So Robert Scoble says Google Chrome has already won.
What he is missing is that he's standing alone with Google on a field that no one is playing on yet.
Google definitely is playing a different game. It's the only game they can play. And make no mistake Scoble, it is all about killing Microsoft, Apple and anyone else who tries to get in their way.
Despite all of Google's success in search and cataloging mankind's digital assets, there is a problem. You see, there's too much of it now – content that is. And quite frankly, What Happened is far less interesting than What's Happening. That's why we've all gone GaGa over Twitter – but not as GaGa as Lady GaGa tonight on the AMA's – what was that all about? But I digress…
Twitter. The Social Graph. The Human Search Engine. Yes, there is a new game in town but it's a game we're all playing. The integration of the web into the fabric of society, our lives…what we do – has arrived. Google, for all it does, for all the revenue it generates – for all of its applications that so many us (myself included) cannot do without – Google is on the outside looking in. Staring in through the gates of the Twitterverse, LinkedIn and FaceBook at “What's Happening”. Goggle is becoming a walled garden in a sense. What's that you say? Google Wave? Sure, its “geek cool”, but my wife, sister-in-law, friends, retailers – in fact almost every professional I know are putting down roots in one of the “mighty triad” of Twitter, Linked In and Facebook.
You said it yourself Robert – You don't use your Google reader anymore – Twitter lists are our new “shiny toy”. We are so fickle aren't we? (Note, I said We – I am well footed in the fickle camp!)
Sure Robert, I love the idea of a low-cost computer that is instant-on and connects me to my online assets and persona's. Bring it on, I'll be first in line to snap one up. You'll probably be right in front of me. But you're forgetting something. Not everyone is like us Robert.
Everyone else has already found their mobile voice-data-work & play-do-it-all – it's called their phone. Google knows that, and that's why they are coming on strong with Android. And impressively at that.
But Chrome OS? Who wants that? Maybe you and me and a healthy slice of other early adopters. But everyone else? Randall is right. People want more from their full-keyed-computers. They want a real OS – to do what it is they need to do, while they intertwine that activity with their online persona's and activities.
You made the very mistake you accused Randall of. You said who will want “…a heavyweight OS like Windows 7 that takes me 40 seconds to boot up….” How can you judge Windows 7 based on today's performance benchmark and yet declare Chrome OS victorious on the super cheap, super fast Google OS bundled hardware of Christmas 2010? How does that make any sense Robert?
Just like what the Buzz Out Loud crowd said about the Apple Tablet, Chrome OS is a Unicorn. Hype without Steve Jobs magic.
Let's see what the playing field is like on November 22, 2010. In the meantime, I'm off to tweet about this post, and engage with the social web. Do not stop at google.com, do not pad the pockets of the Google lackeys. Don't get me wrong, I love much of what Google has brought us. But as you said, the world is a changing.
The Social web often connects me with things I never even knew I was searching for….but should have been. Try and implement that feature Google.
-Pedro
Liked this post? Browse through all my posts here. Or better yet, Subscribe to Making It Work!
