Thursday, November 19, 2009

Google and Clouds

Today is a big "tech geek" day. I pretend to be a "tech geek" - but I am really not one. I know a little bit of stuff - just enough to sound impressive. It usually doesn't work. Anyway, the tech geek event of today is the Google's Chrome OS meeting being held in Mountain View, California. You know it has to be for real - look at the picture of the guys above who are in attendance.

From what I understand, Google Chrome is a web browser. Google Chrome OS is an operating system. The two real big competitors in this market currently are Microsoft and Apple. Microsoft has the bigger piece of the pie, but they are about it. The cute but informative video below explains how Chrome OS is faster and makes more sense now, because people, in general, are using their computers for the internet. When operating systems were first put into place, the internet was not in the forefront as it is now. That is why it takes so long to get onto the internet. Your computer still has to go through all the system checks for all of the other stuff that we only occasionally use. With Google Chrome OS - you are the internet and the internet is you. Your information and data is stored on the internet, and not on your "hard drive." I saw someone comment, "it's not stored on the internet - it is stored on Google servers." Ah - that is the catch. That "cloud" as they call it - where all of your stuff is stored - is stored in Google land. How will this effect privacy, security, etc? I really don't know - but truthfully - I don't think that there is really much left anymore anyway.

OK - take a look at the video and see what you think. Anything this cute can't be scary, right? Oh - and also - you can't download a Google Chrome Operating System - you have to buy a whole new computer.


I am including a video of something else that considers itself - cute, inventive, innovative, and what is "to come." Well, at least Mr. Google would probably hold up better to Katie Couric: