Google Junks Microsoft Windows

Google has announced that it will phase out the use of Microsoft Windows on company computers, replacing it with Mac and Linux machines. The move is a fallout from the Chinese hackers who infiltrated Google's Windows systems in January. Google believes that non-Windows computers will offer the company better cybersecurity. "Linux is open source and we feel good about it," an employee told the Financial Times. "Microsoft we don't feel so good about." Here are some reactions:

• Is This About Competition? The Financial Times' David Gelles and Richard Waters point out, "Google and Microsoft compete on many fronts, from search, to web-based email, to operating systems. While Google is the clear leader in search, Windows remains the most popular operating system in the world by a large margin, with various versions accounting for more than 80 per cent of installations, according to research firm Net Applications."

• More World Domination From Google  The Business Insider's Henry Blodget calls this move Google's "next step in its world domination plan." In addition to depriving Microsoft of the business, Google is giving Windows a black eye by accusing it of insufficient security. "Adding insult to injury, Google is also publicly citing Windows security problems for the decision and blaming Windows vulnerabilities for the China hacking incident."

• Legitimate Security Concerns Venture Beat's Devindra Hardawar explains, "Windows has long been the bane of IT workers, thanks to the fact that it's vulnerable to many types of viruses and malware, and is often targeted by hackers due its large install base. The attack that originated from China used malware that targeted Windows PCs running Internet Explorer 6 -- an old version of the web browser that's particularly vulnerable to hacking. Apple's Mac OS, and Linux operating systems, are far more secure in comparison to Windows."

• Promoting Google's Operating System  Engadget's Joshua Topolsky speculates this move "might actually be geared towards bringing Chrome OS into the Googleplex full-throttle. 'A lot of it is an effort to run things on Google product,' said one unnamed source, 'They want to run things on Chrome.'"