| Android has been an incredible success on mobile | | | | concept of the network as the computer. The |
| phones, bypassing even Apple's iPhone in sales. | | | | "network is the computer" was an idea put forth |
| Meanwhile, rumors have swirled for some time | | | | by Sun Microsystems in the 1990s. They |
| that a Google operating system was being | | | | marketed a line of slim clients that replaced PCs |
| created for the PC. A Google OS was rumored to | | | | and used applications and storage on the network. |
| be a Linux based system similar to Android. The | | | | The state of the network at the time made |
| problem with this idea, however, is that it doesn't | | | | these systems sluggish and slow. As a result, |
| really make sense for Google to create yet | | | | adoption was minimal. Today, cloud computing is |
| another Linux distribution. Could Android itself | | | | doing the same thing - placing storage and |
| perhaps become the Google OS for PCs in the | | | | applications in the cloud. In many ways, this is a |
| near future? | | | | revival of the concept of the "network is the |
| A Google version of Linux really does not make | | | | computer". Android has been built to maximize the |
| much sense. Linux has suffered from | | | | use of the cloud. As such, it is an ideal operating |
| fragmentation for some time. Linux distributions | | | | system for future cloud based PCs. |
| come and go in favor with an almost "flavor of | | | | This transition to thinner clients and cloud storage |
| the month" regularity. It would also be hard for | | | | is affecting more than just consumer computing. |
| Google to control a Linux operating system as the | | | | Enterprises have been moving away from placing |
| GPL license that governs most of Linux has a | | | | a desktop workstation at every desk for some |
| number of restrictions and requirements. These | | | | time. Products like Microsoft's Terminal Server |
| restrictions and requirements require that source | | | | have been used for years to allow workers to |
| code be shared and guarantee an open system | | | | interact with a Windows desktop remotely or |
| but they also limit how much an organization like | | | | from a thin client. As corporations begin to build |
| Google can lock down or control a system based | | | | their own clouds, adoption of thin client computing |
| on Linux. | | | | in the enterprise is likely to grow. As an open |
| On the other hand, Google does have an existing | | | | source system with a robust SDK, Android would |
| open source operating system based on Linux | | | | be an ideal platform for corporate thin client |
| over which they exert a fair amount of control | | | | computing. Android on a PC could be loaded with |
| through the application market - Android. Android | | | | the applications needed by workers and the data |
| could easily become the Google OS that has been | | | | created would be stored in the corporate cloud. |
| rumored for some time. | | | | There are a number of interesting companies and |
| Thinking about Android as a potential Google OS | | | | projects designed to allow for the development |
| requires some thought about the definition of a | | | | of innovative new Android based products. Beagle |
| PC and a desktop OS. The rise of smartphones | | | | Board is one of the more popular ones. It has |
| and the release of Apple's iPad have really caused | | | | developed a low cost, single board, USB powered |
| a redefinition of the PC. Tablets and netbooks | | | | computer. It uses an ARM processor and there |
| now bridge a gap between the traditional laptop | | | | are a number of ports available for it including |
| computer and the smartphone. As hardware has | | | | Android. This hardware makes it possible for |
| become more capable and smaller, the idea of a | | | | developers to prototype an Android device for |
| PC has changed considerably. As the shape of the | | | | future development. Beagle Board is not the only |
| PC changes, Android begins to make more sense | | | | project of its kind, either. You can browse the |
| as an operating system for the desktops and | | | | ads in any issue of Linux Journal and find a |
| mobile computers of the future. | | | | number of single board computers suitable for |
| There have, in fact, been some prototypes of | | | | developing Android based thin clients. |
| tablet PCs and iPad like clones based on Android. | | | | Android combines some of the best features of |
| Additionally, a Sony television based on Android | | | | Linux based operating systems and cloud |
| has been confirmed to be in the works. As | | | | computing. With the reinvention of the desktop |
| Android moves to more devices and picks up | | | | PC and the adoption of other devices for |
| applications that make it more flexible, it seems | | | | accessing the Internet, it seems likely that |
| more likely that we will see Android powering PCs | | | | Android will be coming to a PC near you. Of |
| and other devices in the near future. | | | | course, that "PC" may be a television set, tablet |
| Another factor leading to the probability that | | | | or thin client workstation. |
| Android is aiming for PCs is the return of the | | | | |