Google Pack Scores a Near-Miss

Generally, I did’t understand the perspective you were commenting the new Google initiative from. Google is trying to create a piece in a software puzzle, which could be useful to users and is actually missing in Windows especially.
You’re complaining, that Google is not targeting other platforms with this initiative. I really believe, that for example packages mantained by Linux and BSD distributions have long enough history in Free OS world that no one would need Google Pack there to install and update programs.

It’s another story, that Google products support only Windows platform, what could change when Google becomes succesful at Windows market. It really seems to me that they want provide Windows user with something that comes with each distribution of OS in Linux/BSD world

You miss the point. Google’s road to riches was paved with Linux Free Software. How crass is it to build your empire on a community effort then spit in their faces by ignoring some basic needs. Yeah, yeah…summer of code…I’m getting sick of hearing it. So far it has been a well publicized flop. Where is Google Earth for Linux…Google Desktop?

All I see is an extended middle finger.

helios

If Google had committed to rolling out an OS independent Google Pack, complete with a good Office pkg, Gramma would be walking out of Walmart with a *nix box in her shopping cart. *nix community market share would have soared, attracting more developers, more user, more developers and more users. In response, Redmond would accelerate product development, possibly even upgrading strategy from “Me too” to “Myself also.” Now *that* would have been the shot heard around the world. On the other hand, Google Pack is Yet-Another-Sop for the Windows desktop… And evil. (You *did* see that the thing includes RealPlayer and Norton AntiVirus, didn’t you?)

I think the reality of all this is the fact that most experienced computer users like Mac, Linux and even Amiga users wouldn’t be sold on this stuff. I kind came up with a term for this stuff; “fluffware”. Most Windows users are new to computing and seem to like this sort of stuff (fluffware) whereas other type computer users sort of ignore it like they would ignore a door-to-door salesman trying to sell them something they don’t need. Experienced computer users are more than happy with the basic necessities and don’t want anymore distractions in their computing life than what is necessary; so the Google Pack would probably fail beyond the world of Windows. Not because there is not enough non-Windows users out there, but because “fluffware” would be unappealing to that demographic.

I think the interesting question is, why would beginning users find this appealing? A bundle of unrelated software, with no integrated features, that was often tricky to install, configure, and use to begin with? The irony is, only advanced users would even find this worth the discussion we’re spending on it. Beginners would (rightfully) lose interest and fall asleep before they even got around to installation. And $2 rentals compared to $2 owning on iTunes compared to — well, TV and Netflix which you’re already paying for anyway and conveniently has no DRM and works where you want to see it on your TV?

One word: flop.

And the “we’re not evil” battle isn’t even worth discussing. More like Google’s soon-to-be new reputation, “we’re all hype.” Good thing their email and search still rock — now get back to work on those, guys.

When Windows security breaches make the headlines in the morning papers and on the evening news, you could surmise that the general public is aware. Maybe they don’t care yet, but they’ve heard about it. By not offering a Windows alternative, Google may have missed a great opportunity.