My first impression of gOS is “Gee, I thought I liked Google.” To put this into perspective, on the back of my car there is a license plate frame with the words “I’m Feeling Lucky.”
This week, WalMart has begun selling a new computer called the gPC for the price of $199. Instead of using Microsoft Windows, this incredibly inexpensive Linux-based computer runs an operating system which is fittingly called “gOS”.
At first look, the systems specifications seem pretty meager, until you have a gander at the list of applications. Instead of utilizing applications on the computer locally, the gPC leverages online applications that are delivered via web browser, such as Google Docs and Spreadsheets. This is an absolutely brilliant idea. All you need is a fast internet connection (and a monitor) to use the computer.
I was able to catch up with David Liu, founder of the gOS project, and ask him some questions about his brainchild.
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Using Web 2.0 applications to form the core of an operating system is genius. When did you realize this it was possible?
Well, I guess a couple things happened… I got interested in Google applications, especially docs and spreadsheets, presentations; and originally, I wanted to create my idea of what a Google OS would look like.. if there were such a mythical OS. As I started looking around at all the Google applications out there, I realized that all of our “computing” could eventually be done in the Google cloud. We just needed an OS that looked really good and pointed people to Google in a really friendly, intelligent way. After seeing this, I got excited because I saw it was also commercially viable for the mainstream end user… Google makes Linux familiar.
How long has gOS been in development?
The Enlightenment windows manager plays a big part in this, and most of our team is from the Enlightenment community. That’s been going on for a long time. gOS is a little less than six months
Why build on Ubuntu, rather than another distribution natively based on Enlightenment?
I can’t comment officially on that but there is a good reason for it. Basically it has to do with the Ubuntu community and vision. I like their mantra “Linux for human beings.” I wanted to take it further.. more like “Linux for human beings who shop at Wal-Mart” (…”and who probably have never heard of Linux”) They’ve done a great job of getting the community behind this, and productively so.
How does Faqly tie into the Operating System?
Faqly is a people powered help page. In the spirit of open source, it’s a place for the gOS community can ask and answer questions for each other. For end users, they can ask about how to do certain things. For developers, they can help answer (or ask the harder questions for fellow developers, and the core team at gOS) It’s a nice place for developers to get more in touch with end users too. I think we’re attracting developers who want to see open source into the mainstream, so everything we do has a special purpose.. even a little thing like using faqly for our “F1 Help”
Similar in theory to an FAQ wiki, except much easier to use, right?
Yes, more centered around people helping people, not just a page of information co-authored by the community… essentially the same, but the interaction design and feeling of it is just more community. Faqly is still in alpha mode, and we’re the first and only group to use it yet. They’ll launch in the next month or so probably. I think faqly can hit it off with the open source community pretty well, but will be open to working with other websites too.
Why did you place Facebook on the desktop instead of another social networking site like MySpace or Orkut?
We liked the developer platform and because we just use Facebook more in our community. Everex partnered with Facebook on getting us the icon.. that helped too.
Is there a difference between what is available via download verses what ships on the gPC?
The difference is in proprietary codecs, on the gPC, you can watch DVDs, play MP3s, etc. On the downloadable version, we’ve removed those.
Was Google cooperative towards the idea?
Everex and Google had a signed agreement for us to preload the Google toolbar. I actually went to Google yesterday to demo the real gPC out of the box, literally (i took one from the line). It’s not an official “google pc” or “google os”, it is what I think one should look like though. Google knew what we were doing, we showed them screenshots mid development, etc. We’ll keep our contacts there updated as we work on the next gPC with an improved gOS.
Please don’t sell out to Microsoft.
Oh yeah… we won’t.
Thanks for you time.
Thanks also. I hope this will get more developers excited and on board with us. I think it will be a fun ride.
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I’d like to extend a special thanks to David Liu for interviewing with me. For those of you wishing to help out, you can find the developer section on http://www.thinkgos.com/.
Let’s take a quick look at gOS and see just exactly what it has to offer. The “Favorite Applications” that appear in the task bar along the bottom of the screen are as follows:
- Firefox
- Google Mail
- Google News
- Google Calendar
- Google Maps
- Google Docs and Spreadsheets
- Google Product Search
- Blogger
- YouTube
- Faqly
- Meebo
- Rythmbox
- Skype
- Wikipedia
- Xine
Other applications which are loaded include GIMP for photo editing, and the excellent OpenOffice.org 2.2 office suite. The task bar is extremely easy to use – simply click an icon and Firefox opens up the application in most cases. The Google Toolbar is bundled with Firefox as well.
If you need another reason to buy, 1 year of free 24×7 technical support comes with purchase of a gPC. That’s more than some companies offer on computers that cost hundreds of dollars more.
Hardware Specifications
- 1.5GHz, VIA C7®-D Processor
- 512MB DDR2 533MHz SDRAM
- 80GB Hard Disk Drive
- DVD-ROM/D-RW Optical Drive
- VIA UniChrome Pro IGP Graphics
- Realtek 6-Channel Audio
- 10/100 Ethernet Port
- DB 15-Pin VGA Port
- Six USB 2.0 Ports
- RJ-11 Port
- Headphone/Line-Out Port
- Two Microphone/Line-In Ports
- Serial Port
- Parallel Port
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Amplified Stereo Speakers
In the end, gOS (and by default, the gPC) is an extremely functional system that hits the sweet spot of the “online desktop” cliché with professional quality, utilizing Google Applications in a easy to use and graphically rich environment. If you’re interested in trying out Linux for the first time, I would suggest downloading gOS or checking out the gPC at Walmart.
