Google phasing out Windows, switching to Mac & Linux

[Ed]

Our friends at TUAW have reported that Google are no longer renewing Windows licenses and are now taking the official line of offering employees a choice of either Mac or Linux OS only.

 

Despite recent tension between Google and Apple, it would appear that using Mac OS X is still preferable over the potential security flaws found in Windows. That said, it may only be a matter of time until the Mac itself becomes a bigger target for hackers as its market share gains.

[Intox]

Wise move from them, I would also think an organision like Google, wish such creativity would benifit more from an Apple Mac.

[ajmartin12]

Our friends at TUAW have reported that Google are no longer renewing Windows licenses and are now taking the official line of offering employees a choice of either Mac or Linux OS only.

 

Despite recent tension between Google and Apple, it would appear that using Mac OS X is still preferable over the potential security flaws found in Windows. That said, it may only be a matter of time until the Mac itself becomes a bigger target for hackers as its market share gains.

 

This makes sense for Google, it's company is all about innovation, using windows is a drag on the creative side of people. Also Window's security is real bad.

[PGHammer]

This makes sense for Google, it's company is all about innovation, using windows is a drag on the creative side of people. Also Window's security is real bad.

 

If you're referring to XP, you have a case (by default, XP has lousy security, and pre-XP versions of Windows are mostly even worse). The problem (by comparison) with Vista in particular wasn't that the security was weak (it wasn't, not by default), but that it was intrusive due to most users being used to the laxity of XP security. (It's like going from a receptionist to armed security guards and a metal detector - if you're used to the bored receptionist, the guards and metal detector are going to be off-putting.) Unless someone else (as opposed to the individual user) is going to do the installs of Linux or OS X (and then you have the real possibility of a "Golden Gate situation") that is thoroughly vetted, then you had best hope that the users at Google aren't like typical computer users (easy-to-guess passwords and a heavy reliance on security-through-obscurity).

 

While OS X isn't a big target for hackers *yet*, the miniscule marketshare (compared to even Linux, let alone Windows) is a big reason for that. (Why do you think terror groups target the United States? It's more newsworthy to target the Doberman than the toy poodle. The comparison is that of market share/mind share; I wouldn't want to hork off a toy poodle, either - a stealth defender with a real bite!) If *we* have discovered OS X, you had best believe that those with a lot more nastier plans in mind have discovered it as well. (The same applies to Linux; it has largely remained safe due to its heavy fragmentation - an attack that may work on one distribution won't on another. But will it remain that way?)

[a.kindle2008]

Our friends at TUAW have reported that Google are no longer renewing Windows licenses and are now taking the official line of offering employees a choice of either Mac or Linux OS only.

 

Despite recent tension between Google and Apple, it would appear that using Mac OS X is still preferable over the potential security flaws found in Windows. That said, it may only be a matter of time until the Mac itself becomes a bigger target for hackers as its market share gains.

 

Glad to hear this. Apple will definitely give Google more creativity and a better innovative advantage. I can only imagine what kind of phone would come to the world of technology if Google and Apple came together.

 

Thanks for sharing.