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 Channel Futures

Open Source


Reader Polls: Google Is Both Ubuntu Rival, Friend

  • Written by Joe Panettieri 1
  • August 3, 2009
Two separate WorksWithU reader polls reveal an interesting look at competition and cooperation between Ubuntu and Google. According to one set of poll results, Google has emerged as Ubuntu's second-biggest rival. But according to the second poll results, buzz about Google Chrome OS could ultimately help Ubuntu. Here's a look at the anecdotal data.

google-chrome-os-netbooksTwo separate WorksWithU reader polls reveal an interesting look at competition and cooperation between Ubuntu and Google. According to one set of poll results, Google has emerged as Ubuntu’s second-biggest rival. But according to the second poll results, buzz about Google Chrome OS could ultimately help Ubuntu. Here’s a look at the anecdotal data.

Please note: WorksWithU is not suggesting the polls are scientific. Anyone can participate in the polls, though participants are likely Ubuntu enthusiasts/users since the polls were conducted on WorksWithU.com.

Poll Number One

Now, onto the data points. First, we asked readers: Who Is Canonical’s Top Rival?

According to 238 responses, Microsoft (54%) remains Canonical’s top competitor. But I was intrigued to see Google (14%) finish second in the poll, slightly ahead of:

  • Apple (12%)
  • Red Hat (11%)
  • Novell (5%)
  • “other” (4%)

No doubt, Google Android (for smart phones) and the forthcoming Google Chrome OS (initially for netbooks) have turned heads across the blogosphere. Canonical itself is working to ensure Android works well with Ubuntu.

My initial blog entry about Google Chrome OS suggested that Google may wind up stealing Ubuntu’s thunder in selected market niches. Fellow WorksWithU Blogger Christopher Tozzi took the opposite stance, insisting that Google Chrome OS will help Ubuntu.

Poll Number 2

We took the debate to WorksWithU’s readers. In our second poll, we asked readers to complete the following statement: “Google’s Chrome OS for Netbooks will…”

Of the 328 poll responses…

  • 38% of readers said it was too soon to say
  • 24% said Chrome OS would help Ubuntu
  • 20% said Chrome OS would hurt Ubuntu
  • 18% said Chrome OS would neither help nor hurt Ubuntu

Clearly, opinions on the topic of Google and Ubuntu vary widely. But overall, a healthy number of readers seem to think Google Chrome OS buzz is good for Ubuntu — even as readers concede that Google has emerged as a Canonical competitor in some areas.

Long live coopetition, a term inspired by the late Ray Noorda (Novell’s former CEO), to describe the need for companies to both cooperate and compete with one another.

Follow WorksWithU via Identi.ca, Twitter and RSS (available now) and our newsletter (coming soon).

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Mobility Open Source

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15 comments

  1. Avatar B. Greene August 3, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
    Reply

    I totally agree with the poll results that its too soon to say. I also believe to some extent that Google OS uptake may very well hurt Ubuntu more than help on the lower end computing side of things. I speculate that, beyond cobbling some minimal distribution together, Google might lean toward getting things to fit together the way networking service providers would like to create some kind of locked down provider centric terminal device, much like cell phones today, that they can shape revenues and remotely manage.
    I was brainstorming a great number of things and what worries me is that cell phone companies are entering into the portable computing space. This might create a situation where you have two tiers of the same product: An inexpensive carrier subsidized device tied to expensive contracts, and an open device that’s significantly more expensive. This will be a disruption of the existing Moore’s law model where technology should be getting cheaper and better, but actually gets more expensive due to creation of economic shortages and profiteering by cell phone companies. This given that shortages arise from limitations in production and pricing that results in excess demand versus supply.
    I believe that Google see the inevitable with respect to the prevalence of portable computers, and ultimately want to tap into and maybe shape the market to its advantage. They can potentially profit from both multiple ends: ads, apps, integration services for service providers, etc.

  2. Avatar Larry August 3, 2009 @ 1:05 pm
    Reply

    I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords.

    If Google Chrome OS ends up as Ubuntu Without The Gaping Flaws, I’ll switch and never look back.

    But really, we don’t know anything about Chrome OS, so it’s way too soon to be writing speculative articles.

  3. Joe Joe August 3, 2009 @ 1:34 pm
    Reply

    I can’t wait for Chrome OS. Maybe it will drive Ubuntu to fix its horrible OS and make something decent. I agree with the last comment. Switch and never look back. And with Chrome OS taking over the spotlight, maybe we’ll get to hear less of the jaw flapping from the Ubuntu clan. Win Win for all the real linux users. And why are people still writing articles about this. This was news a month ago. Get over it already.

  4. Avatar Leo August 3, 2009 @ 1:44 pm
    Reply

    Arrg, I missed both polls, I guess they get a bit eclipsed in the position they are in the (middle of the) right frame?

