“If true, it would mean that Google and Apple are set to compete yet again, this time in the hardware and software PC business,” Marsal reports. “The latest rumor is just more evidence of why Google CEO Eric Schmidt was forced to resign from the Apple Board of Directors in August, as the two companies face off with competing browsers, phones and, in the future, operating systems.”
Marsal reports, “According to TechCrunch, sources claim Google has talked to at least one PC maker ‘about building a netbook for Google directly.’ The talks supposedly went as far as Google making a request for proposal with ‘quite detailed technical specifications.’ Discussions about building the low-cost netbook are said to be taking place already.”
Marsal reports, “It was the announcement of Chrome OS that proved to be the final straw for Schmidt’s presence on the Apple board.”
Full article here.
Hm. After having Schmidt on Apple’s board, instead of a sleazy advertising company, Google now wants to make an iconic and cool line of hardware and the software to run it.
Go ahead. It’s not that easy.
Cool.. Wonder if they’ll charge $1200 – $2000 for last years hardware, A “Huge” 160 Gig HDD, and barely enough RAM to start the OS… Oh wait, Apple already does that.
All accusations of Schmidt being a slimy untrustworthy back stabbing mole and spy are now official reality.
With these kind of ethics Google may become the new Microsoft but can any user in their right mind trust them or even consider loyalty to a company that thinks nothing of blatantly stealing information and putting it to work regardless of the personal trust that was extended to Schmidt?
I don’t think so…Can you trust Google???- Poll
Google = Micro$oft
GDN, where I come for Google Daily News apparently…
I’m not down with all this grousing about Google copying Apple or E.S. being a slime back copycat.
I don’t want to see my Apple stock damaged but Google is innovating, not copying.
Their Chrome OS is nothing like Mac OS, it’s totally a web based thing.
The Google phone is not a copy of iPhone and it won’t be tied exclusively to the fuktards at AT&T;.
Google has found a way to make a bunch of empowering stuff we get to use basically for free while advertisers pick up the tab.
Personally, I really like Google. Maybe Apple should take note and copy them?
Peace and happy holidays fellow mac lovers
I don’t care if they are. They can keep the damn thing because I don’t want it anyway, sight unseen.
@Right:
Who pissed in your crib this morning?
We’ve gone through this a billion times on this site, so as you’re new, cost out -spec for spec- and come back.
Until then, don’t wet the bed again, OK?
Google rocks. The open source revolution is here. They will buy out soon to be ailing Apple within 3 years. Google Calendar it! Happy Holidays!
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I take my hat off to the Android/Google phone and how it puts everyone but Apple to shame with it’s abilities in such a short time, but I can run Unix with a browser and an app store with MacOS X or Ubuntu 9.10 so who wants ChromeOS even if it us free?
If true, it sure sounds like Google has seen that Apple’s model is the model to emulate (software and hardware, tightly controlled).
And if they do Chrome right, I’d give them a decent chance of grabbing some healthy share of the low-end hardware market, while putting more hurt on Microsoft.
Google is simply replacing Microsoft in the consumer market by going for the lowest common denominator of customers who want something for nothing, according to the Dell model. The strategy has changed slightly because big business computer sales probably will not subsidize software development as it did at Microsoft, but advertising sales will. By not chaining their software to rigid business-sale requirements, Google is also able to raise the overall quality level of the lowest common denominator.
As long as Apple is able to innovate in ways that people who want quality and are willing to pay for it appreciate, Google is not much of a threat.
There is a well-written article by Daniel Eran Dilger on roughlydrafted.com today that discusses this issue in detail.
I recently had to evaluate some Netbooks for a client who wanted to purchase 3000 for his sales trainers. They do offer some advantages but they are very slow and the small screen is often difficult to read. I advised the client that his money would be better spent on the upcoming tablet from Apple and thus they are waiting. If the Apple tablet does what Netbooks can do with a great Apple experience you can kiss Netbooks bye
Apple’s model is a good one to follow… yet, M$ is doomed (too pale of a copy).
Google is a great company in many respects and other than Apple there is no one that even comes close to understanding what a good user experience is all about.
I would even say that Apple and Google rule tech.
