Discussion on:

Google Gears are in motion, but can it compete with Microsoft?

With Google Gears, users will be able to access Google applications even when they aren't connected to the Internet. What's even better is that Google's apps are open source (read: free).



Do you think Google Gears has what it takes to compete with Microsoft?

I think there are enough Google supporters that they will default to using the tools if they are at minimum marginally good. I think they will get both the Microsoft bashers as well as the supporters on their side.

As a developer, I think this is very cool and I can see some potential in my own applications. (I will let you know as I dive in and see how this all works)

As far as competing with Microsoft, I am not so sure. There are a few things to consider here:

1) While geeks like myself and the usual crowd of MS bashers will certainly take advantage of the Google Apps as they progress, the big money is in the Enterprise. Will whole corporations make the move? I can tell you mine most likely won't.

I believe when it comes to corporations, they inherently distrust "free" and are very brand conscious. I believe to a lesser extent, this is true of the average consumer as well. Is Google continuing to dominate search simply because it provides better results, or is it simply so ingrained in our popular culture that no one else can truly compete?

2) Also, while this is truly an impressive move forward for web-based applications, ask yourself this: In my typical work day, how often am I disconnected from the Internet?

If you sit at a desk, you more than likely have a LAN connection that is always on. More than likely, when you go home you have Cable/DSL.

Laptop road warriors will certainly benefit, however, with public WiFi and mobile wireless becoming more commonplace, the question is how long will this truly be relevant?

In any case, I know I am continually impressed by Google's ability to keep the market moving and its competitors thinking.

Are the applications good enough? Probably ... and most consumers don't utilize anything beyond basic features in MS products anyway.

Is support strong enough to keep Gears robust and grow them? With Google behind it, yes.

Does the average user know how to leverage the support available for OS products so they can use them without frustration? Not in my experience.

Since business customers frequently drive adoption (largest user base), can it be comfortable outsourcing control to a system that synchronizes to external storage? I don't know the legal implications, but I suspect public companies will have a hard time with this.

Google can never equate Microsoft.
MS has been the beginning of the systems that we now use today.It is THEY who have established the Windows system that we all use regardless of program. Linux,Ubuntu et all use the Windows Methodology to get the picture out to the consumer.
As for Google, it came in through the back door, never told it's clients about it's invasive policies and to this day does not admit that every bit of information that you type in when using Google goes into their memory banks. They have been deceiving and dishonest from day one and it goes on to this day.
Anybody who is foolish enough to use Google deserves exactly what he get's.
There is no doubt that MS has it fair share of problems what with "Patch Tuesday" and all the other nonsense created the their avarice.
However the fact remains that at least, they are out there in the open and are doing it the honest way.This cannot be said about Google.Someday, the world will catch up to Google and get wise. Then will witness another Enron disaster.
Can they EVER match Microsoft?
I seriously doubt it.
My opinion and my right to it.
Regards
Aaron