Three positive views on Google
Jason Kottke points to, and expands on, a great artlcle by
Rich Skrenta about what Google can do with its huge hardware and software base linked to its collection of web content and use habits. Jason says "give everyone cheap hardware that uses Google as the OS".
A couple of months ago, I had a different proposal that Google simply replace Windows with a simpler and safer OS that has obvious links to the Googleverse. All three ideas play on a few concepts that people in the Wintel mentality have forgotten:
- Users want their daily tasks to be easier and safer
- Everyone likes free, particularly when it is replacing something that is costing them $50-$100
- People are perfectly willing to give up "privacy" for a better computing experience
Some folks will call Google "evil" for this. I couldn't disagree more. It's evil if you have to use it, or if it is foisted on you in a hidden fashion. It's brilliant if you get to choose and there are other options but everyone wants this one. I predict that, if Google continues on the current intellectual trajectory, everyone will want this one.
Posted by lookit at April 6, 2004 08:48 AM