Steve Jobs and Eric Schmidt had a personal and mutually trusting relationship and Schmidt was invited to join Apple’s board by Jobs. Google worked very closely with Apple for a long time and when Schmidt was brought out on the when iPhone was announced, he quipped about calling the company that would form “when Apple and Google merged” AppleGoog…
He was privy to first hand confidential business information in while on Apple’s board of directors that no doubt steered him to push Google into the lucrative retail world of hardware and software combined…
I wonder how much value he puts on the personal trust Jobs had in him and how scrupulous he is in his ethics – time will tell, but upon first instinct, he’s a snake.
Let’s see:
Google software/hardware combination going up against an
Apple software/hardware combination.
Gee, I wonder who will win that contest.
It’ll be a real white knuckle time for all of us. I’m in suspense. Are you?
<sarcasm off>
Google has delusions of grandeur.
“We’ve gone through this a billion times on this site, so as you’re new, cost out -spec for spec- and come back.”
Son, I forgot more about hardware in the last 2 minutes than you will ever know… I’m sure you’ve been through this a billion times On this site, … Of course, If Apple came out with a 486 computer with 128 Meg and a 40 Gig HDD drive for $2000, people like you would rush to buy one because it’s so “elegant”… I bet you’d tell me it looked “delicious”, would you… Do you “skate to where the puck it going to be” big boy????
You price it out “Spec for Spec”.. I know what I’m talking about.. Apple sales overpriced junk from a year or two ago.. PERIOD!! Hey but I’m glad to see that Apple got rid of the “COMBO DRIVE” last year (everyone else hasn’t used a non DVD burning drive in years)!!!!! Is 4 GIG of RAM going to be standard in all Apple computers this year, or do you think they will wait until 2011… I love the BIG 160 GB HDD’s!!! And how about those fantastic video cards that they use!! Blu-Ray – It’s a “Bag of Hurt”….
You do the research, I already know what I’m talking about – although I doubt anyone would agree “On this site” – – – – Here’s Steve Jobs could offer a left nostril inhaler for $5000 and you guys would wait a week in line to buy it!
Outside of Apple, Google is my next favorite tech company. I welcome innovation from them. Maybe it will cause Apple to lower their outrageous prices on items like the Mac Pro.
The combination of Apple, Google and Linux are slowly squeezing the life out of Microsoft. I love it.
Google is like the Bush White House.
A Giant Super Ego, with an Inferiority complex and a World Domination Fetish, complicated by having the attention span of a 2 year old hyped up on Sugar and Caffeine with a parent that doesn’t know how to discipline a child.
Once Google Brands it’s sheep and claims their personal data has their own private data who will have the Stones to stop them? The US government? NO!, The EU? NO! No one will have the Stones to stop them. Google is as evil as Microsoft is now and getting to the point of where Microsoft was at it’s height of evil and law breaking.
So it’s Schmidt trying to copy Jobs. Sorry, they’re just not even on the same planet.
Hmmmm….what bridge did “Right” come out from under? Sounds like somebody’s Windows7 POS crashed this morning and he has to take it out on somebody.
@Right:
“Son, I forgot more about hardware in the last 2 minutes than you will ever know…“
Really? Prone to hyperbole much…?
Why do you come to a Mac news site… is it so you can impress us with your massive intellect.
Works for me.
@Right
Well Pops, since you’ve forgotten more than any of us ever knew, help me out. here. If Macs are so overpriced compared to PC’s, why are their sales up and the PC market down?
@ Rich Apple person – What’s the release date of those Apple tablets? Better yet, what Apple tablets? Axiotron Modbook. Now, there’s a real product you can put your hands on right now.
I, for one, am excited about the Google Netbook. I hope their ChromeOS is solid, stable and fun to use. I love the idea of the netbook form factor but I don’t want one with Windows or Ubuntu, etc. I have considered a hackint0shed Dell but really I want an elegant solution designed top to bottom like what is rumored in this article. I also hope they take some design cues from our beloved Apple. If they do this right, they could have the iPod of the netbook market. Since Apple doesn’t seem interested in netbooks, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Google.
It will look like a 10″ MacBook/MacBook Pro/MacBook Air.