Submitted by As many had already predicted, the LA Times rumour about Google entering the PC market has been squashed by both Google and Wall Mart. “Reporters calling Google’s public relations staff about the rumor were told it is ‘wholly inaccurate.’ Similarly, Wal-Mart’s rather busy PR team classified the Times speculation as ‘a rumor without any truth to it at all.’
And why would a high-flyer like Google want to enter the death match that is the PC industry? Slugging it out with the likes of Dell and HP for a few dollars doesn’t seem appealing when you’ve got a high-margin ad business humming.”
A Google PC and OS makes no sense from direct revenue standpoint – it’s low margin a fiercely competitive, shrinking market.
What does make sense is the idea of extra “captive eyes” to Google, bundling other services (including third party), and finally weakening Microsoft.
Yet Another John Dvorak Urban Legend
Not John Dvorak, same kind
Yet Another John Dvorak Urban Legend
Not John Dvorak, same kind
Robert Cringely first floated the idea.
Kilroy was here first though
Just how many delusional pieces can be written about Google ? Recently we’ve had the office suite hype, now the PC and Google OS hype, and of course there have been many other “popular” rumours. Yes Google are interesting in a number of respects but many people seem to be projecting their unreasonable technological fantasies onto them and expecting their dreams to come true. It ain’t going to happen …
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Google at least got free advertising from the story, as well as a pulse check on the possible interest in such.
I, for one, might find a well-engineered Google box compelling.
The way this news came to be I think that Linspire will soon be offering a Google themed linspire for 200$. There is too much press behind this for it to be just rumor. Thats my take.
Don’t forget that a lot of the press piggy back on other stories without first validating them.
Mountain View, CA (AP) – Google announced wednesday that they successfully negociated with Albertson’s to distribute their Google Electric Blender. The GooBlender will have a search feature to search for fruits and vegetables, and it will also display sponsored ads. Retail price hasn’t been announced yet.
http://bbrv.blogspot.com/2005/11/compoogle.html
They idea is still good.
Rasmus
It’s just another peg in securing that projected $600/share price.
dslreports.com was poking fun at this a few days back with an article titled “A Google Panda Army” found here: http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/70888
“We have evidence that Google is buying up all the world’s pandas and creating a giant panda army. Or hey, they’re creating the ultimate 1984 Orwellian nightmare. Google is buying Opera. They’re creating an online office suite. They’re offering national free Wi-Fi. They’re creating entire cities out of cheese. Or today’s unsupported rumor, they’re selling dirt-cheap PC’s with Google built operating systems at Walmart. Apparently this “Google Cube”, will connect users to a super Google network via miles of fiber-optic Google love. Join the fun! No facts required!”
Dying, Low-Margin PC Business
What do mean by dying, low-margin pc business?
Dying: PC resellers are selling less and less computers each year, their sales drop by about a few percentages each year.
Low-margin: Apple is supposed to have the highest margins, but on every Apple computer sold, the reseller loses about 4%-7% (same goes for iPods). However, Apple computer sales are rising like crazy. I got these figures from an Apple Reseller, by the way.
There.
there is no way they lose money on each PC unit sold nor on an iPod. If that were the case what on earth would be the incentive to sell them?!
im assuming they havent made an error in their calculations like Mini did 😀 (every mini sold lost the company money)
“What do mean by dying, low-margin pc business?”
Making 10-20% when a new system sold for 2000.00 was a fare profit. Making 5% when a new system sells for 500.00, is a bit tougher to handle.
The pc repair business isn’t doing so hot either. It’s becoming increasingly tough to justify repairing a system which can be replaced for the same price and covered under a fresh warranty.
The days of the disposable PC are already here for some users. First sign of trouble, and they simply buy another system.
It’s twisted, but it’s true.
Could someone please bookmark this story (and the others) for the next time someone announces Google is buying/selling/marauding something? We’re going to need it in a week.
“Google Denies Plan to Enter Dying, Low-Margin PC Business”
Sensationalistic headlines is one reason that drives me to avoid mainstream media. I’d hate for OSNews to become like that.