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Google fixes the "broken" PC

May 11 2011 08:26 PM | Mike in Media Center

It looks like Google wants to change the way we use our PCs. According to this article their new Chrome PC will eliminate the need for firewalls, anti-virus and updates.

It all works on the PC only running what is basically a web browser (surprisingly Chrome) and all you apps, files and so on are stored on the "cloud".

Is it just me, or is there something that doesn't sit easy with all your data being stored by some amorphous third party?

Am I just a paranoid ludite?

12 Comments

logifuse

May 11 2011 08:46 PM

It's just the logical expansion of Google Apps. I have similar concerns, but the flipside is that backup is taken care of - something that a frightening number of people overlook.

The other issue (in my book) with cloud based computing is that we don't have consistently fast broadband, so what do you do if your connection is stuffed? What if you set up to use Google Apps or this system in a location with good broadband, & then move your business to somewhere that happens to be at the end of the ADSL line?

Justin

arkay

May 11 2011 10:01 PM

The idea doesn't work for me. Even if we had decent broadband.

Just look what happened to Amazons cloud. It's like finances etc. No one is going to look after your stuff as well as you can/will.

This whole "cloud" thing is just a joke. Client/server and outsourcing has been around for an aweful long time along with remote data storage. It's amazing how the marketing people can take something that's been with us for years and years and turn it into a new salable product

Personally I can't see it ever taking off. Certainly not at a corporate level. It might for personal users but no corporation is going to allow it's sensitive data to be stored in the cloud unless they own the cloud and then it's just a remotre offsite in-house run server like we've always had... Cloud....Pfft. Marketeers looking for the "silver lining".. in their pockets.

Cheers,

Arkay.

TiggerK

May 12 2011 12:54 AM

Yep, I'm with arkay, the whole thing will evolve and younger generations will likely embrace it with their mobile lifestyles, but the majority of people, inc businesses are dead against it. Who do I call if I need my data or have an issue?? Umm, send an email... or talk to someone in India. Ah no thanks.

Every public security breach, such as dramas like Sony had recently make the concept seem even less trustworthy. Lets face it, it's all talk and hype about the supposed next big thing... cloud computing? Looks like rain.

Cheers
TiggerK

Edit: Oh and yes, I'm sure the hackers will find a virus for it soon enough....

DDH

May 12 2011 01:56 AM

Can I run bitTorrent on that cloud and then get my data streamed to me at a suitable rate to watch TV shows? Hmm, maybe I'll stick with the far lower communication cost and secure myCloud option - hang on, I'm already there

Mike

May 12 2011 12:54 PM

I'm not overly confident that Google's "do no evil" mantra is holding up too well either.

I've been following the stouch between Facebook and Google recently, and even though Facebook's petty (and clumsy) attempt to secretly stick it to Google has backfired on them, I also subscribe to the view that there's no smoke without fire.

If what I'm on about is gibberish to you, check out this post at the dailybeast for a summary of all the goings on.

Since the US FDC has already given Google plenty of grief on privacy issues, you have to wonder that since Google have shown themselves capable of using your email to profile you, what would be possible if they had access to the rest of your data?

I'm with you guys, the cloud is for those far less paranoid than me.

Mike

May 12 2011 03:27 PM

ROFLMAO - if the Facebook vs Google altercation interests you, take a look at this Techcrunch comment - http://techcrunch.co...wallowing-puke/

or in other words, how to destroy your company' s hard earned reputation in only 48 hours! :rolleyes:

spudstrawb

May 12 2011 04:32 PM

From the PR firm working for facebook

The American people must be made aware of the now immediate intrusions into their deeply personal lives Google is cataloging and broadcasting every minute of every day—without their permission.

Yeah right. I can see the argument, but young people today with facebook accounts do not operate in a private manner. Their "deeply personal lives" are invariably on show for anyone that has access to their facebook page.

GlenR

May 12 2011 05:34 PM

Yeah right. I can see the argument, but young people today with facebook accounts do not operate in a private manner. Their "deeply personal lives" are invariably on show for anyone that has access to their facebook page.

I must admit, this is an aspect of the "facebook culture" (for want of a better phrase) that I just don'r get. For hundreds of years mankind has fought for privacy - to keep some parts of their life only shred with a few intimate family/friends. There have been major civil uprisings regarding government/bureaucratic/corporate intrusion into tehse private realms, but now we see people willingly throwing all this out by putting everything onto the public noticeboard that is social networks. Bewildering!

Ben Elton wasn't far wrong in his book "Blind Faith".

GlenR

May 12 2011 10:55 PM

Well, the hype just gets better: Hate computers? Your world is about to change

What bilge. Just because the apps and data would be held somewhere else (how does one spell client-server?) doesn't mean things will be easier to use. I love this bit:

Certainly, if it ends the days of phoning "IT" to connect to a new printer, Google will win a legion of fans.

But will it really make computing effortless, when Apple, Microsoft and others say they all wish the same?

If every office worker or consumer takes up arms against the stroppy, counter-intuitive, bloody-minded software, the answer may just be yes.

Can someone tell me how moving to the "cloud" makes the software any less "stroppy, counter-intuitive, bloody-minded", surely that's the realm of whoever writes the code - wherever it is hosted. And this new world will just connect you automatically to the nearest, most applicable printer without "phoning IT"?

Do these journos just swallow the glossy brochures?

TJ_King

May 16 2011 05:40 AM

I can't see how it will ever work in a business world or even personally I guess. I either use my laptop in bed or on a work trip and then just like 90% of the other people I whip it out on the plane. Either the laptop or an MP3 player and with this new "cloud" streaming niether will work without internet. How about, heaven forbid, leaving a capital city and getting horrible wireless speeds. Good-luck to them but I'll keep all my data with me I think.

Morgazmo

May 17 2011 02:05 AM

Cloud computing is a great idea provided you don't rely on it for your sensitive or valuable information. Just because it's also a backup doesn't mean you shouldn't also have a copy locally for your own benefit. For on-the-go data where you are, provided the rates are reasonable I don't see the issue. Oh, and if privacy is your concern, you should get your head read. You're online. You have NO privacy. For anyone wanting a good read on the issue I can thoroughly recommend:

http://www.newyorker...currentPage=all

peace.

g@z

May 18 2011 02:23 AM

I find this launch and the lack of reaction to it amusing.

If you recall the anti trust case against Microsoft years ago (that I think ends tomorrow!). If I remember it correctly is was bought about by Microsoft's drive to make internet explorer the browser and kill off Netscape or any other competiton by doing things such as giving it away free, bundling it with every OS and writing it in such a way that it was a considered part of the OS and unable to be removed.

And they did all that becuase they saw the threat of Netscape doing exactly what Google have just done. No OS needed only a browser and everything is done within it.

So it's finally happened and no one seems to care.

Regards,
g@z.

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