  5. Avatar dragonbite August 3, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
    Reply

    Google Chrome will have issues, bugs and incompatibilities just like Ubuntu and other Linuxes.

    They may hedge their bets with limiting the hardware they will run on (Netbooks pre-installed, etc.) similar to Apple’s method, in which case Ubuntu will do alright as the “non-certified” hardware Linux distro of choice.

    Ubuntu may also work to integrate as seamlessly as Google Chrome OS that they are seen as cooperative instead of competitive.

    Like the poll says, It’s too early to say.

  6. Avatar LS August 4, 2009 @ 12:55 am
    Reply

    Google will be using the same Linux kernel as Ubuntu. Only good things will come of that- since we all share it’s improvements.

  7. Avatar Jojo August 4, 2009 @ 2:11 am
    Reply

    I don’t know whether it’s fair to comment since I am new to Linux as a user.. not a watcher. It took me five years to wipe windows and put Ubuntu on here. Now that I have.. I am not scared of any OS that is reasonably made and supported. I am not a power user of anything.. I putter mainly..:) I think if Google brings people to Linux.. if people hear something is better.. then they will switch. Moving from windows or mac is the tough sell. After that whomever does it best will get the lions share..I think..:) I never know whether to root for Google. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I am not to worried about them being #1 in search and # something else in other things.. then they are players and not overlords. So I hope they do their OS just good enough..and not so good that there is no choice. But one can go a deep as ya want to go.. kids learn windows. They are told mac is cool. Have to dent them first then worry about who get what..Right?

  8. Avatar Jojo August 4, 2009 @ 6:34 am
    Reply

    I don’t know whether it’s fair to comment since I am new to Linux as a user.. not a watcher. It took me five years to wipe windows and put Ubuntu on here. Now that I have.. I am not scared of any OS that is reasonably made and supported. I am not a power user of anything.. I putter mainly..:) I think if Google brings people to Linux.. if people hear something is better.. then they will switch. Moving from windows or mac is the tough sell. After that whomever does it best will get the lions share..I think..:) I never know whether to root for Google. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I am not to worried about them being #1 in search and # something else in other things.. then they are players and not overlords. So I hope they do their OS just good enough..and not so good that there is no choice. But one can go a deep as ya want to go.. kids learn windows. They are told mac is cool. Have to dent them first then worry about who get what..Right?
    P.S. – Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!

  9. Avatar AmblestonDack August 4, 2009 @ 7:31 am
    Reply

    So what are the “flaws” that Ubuntu has?

    One thing is for sure if ChromeOS takes the limelight away from Ubuntu, how long will it be before ChromeOS takes the flack like Ubuntu does at the moment.

  10. Avatar PSM August 4, 2009 @ 8:31 am
    Reply

    (quote)So what are the “flaws” that Ubuntu has?(unquote)

    I agree – Microsoft’s blog FUDders get everywhere. Microsoft must be worried.

  11. Avatar PSM August 4, 2009 @ 8:36 am
    Reply

    Google brings brand image to Linux, as well as a decent set of cloud technologies and services. Linux brings a top notch OS with a huge inventory of stable and mature applications to Google – all vendor neutral and open standards based. That has to be good news for Linux, Google, and customers.

  12. Avatar Leo August 4, 2009 @ 9:01 am
    Reply

    @PSM: I agree, and I said it in an earlier post, in similar terms. Essentially, I believe this will only increase the market share for free (as in freedom) operating system, and this is a wind for Linux, including Ubuntu.

    @AmblestonDack: I don’t think they will get too much mindshare in the open source community. Google is widely respected (because they are a very healthy company, with healthy practices and relatively open). But they don’t have an open development method, so they won’t gain traction among our minds. They will be a very convenient partner.

  13. Avatar B. Greene August 4, 2009 @ 8:35 pm
    Reply

    I just saw an article in Popular Science under the title, “Ten Computing Tasks You Won’t Be Doing With Chrome OS,” It tickled me silly. Here the link:
    http://www.popsci.com/gear-amp-gadgets/article/2009-07/ten-computing-tasks-you-wont-be-doing-chrome-os

  14. Avatar manny August 8, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
    Reply

    @B. Greene

    native client:
    http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10227150-2.html

    http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/google-native-client-provides-hints-chrome-os-gambit-717

    also am sure linux apps will work with google OS (apps can be ported easily)

    linux and open source apps can run virtually anywhere

    Remember : google made the announcement early to create controversy and buzz (they don’t even have a demo). They are gathering feedback (from the media) as we speak and will not fail to make this product mass appealing.

  15. Avatar Luckchancer August 10, 2009 @ 5:37 am
    Reply

    Google is desperate for a OS to rival MS. Till such a time when it has one, it will be a friend of Ubuntu after which it will do every thing possible to put Ubuntu down.

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