Google gives Windows the boot and opts for Mac and Linux computers

With Apple’s market share growth increasing you really don’t see a lot of companies moving from Windows-based computers to Macs.  Sure, you will find mixed environments, with Macs predominantly in the creative departments.  But, you don’t typically see a complete departure from Windows.  Well, Google is making the move from Windows-based computers to Macs and Linux-based computers.

Seth Weintraub of 9to5Mac reports on how Google is tired of security issues with Windows, and what they are doing about it:

“We’re not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort,” said one Google employee.  “Many people have been moved away from [Windows] PCs, mostly towards Mac OS, following the China hacking attacks,” said another.  New hires are now given the option of using Apple’s Mac computers or PCs running the Linux operating system. “Linux is open source and we feel good about it,” said one employee. “Microsoft we don’t feel so good about.”

More companies need to look at what Google is doing, and really look at what the costs are for security prevention versus switching to a more secure platform.  Yes, at first the costs will be high, because not only are you replacing the hardware, you will be replacing software as well.  One way to look at software replacement costs is this way: when you have to upgrade your company from one version of Office to another, a large cost is incurred.  Well, instead of upgrading from one version of Office to another, you take that cost and apply it to the Mac version of Office.

Inevitably you will run into some software that is only made for Windows and not for Macs or Linux.  When this happens you, can always look into Crossover for Mac or Wine for Linux.  These are emulators that allow you to run Windows based applications in OS X or Linux.  The application acts as a translation layer between the Windows application and the non-Windows operating system.

I like how Google is giving their employees a choice of which computer they would like to use – a Mac or a Linux-based computer.  This is definitely a bold move on Google’s part. They are taking the status quo and turning it on its side by doing this.  My only question is when Google’s Chrome Operating System is ready for prime time, will they be making the same kind of move, or will they still give their employees a choice?  Only time will tell.

Photo Credit: Ubuntu, MacBook & Tux

Article Via 9to5Mac