The coming Google PC -- what will it make irrelevant?

This blog post over at Cnet discusses the possibility of a Google-branded computer. Although this story has floated around the web for years now, this could be the year that Google takes its assault full-frontal to their rivals in Redmond and introduce a Linux-powered PC, preloaded with Mozilla Firefox (and the Google Toolbar), Google Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Desktop, Google Earth, Google Local . . . take breath, whew. But wait -- all those mentioned aren't software programs -- they're web services (except Google Earth).

So, what do you need to take Microsoft Windows out of the picture? Base all your offerings as a software service on the web instead of individually-installed software programs on a hard drive. With online word processing now in Google's camp, who knows what else they have in store to compete not only with Microsoft Windows, but Microsoft Office as well. The one thing that would be needed for a strategy like this is broadband internet (which has more than 50% penetration in this country now).

We live in interesting times, folks -- insofar as the race between Microsoft and the anti-Microsoft continues.

[image credit: suitcoatdays.weblogs.us]