Sure, it’s just another Web browser. Sure, it’s just another open-source project. Sure, it’s just another thing Google’s throwing at the world. Doesn’t mean a thing. Move along. Nothing to see here.

Actually, this browser is kinda scary. Google already knows what you write(Docs), what you email to whom (Gmail), who you associate with (Groups), what you look at (Picassa), what you read (Google Reader), where you’re going to be (Calendar), and even what you think (Blogger). They know what’s on your hard drive (Desktop Search), what you buy (Checkout), where you’re going ( Maps), what you’re researching (Scholar), what you’re building (Patent Search), and even how you’re feeling today ( Health).

And now, the one last piece - Google now knows what you’re doing when you’re not using any other Google product.

Now, let’s not get all “second browser on the grassy knoll” about this. The whole point here is not to spy on you (I hope), but rather to give you more directed advertising. And I don’t really have a problem with that, as long as they don’t know I’m me, but rather that I’m the anonymous individual who’s been looking at new cars recently. After all, the more money Google makes off ads, the more free stuff they’ll be willing to write. Free is good.

But here’s the part that gives me pause: I installed it under Vista (because they haven’t got the Linux browser done yet - slackers). When I installed it under Vista, it didn’t ask me to Allow or Deny the install! It seems (with just a few minutes’ detective work - I could conceivably be wro… not entirely correct) that it’s not installing as a standard application. In fact, when I reinstalled it as Admin, none of the other users on that machine could see it. Seems like it’s local to the user, which means any user can install it at any time on any machine.

Now, that’s fine, I guess, for the normal home user. But for me, as the Systems Administrator for a college, it has massive implications. If anyone can install it anywhere without special permissions, where is my security? Where is my control over what apps (psst: Gears!!!) are running on my machines? How do I protect my machines from people throwing whatever crap they want on them? Sure, I know - Chrome has a million little jails and security features and stuff. But, now, Google is asking me to hand them the security of my entire network.

Maybe there really is a second browser on that grassy knoll…

See what I mean?

Now, please - don’t get me wrong. I am not a Microsoft apologist. Far from it! My desktops at work and home are Ubuntu. My laptop at work is a Mac. The only Vista box I have is a second system at work so that I can test products (which mostly don’t work) and play with the OS to learn it. But I’ll never use it for production work!

Even so, it both amuses and bemuses me that Mac people in particular are so childishly - and nastily - triumphant because so many programs don’t work under Vista. Have they forgotten OS X? Have they forgotten the brouhaha that resulted in all of their beloved Mac OS programs suddenly becoming so many bits of rust on a platter? Yes, there was some compatibility, but that’s where Vista stands now, isn’t it?

Frankly, I’ve always said that I applaud the guts it takes to say to your happy, contented user base that everything they know is about to become wrong. To say “We’ve taken this OS as far as it can go; time for a new generation, new programmers, and new code. And if the old stuff breaks, well, that’s sad, but it won’t hold us back.” That’s what Apple did with OS X, and that’s what Microsoft did with Vista.

Of course, there were two major differences. First, Apple’s sheep love them. Second, Apple announced they were doing this. Microsoft’s users, by and large, barely tolerate the company. And I can’t recall a single announcement that said most applications would be broken.

So, once again, Microsoft shot itself in the foot publicity-wise. The programs that are designed for Vista work fine. Some older programs work, too, but that’s serendipity. Had Microsoft come out and said they were creating a new operating system with only limited support for older software, there would have been grumbling, but nothing like the way people are now holding Vista up to ridicule.

Again, please don’t get me wrong. There’s a lot to dislike about Vista. And once again, Microsoft has outpaced hardware, so that it’ll take another generation of computers to truly catch up to Vista and make all the eye candy work, and take away the excruciating wait for something - anything! - to happen.

But you oh-so-smug Mac people need to lay off the hypocrisy. You applauded when Apple did it; at least don’t vilify Microsoft for doing the same thing. You’re not that superior; you have nothing to be smug about.

Now, you Linux people, you go ahead and be smug. Who better?

The Mac was insanely simple to set up. Click, click… type a couple of parameters.. click… done!

Windows XP was almost as easy.

Vista I had to pound into the ground with a club.

Linux… ah, Linux…

I like Linux. I happen to use Ubuntu, but that hardly matters in this case. I use it on my desktop and my favorite laptop. I like the speed, the power, the convenience, the free. But this wireless thing has me stumped.

It runs “regular,” open wireless like you’d find in a cafe with a free hotspot. It runs wireless that’s protected with a password and wireless that’s protected with a key, and all without any fuss or bother.

But this new protected wireless has a hidden ESSID. That’s a good thing. If you don’t even know what the name of the wireless is, or, indeed, that it’s even there, you have a slimmer chance of breaking in. But that hidden ESSID has me stumped.

According to the various forums (fori? fora?) on the InterTubes, this has been a problem for a long time. So I’m just going to let it sit for a while. The nice thing about being at RIT is that there are eager young minds straining at the bit to solve the latest, most difficult problem. All I have to do is wait for one of them to get that itch Meanwhile, I’ll be reading up on it myself, and maybe I’ll beat ‘em to the punch!

Written blogs are fine. Easy to do, and I type almost as fast as I talk. But audio blogs (”podblogs”) are more 21st century. But video blogs (”vlogs” if you insist - I don’t) are even more more 21 century.

So, the hope is that you’ll see all three here, as I mumble about various aspects of life, the universe, and everything.