Google Smartens Up — Starts Copying RightSite

By Michael Cole On June 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment

There was big news in the tech world today as sources within Google let it be known that the company was moving away from using Windows on its workstations. At RightSite, we can only say, “What took you so long?”

As reported today in the Financial Times, Google has put in place measures that make it difficult for employees to get a Windows machine and encourage users to rely on either Mac OS X or Linux for their workstations. As reported by the FT,

“We’re not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort,” said one Google employee.

At RightSite, where we are big proponents of free, open-source software (FOSS) we applaud this move. But we also have to wonder what took them so long. Virtually since day one at RightSite we have been using Ubuntu Linux workstations, and there is very little that would make anyone on our team miss Windows.

And there is a whole lot more that makes us glad that we don’t use the world’s most security-exploited operating system. One reason that RightSite goes open-source is because we are a poor startup operation that wants to stay legal. But an even bigger reason we forgo Windows is that we don’t want the security hassles that come with Bill Gates OS baby. Viruses, malware and other nasty stuff are very common in China, and instead of chasing staff to be careful about what they click on or hiring a squad of geeks to keep everyone’s machines clean, we just avoid most of the problems by not using Windows.

Not very often does RightSite get the jump on Google, but it’s nice to see those guys in Mountain View starting to catch up in the innovation game.