Google Closing Windows? (Updated)
According to Reuters, the Financial Times (the FT requires a subscription for regular users.) reports that Google is phasing out Windows for its standard-issue employee computers. The final straw seems to have been the Chinese hack attack in April.
According to the reports, Google is trying to reduce its computer security hassles.
The Reuters story notes
The FT quoted one Google employee as saying: “We’re not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort.” Another said: “Getting a new Windows machine now requires CIO (chief information officer) approval.”
Here is an excerpt from the actual FT story:
“Many people have been moved away from [Windows] PCs, mostly towards Mac OS, following the China hacking attacks,” said another.
New hires are now given the option of using Apple’s Mac computers or PCs running the Linux operating system. “Linux is open source and we feel good about it,” said one employee. “Microsoft we don’t feel so good about.”
Google is no stranger to Unix-style operation systems (the Mac OS is based on FreeBSD). Linux runs its search servers; it’s Android cell phone operating system is based on the Linux kernel; and it’s developing a Linux-based PC operating system.
Update:
The Guardian has a report. Google’s not confirming and Microsoft’s not denying. From the Guardian story:
The company (Google) refused to confirm or deny the reports, issuing a brief comment saying that it would not discuss “operational issues”.
Microsoft, however, claimed that the move was simply part of Google’s attempts to standardise on its new in-house operating system, called ChromeOS.