Google (GOOG) Scraps Windows (MSFT) Internationally; Prefers Apple's (AAPL) Mac O/S, Red Hat's (RHT) Linux

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According to a report from the Financial Times late yesterday, sources from Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) say that they are phasing out the use of Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows O/S internationally, and are now allowing employees to select from Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) Mac O/S or Red Hat's (NYSE: RHT) Linux. The move comes on the heels of recent events in China that led to a breach of security at the search giant, and their subsequent exit of the country.
Employees are allowed to install the Window's O/S on their laptop computers, but cannot do the same for their desktop systems. One source noted that employees who wanted to stay on the Window's system had to get clearance from senior officials, and possibly the CIO directly. FT reports that Google has not commented on the move.
Chances that Google will move to their own Chrome O/S in the future should probably be about 50% at this point.
The FT quoted one Google employee as saying: "We're not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort."
The move comes at a time when Microsoft and Google are competing more directly than before. Google's search dominance is being gnawed at by Microsoft's Bing, Microsoft's Internet Explorer is being traded in for Google's Chrome, and both provide an O/S for a multitude of smartphones and other hand-held devices which compete directly.
Windows is still is the global leader in installations, running on about nine of ten computers worldwide.
Employees are allowed to install the Window's O/S on their laptop computers, but cannot do the same for their desktop systems. One source noted that employees who wanted to stay on the Window's system had to get clearance from senior officials, and possibly the CIO directly. FT reports that Google has not commented on the move.
Chances that Google will move to their own Chrome O/S in the future should probably be about 50% at this point.
The FT quoted one Google employee as saying: "We're not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort."
The move comes at a time when Microsoft and Google are competing more directly than before. Google's search dominance is being gnawed at by Microsoft's Bing, Microsoft's Internet Explorer is being traded in for Google's Chrome, and both provide an O/S for a multitude of smartphones and other hand-held devices which compete directly.
Windows is still is the global leader in installations, running on about nine of ten computers worldwide.
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