Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS • Hacker News Board

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#31

Post by RK » Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 10:10 PM UTC

I know that Google says that GCOS is "aimed at Netbooks", but I'm sure that that's supposed to be just the initial target platform. So I think that the criticism that the netbook market is so small as to be meaningless will turn out to be moot.

Also, the precedent for this is probably the SplashTop and the (upcoming) Crunchpad.

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#32

Post by charlesju » Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 10:11 PM UTC

omnipresent1 wrote: post #5

some of it actually makes sense. how is google going to make money from this?

1. Google owns the internet; search makes money, e-mail makes money, reader makes money, any website that uses AdSense makes money.

2. If there is more internet usage, Google makes more money.

----

Additionally, Google has a bunch of cool things that it wants to do but it can't because Javascript is a gimp piece of junk at the moment.

The more power Google gets, the harder it can push for its features.

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#33

Post by pavelludiq » Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 10:14 PM UTC

mingyeow wrote: post #17

For people who hate this article, can you please share why you hate it instead of just saying it sucks? It was meant to stir things up obviously, but I thought that the various points brought up were really valid.

It uses cheap humor to badly comunicate its point, however valid it may be. So although i agree with some of the points, its my believe that at least on HN sending your message in a non trollish and reasonable(and yes, boring for a 14 year-old) way, is just as important as being rational and intelligent. Im a cynical jerk myself most of the time, but i avoid sharing my spicy personality on HN, because i KNOW that it gets in the way of good conversation, even though i don't take myself seriously(and i know the author doesn't either). See, a lot of the comments(including my two) on the submission are not about his points, but about his controversial delivery, and THAT is not good for HN.

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#34

Post by greendestiny » Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 10:20 PM UTC

omnipresent1 wrote: post #5

some of it actually makes sense. how is google going to make money from this?

If they let Apple and Microsoft control how people connect to the internet one day they might see themselves superseded. This is a first move into making linux more acceptable to the consumer and maybe keeping the desktop the way they want it.

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#35

Post by dannyr » Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 10:25 PM UTC

I wasn't sure if this is article should be taken seriously.

He pointed out that Google is targeting netbooks. He himself stated 11 million netbooks were sold last year and will be 39 million this year. The netbook category is a growing market that it would probably account to a substantial share in a few years.

Another is that "Chrome is shit." He probably has never used Chrome. I used the browser exclusively now unless I have a need to use Firebug in which I use Firefox instead.

I guess he's trying to be funny but he fell way short.

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#36

Post by darwinw » Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 11:11 PM UTC

enomar wrote: post #11

"Because Chrome is shit. Just utter, utter shit. I mean they've got all these big brains at Google and you'd think they could make a decent fucking browser. Jesus, the freetards at Mozilla can do it. But not Google. Nope. They gave it their big best effort and what did they come up with? Chrome. It's a joke." Seriously? Maybe I'm missing the satire or hyperbole here, but I really don't see it that way. Chrome on Wind…

Chrome has become my default browser, second place is Firefox. and i've seen increase in chrome share in my site, up from 3% to 7% for the past 6 months.

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#37

Post by jacquesm » Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 11:35 PM UTC

gaius wrote: post #10

sjs382 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By driving more eyeballs to the web and away from desktop apps.

Really ? So you'll be working away, on your document or your spreadsheet, or you'll be playing a game, and some ad will pop up, and off you go, zero attention span? Why would anyone want that? $50 on your Netbook isn't much if it means you hand your thesis in on time...

lately youtube has been inserting overlays on top of playing videos, a highly annoying feature. If they ever do that to google docs there will be a mass exodus.

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#38

Post by akkartik » Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 11:47 PM UTC

mingyeow wrote: post #17

For people who hate this article, can you please share why you hate it instead of just saying it sucks? It was meant to stir things up obviously, but I thought that the various points brought up were really valid.

The biggest point in my mind:

"You also may not have noticed, but nobody uses Chrome. I mean think about it. Do you know anyone who uses Chrome? Really?"

Aside from the stat-based argument (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=694756): I've been repeatedly surprised by the non-technical people around me who are on Chrome. My girlfriend downloaded it literally the day it came out, when I had read just a blog post or two about it. My parents, various friends' parents, the list just goes on and on, and none of them are nerds. It's startling how effortlessly Chrome has permeated public consciousness.

I don't hate the article, but I think fake steve jobs has jumped the shark.

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#39

Post by jodrellblank » Wed, Jul 08, 2009, 11:48 PM UTC

Microsoft is shipping Windows 7 without a web browser in the EU, after several years of legal fuss largely because they bundled a browser with their OS.

I wonder if Google will consider shipping Chrome OS without a web browser in the EU?

Re: Fake Steve Jobs on Chrome OS

#40

Post by concretecode » Thu, Jul 09, 2009, 12:06 AM UTC

It always amazes me how the best social commentary comes from those who have the least to lose. Without the artificial constraint of professionalism (or, I guess, the need to be factually accurate), Lyons somehow manages to be more honest and credible, not less.

Take his Fake Steve piece on the Microsoft-Yahoo merger: http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/2008/02/ballmer-im-completely-... which I felt was the most succinct and insightful piece on the subject from any journalist.