So, what can Google do that would make this more special then any other Ubuntu release/spin off? Well, Google services integration is a given but probably the bigger impact will be from the marketting and association that the Google brand name brings. The Google name is extremely recognizable in the Joe Public domain, and while their latest ventures (Google Base? Google Video Store? Google Pack?) haven’t exactly set the world on fire, if Joe is upset with Microsoft and their OS (which many of them are, even if they do just accept it as a fact of life) and hears that those Google folks have a replacement – there is a good chance they will check it out. Sure there is a learning curve, but I have seen quite a few people that don’t know much about linux or administration happily switch to Ubuntu because it lets them do all the basic things a computer is good for (web, email, word processing, etc) and doesn’t turn into a sluggish piece of junk after 6 months.

The direct impact on the rest of the Linux world? Increased support from hardware vendors, probably the final step in end-user legitimacy.

OK, I really enjoy Gmail and I use it as my primary interface to all my mail, so the tight integration with Google Talk is nice. Those of you familiar with Google’s interface design will be right at home with this one. White. Clean. Simple. The problem is the “simple” part seems to mean we get extremely limited features, as compared to other chat clients. I realize this is beta, but lacking file transfers is a huge buzz kill to me. No Group Chat, no emoticon sets. I mean, this is as vanilla of a chat client that one can be. Atleast you can VOIP your mom.

To say I’m extremely disappointed is an understatement. Google has this stigmata around them that they can do no wrong. And really, up to this point, who could argue? But I’m afraid they missed the boat on this one. Here’s hoping for more next time!

Firstly, this should have been available from day 1. But more importantly, I ask who still actively uses portals? No disrespect, but those that are familiar with RSS (enough to copy and paste a link into Google’s portal site) are more than likely using an external RSS aggregator. I have yet to see a webportal offer anything but the minimal functionality as compared to 90% of the RSS readers available today. Myself, I use Sage, an extension available for Mozilla Firefox.

I will not discredit the advantage of a centrally located and thus accessible collection of RSS feeds, but this again is not unique to webportals. Pluck accomplishes much of the same, and then some. Yes YES, I’m aware all my examples require the installation of another application. Regardless, what is the continued attraction to portals? That is soooo late ’90s.