Microsoft's Newest Worry: Cloud Computing From Google And Chrome

Posted by Barry Silverstein on November 20, 2009 12:10 PM

Microsoft scored a rare victory over Apple, basking in strong sales and positive reviews for its new Windows 7 operating system for PCs. But a new battle will pit not only old brand against new, but today's technology against tomorrow's.

Microsoft now has to worry about the rise of cloud computing, a wave Google intends to ride to the fullest, with its upcoming Chrome operating system.

The October 22 introduction of Windows 7 has been an unqualified success, says Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer. The company claims to have sold twice as many copies of Windows 7 as any previous operating system thus far. Indeed, Windows 7 has met with almost universal acceptance, especially after its predecessor, the disastrous Vista operating system, was fraught with technical problems.

Today, Windows 7 competes primarily with Apple's proprietary Mac (OS X), the latest version being Mac OS X Leopard. Apple has had a field day lambasting Microsoft's operating systems in its well-known ads featuring "Mac" and "PC," personified by a cool Mac user and a PC user who is, well, kind of a doofus.

But tomorrow's competition for Microsoft's operating systems (and Apple's, for that matter) is waiting in the wings. Yesterday, Google started "lifting the veil" on Chrome, an operating system that will allow computers to run programs via over the Internet and through a Web browser, an approach called cloud computing.

Google has good reason to go this route, of course, since it owns the world's most popular search engine.

Currently, Chrome exists only as a Web browser -- the Chrome operating system is still a year away. But it philosophically represents a whole new way of computing: While PC users today rely on cloud computing to access information over the Internet, user files still largely reside on the machine's hard drive. Google's approach is to have all programs and data stored on servers and available to each user via the Internet.

Google's vision is that "netbooks" will not need to run desktop applications in the future; rather, everything necessary will be served up online. Microsoft, on the other hand, thinks PCs and cloud computing will coexist.

A mythic battle is shaping up: Microsoft, the legacy brand with an enormous stake in the Windows desktop-based operating system, vs. Google, the Internet-age brand and proponent of cloud computing. This one should be huge.

More about: Tech, Microsoft, Windows 7, Apple, Google, Chrome, PCs, Cloud Computing

percy chow says:

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Honestly - Google is NOT known for the most robust UI design... yes even with it's LEGION of MFAs, MBAs, PHDs...design is not Google's strong point. And thus, it will need to pry away from Microsoft AND Apple, a user-base already familiar with those OS' as well as the LINUX users to boot.

Plus one thing not in favor of Google... a rising tide of anti-Googlism. People are already nervous about Google watching web habits... but how about watching the very documents one uses as well as the very computer you are working on?

Time will tell.

November 23, 2009 02:51 PM #

Gabirel Steinmann says:

I agree with Percy's comment. And I would add that, as a user, I am not entirely comfortable with the idea that in order to use my apps or retrieve my files I have to rely on the internet's operability. What if my internet connection goes down? Then I won't be able to complete any of my work.

November 25, 2009 06:50 PM #

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ey says:

One problem is the offline mode... as long as there is a need for users to work remotely, cloud computing will be limited. People say that virtual offices will be the future, I tend to not completely agree. There are just some limitations of virtual offices. Yes, virtual can make worlds smaller but face-to-face interaction is necessary to build trust and business relationships. Think of it this way... would you want to trust all your money management to some internet site or a person you can meet in person. Also, as long as there are security concerns, there will always be enterprises hesitant to go to the cloud. Especially if their infrastructure and firewalls are not top of the line... imagine having all of your confidential data on the same server as your competitor and your competitor was hacking into the server to get that information from you?

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The October 22 introduction of Windows 7 has been an unqualified success, says Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer. The company claims to have sold twice as many copies of Windows 7

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