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Google OS "screenshot" - Courtesy generation-nt.com
A lot of rumors have been published on the Internet about the possibility of a Google operating system - it is becoming difficult to pick fact from fiction

There have been conflicting reports about whether or not Google will be releasing its own Linux desktop distribution.  The Register recently reported that Google will be releasing "Goobuntu," a Linux distribution based on the popular Ubuntu operating system.  Ars Technica countered The Register's article by citing a Google spokeswoman who said Google has no immediate plans to distribute an operating system.

Dozens of "leaked" screenshots have surfaced of Goobuntu, but Google rumors seem to be a dime a dozen these days.  The main proponents for a Goobuntu OS believe Google has already expressed interest in bundling and distributing a software enterprise a la Google Pack, but the opponents argue that Linux's licensing restrictions would ultimately make such a venture impossible.

Regardless of the outcome, it looks like "Goobuntu" is going to be a part of our lexicon for a while. 

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By hans007 on 2/1/2006 2:15:45 AM , Rating: 2
a google OS would legitimize ubuntu as an OS to the rest of the world. It would bring people to linux. it would unite open source.

yeah that is about all. It is support from a huge player.




RE: .
By Saist on 2/1/2006 2:35:13 AM , Rating: 2
Problem is, it wouldn't.

Ubuntu itself has been openly hostile to the Debian movement, often times intentionally breaking compatibility. Ubuntu's past has also been a large source of controversy over whether or not the Distrobutions in the DCCA should use Ubuntu kernel sources instead of sources provided by Mepis from Debian repositories ( http://www.mepis.org/node/8942 )

Google supporting Ubuntu officially would create a firestorm inside the Debian communities, and that's not even considering how the RPM based distrobutions would react.

No. It wouldn't unite open source, it'd just tick everybody off who already is heavily involved.

Now, Google joining the DCCA and distributing it's own Debian based system... that would probably be a much better turn out for the Debian Distros, although again RPM based distro's wouldn't be very happy.


RE: .
By Shining Arcanine on 2/1/2006 9:37:13 PM , Rating: 2
Chances are that if they are going to enter the OS market, they will want to make their own OS, and that means diverging paths from whatever they start off with rather than simply rebranding something. So if Google makes an OS, their development of it will not significantly help any open source community more than writing their own kernal from scratch would.


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