distros like Debian, OpenSUSE, Fedora, even RHEL couldn't get.

    Either google is behind it, or there is some behind-the-scenes support from the official Ubuntu channels. They HAVE had more commercial success with prepackaged systems that anyone else.

    WHY that is is beyond me....

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousMarch 3, 2008 at 9:10 PM

    I know very little about this system, but am always interested in a more efficent less expensive way to operate. Can you still access Word Docs that are emailed to you?

    ReplyDelete

New comments are not allowed.