Google plans to make PCs history

Archived from the original Sajha.com — preserved as posted, replies can no longer be added here.

Archived Post

Google plans to make PCs history http://www.guardian.co.uk/tech... Industry critics warn of danger in giving internet leader more power David Smith, technology correspondent The Observer, Sunday 25 January 2009 Article history Google. Photograph: Guardian Google is to launch a service that would enable users to access their personal computer from any internet connection, according to industry reports. But campaigners warn that it would give the online behemoth unprecedented control over individuals' personal data. The Google Drive, or "GDrive", could kill off the desktop computer, which relies on a powerful hard drive. Instead a user's personal files and operating system could be stored on Google's own servers and accessed via the internet. The long-rumoured GDrive is expected to be launched this year, according to the technology news website TG Daily, which described it as "the most anticipated Google product so far". It is seen as a paradigm shift away from Microsoft's Windows operating system, which runs inside most of the world's computers, in favour of "cloud computing", where the processing and storage is done thousands of miles away in remote data centres. Home and business users are increasingly turning to web-based services, usually free, ranging from email (such as Hotmail and Gmail) and digital photo storage (such as Flickr and Picasa) to more applications for documents and spreadsheets (such as Google Apps). The loss of a laptop or crash of a hard drive does not jeopardise the data because it is regularly saved in "the cloud" and can be accessed via the web from any machine. The GDrive would follow this logic to its conclusion by shifting the contents of a user's hard drive to the Google servers. The PC would be a simpler, cheaper device acting as a portal to the web, perhaps via an adaptation of Google's operating system for mobile phones, Android. Users would think of their computer as software rather than hardware. It is this prospect that alarms critics of Google's ambitions. Peter Brown, executive director of the Free Software Foundation, a charity defending computer users' liberties, did not dispute the convenience offered, but said: "It's a little bit like saying, 'we're in a dictatorship, the trains are running on time.' But does it matter to you that someone can see everything on your computer? Does it matter that Google can be subpoenaed at any time to hand over all your data to the American government?" Google refused to confirm the GDrive, but acknowledged the growing demand for cloud computing. Dave Armstrong, head of product and marketing for Google Enterprise, said: "There's a clear direction ... away from people thinking, 'This is my PC, this is my hard drive,' to 'This is how I interact with information, this is how I interact with the web.'"

bikash kc · Jan 25, 2009 11:07 PM · 21,393 views

11 Replies

Although not so radical theory, since there already were sites offering spaces, this will indeed change the computing model. However, I doubt that we won’t need desktop just yet. Primarily because of the limitations imposed by bandwidth.   A desktop doesn’t only give you a storing space, among other important functions it also provides you the processing capacity and memory. This is required to run any program in a client ware even if the program resides in the server end (Gware). Assume that you want to run a microsoft word program from your Gware computer. First of all, with the present technology, you would require an office program in your computer. Say, even that is solved by having the program in Gware server and you access it via internet, similar to Google Documents. A program of such extensive capabilities would require a heavy bandwidth usage, currently limited by our internet connections. Unless Google addresses this section, I don’t see us moving from desktop completely to a Gware system   DWI

DWI · Jan 26, 2009 9:46 AM

I read about this about 2 years ago. Lets see what google got to offer. Eagerly waiting. Thanks for the post! vyrus

vyrus · Jan 26, 2009 10:19 AM

This will be huge Failure. Google Sucks

Hoowdy · Jan 26, 2009 10:22 AM

Why does Google suck? please explain. likewise I can simply state. GOOGLE ROCKS!

dekchidriver · Jan 26, 2009 1:42 PM

Google is an evil now, it has all your informations and can do anything they want. There should be some privacy dude. There is no privacy in your email also. Any employee of Google can see anybody's email too.

Hoowdy · Jan 26, 2009 1:59 PM

Welcome to "information age"!! This idea of remote computing was entertained by many including Microsoft and if Google succeeds I will be supporting it. As far as privacy goes I am sure it will be addressed, if this project becomes a reality. I am eagerly waiting, all the power to Google! I would love it!!

shiv · Jan 26, 2009 7:52 PM

Well if a google employee finds out that I wrote an email to my dear friend telling him to bring the Java text book to class tomorrow, I wouldnt mind. :) But the plethora of wonderful innovations/inventions that cloud computing could possibly bring is just too good to pass up on :).. just my thoughts.. I support google:) Ever since their appearance they've had nothing but the BEST products.

dekchidriver · Jan 26, 2009 8:00 PM

this is a very good idea. already there are companies offering online drive services, even microsoft is in the game. these companies spend a lot of resources backing up our data in most cases for free. I use the microsoft live mesh and I think it is great. I don't pay a single penny and it is secure.

raaz_ · Jan 26, 2009 10:38 PM

come what may! google is going to be the super-power of IT

bikash kc · Jan 27, 2009 1:00 PM

del   Last edited: 30-Jan-09 01:14 PM

GP · Jan 27, 2009 6:43 PM

Hey everybody, read this http://discuss.joelonsoftware....  

Hoowdy · Jan 28, 2009 5:16 PM

This conversation is preserved exactly as it was on the original Sajha.com and can't accept new replies.

Start a New Discussion