Woohoo, I got linked by Techcrunch.
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If the mirror is full … here us a direct download mirror:
http://proyectos.pixelamigo.com/software/Ubuntu/gOS/
Nice article Wayne. It did answer some of my questions and seems this might be another canidate for Google to buy out if the “gOS” becomes a success…
Well, the idea is nice, and $200 is cheap. But it does not include a screen, which would cost about $150 (at least). Look at some other Wal-mart pc’s: the same computer with windows installed and including a screen costs $300….
$300 – $150 = $150…. I would buy the windows one and get refunding for windows….
Woops, meant to add this to my last comment, feel free to take a look at the screenshots here:
http://www.hackosis.com/index.php/2007/11/03/gos-walmart-linux-os-overview/
Hope you don’t mind Wayne.
I might just have to grab one of these. I need a light-end machine for purely internet functions.
Actually “maarten kooiker” is right on the money the same PC comes with a 17″ monitor and 1Gb of RAM for $300. the gPC starts at $199 + the cheapest monitor – $134.98 + another 512 MB RAM (cause the gPC only comes with 512 MB) $25.87 for a total of: $359.85… Almost $60 more that the windows PC so can someone explain to me why this is such as good deal?
Paul
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Could have loaded openoffice.org on it. Do you think people that are going to buy a $199 computer at walmart can afford $50 a month full time boradband connections? Or will they simply tie up their phone line dialed in all the time while they are typing?
KieranMullen, did you not read the article at all where it says that it comes with OpenOffice.org 2.2?
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Sorry – any page with in-yext ads = instant blacklisting. Stop annoying your readers.
Oddly, the gOS 1.00-386 LIVE ISO is 720+mb is size — slightly larger than can be comfortably burned to a CD. Even when I tweaked Nero to overburn and use a short leadout, still it failed to burn. The gOS team advise to burn to DVD instead, but why not shave off a few megabytes to ensure the ISO burns to CD instead of wasting a DVD? It would also encourage older hardware users to try the live CD. Hopefully they will correct this soon.
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I wonder how many Goes will be sold, Then wiped, and a alt. linux installed? The tracking then would disappear.
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> Sorry – any page with in-yext ads = instant blacklisting. Stop annoying your readers.
i just block the ad site
annoying ads don’t get seen, nice ads do
The issue with the in-text ads has been rectified.
Cheers,
Wayne
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Just a few questions, for anyone who can answer them!
1. What country is the gPC made in?
2. Is the gPC / Enlightenment able to use special effects like Beryl? How about 3d graphics in general?
3. How much room is there in the case? Enough to add in a 3d card?
Many thanks ^.^
gOS is based in Los Angeles.
E doesnt support composition -yet.
It is a standard ATX case, inside there is a MicroATX motherboard.
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gOS running on Macbook – check this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2Dkjo6U6c
As usual, good, intresting and really useful post for all readers and specially for me, thanks!
Good luck to you!
I don’t know why people keep saying that the hardware is modest – 512MB RAM is plenty for browsing the net and writing letters. In fact, 64MB of RAM can do that, actually.
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I have been reading a lot about gOS… I think the idea is awesome. But I am more of a power user with Linux. I am going to install gOS on one of my older PIII systems in my garage. If it works out well, I am going to install Apache and PHP and have it run my website. Currently I have Damn Small Linux running my website, but I am looking for a Linux flavor with the newer kernel and a little bit more power. gOS might do the trick.
I do find the idea of internet computing dealing with office related work very interesting, it is almost like having a thin client, but having more power. You can save all your work out to Google, you don’t need to have a huge hard drive or worry about backups. I can see the use for this idea.
Anything to take the glory and business away from Microsoft I will usually support, especially if Linux is behind it.
When I showed this system to one of my “Pro Microsoft” friends, he laughed… saying..”It only had 512mb and it is a 1.5 ghz CPU??? You have got to be kidding..”
Like I have tried to explain to Microsoft fans, Linux is not bloat for the most part, you don’t need a ton of power to have good performance. I get tired of M$ fans thinking that bloat is good, because it isn’t.
That is ok, I can buy my “Pro Microsoft” friends PC’s when they have to upgrade their hardware. They pay $700, I buy it from them for $10… who is the real sucker here???
I look forward to trying out gOS… thanks for this article/inteview…
No Wal-Marts within 100 miles of Orlando can even stock it! This is the area with some of the most active LUGs! Leap-cf.org, MLUG, Golug are some.
Some hold monthly meets, and regular installfests, where we build IPCOP boxes, help hand out surplus systems with Linux installed to those families who attend and learn.
Of 14 Walmart stores in Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Miami, 6 can stock it, but only one has any instock.
Comments on Walmart run 95% in favor of the Everex gOS computer as a great deal, a fantastic bargain. Too bad many Walmart Shoppers can’t experience the pleasure!
The dissenting 5% seem to be those who desire free gifts and know little outside of the Microsoft world of deception. Noted many posts that showed the author was ignorant of the 23,390 FREE GNU/Linux OSS applications.
But, we must remind potential customers to see this GNU/Linux only in the context of recognizing the system is intended for entry level use on the internet, Word and Spreadsheet works, Audio works and NOT running highline Win32 apps., or ‘top of the line’ games.
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