Google's Insular Nature

stockpicker_dude_78 writes "Robert Cringley has written a thought-provoking article on Google's insular nature, and compares them to the similar environment at Microsoft." From the article: "Google is secretive. This started as a deliberate marketing mystique, but endures today more as a really annoying company habit. Google folks don't understand why the rest of us have a problem with this, but then Google folks aren't like you and me. The result of this secrecy and Google's 'almighty algorithm' mentality is that the company makes changes -- and mistakes -- without informing its customers or even doing all that much to correct the problems."

Re:It's the Google attitude

[div_2n]

most of our exciting free applications are only available for Windows!

What, you mean like Picasa? [google.com]

Or maybe you mean Google Earth. [linuxtoday.com]

No, not native. But in the process they are contributing back to Wine. So you get Google apps in Linux and Wine is improved in the process. Sounds good to me.

Re:It's the Google attitude

[generic-man]

Picasa for Linux is "Labs" (that's Google speak for alpha). Google Earth is beta on the Mac (though an alpha was widely leaked) and is not available for Linux at all. From the article you linked: "When asked if the additions to WINE would bootstrap Google Earth's porting progress, DiBona answered in the negative, explaining that Google Earth relied on Qt and GL libraries and code, so additional WINE support would not help. No timeline for that application's release was revealed at this time." (emphasis added)

Re:price mystique

[Anonymous Coward]

_I_ happen to work for Google, and I can certainly assure you that I am not interested in the stock options or the money. I'm there because it gives me an opportunity to work on Firefox, which I care quite a bit about. While I don't know the reasons all of my coworkers are at Google, those I know well seem far more interested in their _work_ than their _compensation_. Anecdotal evidence and all, but seeing as you don't even seem to _work_ at Google, I believe I'm justified in saying that you may be a bit ignorant here.