Is it Time for Google Alternatives?

Is Google the best choice for your search, browser, operating system, and cloud-based services? No, not if you value your privacy and the security of your data. For years, computer users have cursed the way Microsoft has monopolized our desktops. For years, users have looked for viable alternatives to Microsoft. Now, Google offers many services to challenge Microsoft in every arena. But, this would be a good time to stop and think before trusting another company similar influence over every aspect of our lives.

Google has an excellent search engine. However, if you use the Google search engine exclusively, everything you see on the internet will be filtered through their algorithms and their corporate perception. You'll see the google advertisers featured and you'll see their rankings of search results. In February 2011, Google made changes to their search engine algorithm that intentionally reduced the google rankings of articles from the Yahoo Contributor Network in comparison with other websites. While Google claimed this reduced the influence of "Content Farms," some observers have suggested that this was an intentional attempt to reduce the revenue of web advertising and search rival Yahoo. By using a variety of search engines, a savvy user can decide the issue on their own.

Google has also introduced the Chrome Browser and the Chrome and Android operating systems. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to keep computer and mobile device users tethered to the ever watchful Google. While Chrome may liberate users from the clutches of Microsoft and Apple, it fosters a dependence on cloud applications that reside on the internet rather than on a users machine. If you don't have constant access to the internet, the usefulness of a laptop or netbook running Chrome is greatly diminished. Of course, each time you access the internet through google, you give their advertisers another shot at you. Android liberates users from Microsoft and Apple, but may not be upgradeable on any given device. For example, my Augen GenBook74 mini-netbook will forever be stuck with Android 1.6. Device makers are loath to tell you that many devices are not fully compatible with Android which was intended for cellphones. Early adopters of Android on non-phone devices may find themselves hampered by a lack of applications.

Google's cloud-based services like gmail initially seemed promising. However, the company scans the content of every e-mail you receive for keywords that will help Google advertisers target you. In addition, Google has gotten into some high profile tussles and made powerful enemies like China. Chinese-sponsored hackers penetrated Google's security to hunt down the personal information of dissidents. They also stole the passwords of many users and allowed them to be used by criminal spammers. In 2010, my personal gmail account was compromised and spam was sent to every person on my contact list. A few of my friends and associates suffered similar issues and, in a tight economy where everyone is in contact with potential employers, the breach was embarassing.

What's a consumer to do? If you use multiple search companies, multiple Operating Systems, and multiple providers of cloud-based services, you can hinder one businesses attempt to build a complete picture of your computing activity. By spreading your business around, making technology providers compete for your business, and trying products from new vendors, you can help preserve a viable marketplace filled with competitors. Best of all, in the technology realm, it is easy to try new things. Alternatives to Google's search engine are free. All you have to do is type in a new URL. It's easy to type in bing.com, yahoo.com, duckduckgo.com or yippy.com, and try out a new search engine. While selecting a new operating system is more complex, the Linux community has developed a wide variety of Linux operating systems that are completely free. Best of all, you can test many Linux systems by installing them on a USB drive and booting your computer from the removable drive. Finally, you can try open source office suites like OpenOffice and rely upon them instead of Google or Microsoft cloud-based Apps.

The main thing is to keep your options open, retain control of your computing experience, and try new search engines, operating systems, and apps. It's actually fun!