HP Netbooks with Android possible in the near future

...anything Google touches is automatically wonderful and desirable. Bleh.

I agree with the bleh part. Google to me is neither wonderful nor desirable.

Google has done more than any other company I know of to empower linux users and give them a place at the table with the more pedestrian, mainstream windoze users.

What's your beef with google exactly?

How about their own hypocrisy? Their motto used to be "Don't be evil," but in the wake of their deal with the Chinese Communist Party, they had to wipe that off their website. But their own search cache retained it for a while.

http://gus3.typepad.com/photos/googles_shame/googlesshame.ht...

a warning sign ? : http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/118256/index.html

First there was Microsoft...then there was Google.

On the other hand, "Android" DOES seem to be a decent "consumer"-oriented user interface, very well suited for things like netbooks (and "smartphones", of course). While I think it's a stretch to consider Android deviced "Linux devices" (since it's really "Java" with that just happens to be running atop a hard-to-get-to Linux), at least such devices are ideal candidates for re-installation with a REAL Linux UI, and no Microsoft tax is getting paid for it.

Ah, I see. You dislike google because they didn't fight for the rights of the Chinese dissidents... as opposed to all other corporations, which have of course been pouring all their resources into the fight against oppressive governments. oh, wait... damn.

I dislike google because of their rampant invasion of privacy, and abuse of all the data they collect and use as they please, without transparency or accountability.

@tc -

Can you elaborate on the invasion of privacy?

Do you have evidence of the abuse of data?

Not challenging you, just genuinely curious.

In addition to what TC said (and I'd have to spend some time to dig up supporting links), gus3 is absolutely right. Google has been accused of political bias and delivering output based on that bias on a number of issues. The first accusation was the one gus3 referred to, being sympathetic to the Chinese government and unsympathetic to Tibetans. The second was a strong pro-Palestinian bias and being hostile towards Israel. The second charge resulted in Google changing the way users can add things to Google Maps and at least acknowledging there was an issue. Some may remember my articles on that issue for O'Reilly. Those are the two most prominent examples but there are others. It isn't what side they are taking on various issues but the fact that they are taking sides at all that is most disturbing.

Google has set itself up as a source of supposedly unfiltered knowledge delivered through algorithms that are above politics and tampering. History and various reporters have demonstrated that it just isn't true.

Google needs to have effective competition. In search engines and in online global mapping they do not. Monopolies are bad enough. Monopolies with their own agenda are decidedly dangerous.

Just look at the Gmail TOS at http://mail.google.com/mail/help/intl/en/privacy.html

"Gmail stores, processes and maintains your messages, contact lists and other data related to your account in order to provide the service to you."

Processes? How do they process it? Oh, right, it's what Google does best, crawling and searching. The easy way to opt-out is not to sign up. The not-so-easy way is to enforce GPG on all your Gmail messages, but one slip-up from a friend and it all goes out the window.

And note, Gmail is still "beta" according to the logo on the linked page. That essentially absolves them of any responsibility for what they do, or fail to do, with your messages.

@caitlyn

Quoting: The second was a strong pro-Palestinian bias and being hostile towards Israel.

ouch - didn't know about that one...

Quoting:Google needs to have effective competition.

Can't argue with that. What I have trouble with is this idea that because google needs competition, we've got to hand the world over to microsoft on a silver platter. Yuck.

@herzeleid: Here are links to my articles on Google Earth:

http://news.oreilly.com/2008/08/google-earth-delivers-geogra...

The follow-up (changes at Google Earth):

http://news.oreilly.com/2008/09/change-to-google-earth-requi...

Note that two years of public outcry and unflattering news stories didn't force the change. Lawsuits being filed was what turned the issue. My stories are full of links to other sources which can give you more detailed information if you wish. Also note that I did approach Google for comment.

There have been similar complaints about Google News on both the China/Tibet and Israel/Palestinian issues, both in terms of what stories they choose to deliver and which news organizations (or in some case dubious propaganda organizations) Google chooses to include or exclude from the Google News feeds.

Can't argue with that. What I have trouble with is this idea that because google needs competition, we've got to hand the world over to microsoft on a silver platter. Yuck.

I don't think it's an either-or choice. I think there are plenty of other alternatives that can be strengthened.

@caitlyn - that was en eye opener - thanks for the links.

You are very welcome. I believe what I reported and the similar reports on the China/Tibet issue are merely the tip of the iceberg. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Google chose sides in certain domestic political issues as well.