My first day of 2025 has been all about Google. For the past few years, I’ve heavily invested in Microsoft and OpenAI. While I plan to continue using ChatGPT, I’ve officially moved on from Microsoft—specifically, Microsoft 365.
Hardcore Google fanboy:
As someone who runs home servers, my entire digital life revolves around them. They house everything—from the books I’m writing to my extensive collection of tech knowledge stored in documents and spreadsheets. For years, I’ve been a vocal advocate for reclaiming personal data from big tech, but my stance on that is set to evolve this year.
Being a hardcore Google fanboy, I’ve decided to shift my investments and knowledge-base assets to the search giant. This includes subscribing to Google Drive’s 2TB premium plan for backup storage.
The reason behind this change is straightforward: with a Linux command-line tool called rclone, I can seamlessly sync data between my home servers and Google Drive using the Drive API. This functionality feels revolutionary—I can’t believe I hadn’t explored it earlier.
Linux and Google have always been cornerstones of my tech universe, and seeing them work together so harmoniously is incredible. By utilizing crontab, I can automate sync schedules, ensuring that backups occur at specific times without manual intervention. Perhaps the most exciting part is that this marks my first venture into syncing my servers’ data with external cloud storage. The experience has been nothing short of amazing!
Why Google Drive?
As I mentioned earlier, my life currently revolves around my home servers. However, the thought of those servers suddenly failing and losing access to my data is a nightmare I’m determined to avoid. While I’ve long championed the idea of reclaiming personal data, I realize it’s not worth jeopardizing my digital life for the sake of principle.
Additionally, as an Android app developer earning a living through the platform, my personal and professional life is now deeply intertwined with Google. Given this strong connection, it feels only natural to prioritize Google over other tech companies. Moreover, storing my data on Google Drive is not only more convenient but also far safer than relying exclusively on my home servers. This shift represents a balance between practicality and security, aligning perfectly with my evolving needs.
Google-first tech life:
I’m considering the possibility of moving away from most Microsoft services entirely and fully immersing myself in the Google ecosystem. While it may not be entirely feasible, I’m intrigued by the idea of replacing tools like Microsoft Word with Google Docs and Excel with Google Spreadsheets.
However, I recognize the challenges involved. For instance, I rely heavily on Microsoft Word for writing my Linux book, which I plan to publish on Amazon. Transitioning to Google Docs for such a critical project might be tricky.
That said, I’m eager to experiment. Perhaps purchasing a Chromebook would give me a chance to experience how seamlessly Google’s ecosystem works and what it’s like to live a Google-centric digital life. It’s an exciting experiment, and I’m curious to see how far I can take it.
Conclusion:
I once harbored concerns about Google’s future, especially given the unprecedented challenges it faces, including antitrust cases and fierce competition from OpenAI. However, as I’ve been following recent developments, the outlook seems more promising than I initially thought.
For instance, Apple’s collaboration with Google on antitrust matters is a surprising but encouraging turn of events. Additionally, the momentum behind Google Gemini showcases the company’s ability to innovate and stay competitive in the evolving tech landscape.
As an Android engineer, I have a personal stake in Google’s success, and I genuinely hope the search giant continues to remain robust and navigate these challenges effectively.