Look how old this is! I post at SearchCommander.com now, and this post was published 15 years 7 months 26 days ago. This industry changes FAST, so blindly following the advice here *may not* be a good idea! If you're at all unsure, feel free to hit me up on Twitter and ask.
I thought it only fitting that I use my 500th blog post to say goodbye to Microsoft as they begin their slide into obscurity.
As innovative as Microsoft has been, and as influential as they were bringing a computer to nearly every desk in the world, I’ve long thought their days were numbered.
I won’t go into any of the reasons so many people despise Microsoft here, but in my mind, the countdown clock started ticking long ago on their lifespan, and the sprint to the finish started yesterday, with Google’s release of their “web browser” called Google Chrome.
Okay, I suppose it’s not exactly a sprint, but Google sure picked up the pace, and they’re not making any secret about the fact that this “browser” is destined to replace operating systems like Microsoft Windows.
I suspect that this sudden public release has something to do with CNN’s report that the new Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 may be blocking third party ads.
Most users wouldn’t likely take the time to learn how to block ads, but if Microsoft were to actually block the ads by default, then they could put a sudden and serious dent in Googles revenue stream.
This article on the Yahoo Business site today says this:
This represents Google’s long-anticipated head-on attack on Microsoft and its Internet Explorer…
and it says this –
Google co-founder Sergey Brin said Chrome was designed to address the shift to using software from within a Web browser rather than as locally installed computer applications running inside Microsoft Windows or some other operating system.
and finally, this –
Google believes any task done in a standalone desktop computer application can be delivered via the Web and Chrome is its bet that software applications can be run via a browser.
With nothing but an open source operating system and a web browser, Google believes it can change the world, and I think the smart money is on them.
I just went through a quick installation that was pretty painless. I downloaded Google chrome from here, and was greeted with this message –
Then in a few seconds, this window popped up –
I took a looks at the “additional options”, and was happy to see that it was NOT automatically prepared take over as my default browser, like some other company might do.Extra points for that, Google.
Moving forward I was told that I had to close my current browser Firefox, and then I instantly completed the bookmark importation process and opened up a pretty blank looking homepage.
A little bit of investigation and poking around a few webpages and seems that my bookmarks did not import. I’m not sure why, but nothing came over from Firefox. My bookmarks were empty.
Looking in the options of the browser, I see no way to manually import them either I’ve now found the bookmark import feature, so I’ll have to try again. Am I completely out of luck?
To be honest, I’m busy and don’t have the time to for its investigate it further right now, and for another thing, it didn’t import my passwords either, and I have work to do so I really can’t play around.
Perhaps over the weekend and I’ll get a chance to play with it more, but in the meantime, I just wanted to write this post quickly, and say farewell to Microsoft. It’s been fun at times, and frustrating at other times, but the race to control your desktop is really on now.
There is one great advantage to Chrome which, I believe is greatly understated. Chrome runs each instance of the browser in its own virtual memory space. This is going to pioneer a whole new wave of application devlopment.
Well, first Google has to make that Operating System. Second, Chrome needs to get a good plugins base, and then i will consider to forget Microsoft and Firefox. But i am pretty sure, that until that moment, i will much faster say hello to Apple’s Mac.
I agree with you. But not entirely.
I agree that actions of Google clearly demonstrate their will to dominate the world of IT in general.
But if you think that Microsoft will sit quietly and let that happened, you are dead wrong. There is a long road to world domination. Long and uncertain. I am saying that because the search, the spine of Google is not by any means, unbreakable.
I am not too sure I would like an OS by Google. The first reason is they tend to male ugly GUI’s. THE Google Chrome logo is the first nice thing they ever published. Second – there is this privacy issue that is always bothering a bit. I do use Gmail, and all, but an OS, with your private stuff on your PC?
Not too sure…
Guys, this is ridiculous! Google certainly captured the attention of a lot of users out there, but there is no real depth to the technology they have, period!
I have been a SW engineer for 20+ years and have watched the dominance of Microsoft over the Unix workstation market. I recall when Netscape attempted to leverage their dominance in the Internet, boosting that they will be Microsoft’s Vietnam but failed miserably as Microsoft ultimately crushed them to death!
I view Google as a real kick ass search engine with a few simplistic applications and it will take more than lots of $$$ to move the world off of the Windows, Mac OS, and Linux platforms.
Besides, their GUIs are ugly and look outdated right out of the box….
Well, first Google has to make that Operating System. Second, Chrome needs to get a good plugins base, and then i will consider to forget Microsoft and Firefox. But i am pretty sure, that until that moment, i will much faster say hello to Apple’s Mac.
The google os is android?
Yup I guess so – old post – you can buy a Chromebook for a while now!