John Dvorak muses on the possibility of Google producing their own browser, and possibly their own hardware/software platform. Looking at the browser idea first, I think it only makes sense. Google is clearly one of the big stops for most people on the Internet, so it makes sense to extend the power and profit potential of that platform via a custom interface. By using Mozilla, Google ensures a good non-Google web experience and then can up-level the Google experience. I see this as particularly appealing to the AOL crowdb which only sticks with AOL because of the way AOL provides a familar starting point. Now Google can do the same thing and differentiate itself from other portal efforts like My MSN. Netscape tried something similar though to a lesser degree, but didn't succeed. I think Google holds a better chance since the earlier Netscape efforts were hampered by the mere fact that the Internet was new and still a novelty to many people rather than a way of life.

Now the Google Box idea is a cloudier proposition. What exactly will this box do? If it is just a glorfied browser/email client, it probably will not fare much better than other Internet appliances - at least in countries well on their way to a digital lifestyle. To really be viable in these markets, the box needs to do more than just connect to the Internet. Digital photos, movie watching, home finance, etc. are all things my mom does, and as the benchmark for someone that uses a computer a lot but doesn't have a clue about how they work or how to fix them, the Google Box would be a non-starter unless it can match what she does with Windows today.

In emerging markets, the simple Google Box idea may have a lot of traction. And it may in established markets if it offers similar functionality. Low cost Linux boxes have not taken over the market to date, however, so I don't see the Google brand doing a lot to change that. Maybe so, but its not a gimmie by any stretch.