Why We Need Google’s Android On The Desktop

Last week I wrote a piece about a rumor that Google’s Android operating system had been installed on a laptop computer. This in itself was a revolutionary idea since Android was basically a mobile phone operating system. What was interesting about the experiment is that it demonstrated what many of us have suspected for the past few years. Google may be getting ready to take on Microsoft in their own back yard.

So why do we need Google’s Android on the desktop? Microsoft has reined supreme for the past 25+ years and has keep its market share at about 90% during this period of time. Microsoft has basically been able to control the market place and hold us hostage with not only their operating system but also with their office suite of products.

Though Mac and Linux operating systems have gained slightly in market share over the past few years, Microsoft has been able to maintain its lead. With Google’s Android we will finally have a free Linux based open source operating system that could reduce costs on the desktop. Android could provide the competition that would actually challenge Microsoft and challenge Windows for the first time. Android will give the consumer a choice in how they operate their computers and provide a viable alternative to Windows.

I would also suspect that hardware companies would be more inclined to offer Linux drivers if they knew that Google was supporting a new operating system. This has always been the problem with Linux and the reluctance by some hardware companies to provide Linux drivers

So what do you think? Can Google Android compete with Microsoft?

Comments welcome.