Microsoft counters report of Google dumping Windows

A security expert joined others who questioned the security rationale for abandoning Windows. "If Google is moving away from Windows, then security probably isn't the driving factor," said Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle Security. "More likely this is the public face Google wants to paint."

Google's employees already use the company's own cloud-based software, including Google Docs, said Storms, and will likely run Chrome OS when it launches later this year. That means Google won't need Windows at some point.

"If your entire company is moving to the cloud and the desktop OS doesn't matter, then why pay [Microsoft] for the licensing?" Storms said. "While you are at it, why bother with IT support systems to manage updates, backups, virus protection?"

To Storms, the move smells more like cost-cutting than security. "[But it's] been cleverly spun into a PR effort to strike at Microsoft," he said.

Microsoft and Google compete on multiple fronts, including search, where Google has a huge lead; business productivity, which Microsoft's Office dominates; browsers; and mobile operating systems. When Chrome OS launches, they will be direct rivals in desktop operating systems as well.

Recently, some of those battles have been waged in public with dueling blog posts. Last month, for instance, Google and Microsoft traded blog punches over Microsoft's Office suite, with Google claiming that Docs was a cheaper alternative to upgrading to Office 2010; Microsoft countered that Docs can't cut it.

"It's obvious here that Google is making every effort and taking every opportunity to take shots at Microsoft," Storms said. "But based on Microsoft's mild response, it appears they aren't feeling terribly hurt."

After LeBlanc defended Windows, Microsoft again declined to comment or to make someone from its security team available for an interview. Earlier Tuesday, Google refused to confirm or deny the story, saying only that it is always looking for ways to improve business efficiency.

Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His e-mail address is gkeizer@ix.netcom.com.

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