“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.
Google is dead to me.
I used to like them but they have become sleazy.
They are spreading themselves too thin with too many projects.
If they come out with their own phone running Adroid do you think any other phone maker will want Android?
@right
Old man, apparently you forgot Apple’s specs and prices.
Bottom line – manufacturers and carriers slave over a “free” OS from Google to inundate the landscape with cheap netbooks at ever narrower margins, while Google reaps all the profit through ads and services sold “in app” directly to the netbook owners. Sounds like a great business plan.
Ever had a really rich relative or friend who, instead of being the most generous hosts, always go dutch with you on every occasion, and even schemes to take advantage of you in every business deal? That is what it’s like to partner with the the big boys. The only industry leader with any sense of honor is Mr. Jobs.
@acid
Had a friend of a friend that said their parents would rip napkins in half when placing them on the table. Yet they were ridiculous rich.
I’m not rooting for Google. A future of cloud computing with Google controlling everything sounds bad, despite their “Don’t be evil”. One maybe with totalitarianism, discrimination, surveillance, a 1984.
I’m not so sure this is going to hurt Apple as much as it will Microsoft. Apple doesn’t play in the same pool as the “netbook” crowd and probably never will. Who knows?
I think if you look at the big picture this might mean instead that the smaller PC’s get replaced in the market first. From there who knows?
“I know what I’m talking about”
Really? Then how come your comments are delusional? Were you tired of being right and wanted to know what it felt like to be wrong for once?
If so, good job. If not, please check in to rehab before the drugs fry your brain any harder.
look at the title again…
they’re not making a netbook. they’re just branding one (zune).
literally, what they’re doing is trying to get the specs for someone elses PC, and then slapping an android logo on it.
NOT A BIG DEAL. probably takes weekend to slap that together.
GooPad with WINGS!!
I guess they got the idea from the same ad agency that came up with the idea of advertising monistat7 on woman’s sunglasses.
To sum up what all of you have been saying:
You can wear a long sleeve mock-turtleneck sweater, a blue Levi’s jeans, a pair of New Balance 992s, a rimless round glasses, shave your head almost bald!
But you’re not going to be as good as Steve Jobs!
Just a few years ago I thought (given my age), that I’d never live long enough to see any tangible competition in the OS market place. Then I started to be wrong when Apple began doing all of the correct things – and then the sleeping masses began to awaken out of their life threatening stupor.
But the possibility of real competition in this unique market place is yet to be, and if Google has half the firepower they’re leading us all to believe they do, then we just might have the beginnings of some real product competition.
Think of it: three, for-real, actual, honest-to-goodness competitors. (Sorry, nothing personal against Linux – it’s good, it’s fine, but it’s not real competition material – nor do I believe it’s trying to be.) I honestly never thought I’d see the day when there would be any actual competition against MS; then Apple came back – now Google. I think I’m getting excited. For the record, it’s going to take something pretty seriously innovative to drag me away from my Mac, but it’s reassuring for me to know that someone’s going to at least try… It’ll keep Apple on it’s toes, and MS… Well, who knows about MS.
@right
You’re a dumbass and warrant no response. Look up total cost of ownership. MDN has plenty of examples.
@Tiger Leopard “…warrant no response. Look up total cost of ownership.”
So why did you respond? The problem is that you are both right. TCO does favour the Macs, but their quality comes at a price…
@HolyMackerel
I couldn’t help myself…
Come back when WinBlows can actually USE 4 gigs of RAM. And when MS figures out how to integrate their 32 and 64 bit OSes.
What a maroon!