A Los Angeles Times story says the search engine giant has been negotiating with Wal-Mart and others to sell a computer that would run a Google-developed operating system, not Microsoft Corp.’s Windows.

The basic prediction is that Google will begin selling a super-low cost PC. Another thing we might see are “Google Cubes”, a small device which would allow you to move media, like songs and video, between your computer and TV set. Rumor is that the reason Larry Page is keynoting at CES this week is precisely so he can unveil Google’s big “It”, whatever it is.

The idea of a low-cost, consumer-oriented information processing system isn’t unattractive, but it’s been tried before and largely failed. In part, that’s because the offerings didn’t have a backer of the wealth of Google behind it, but unless the vendor seriously limits what the thing can do, sooner or later the support calls start flooding in and the cost of helping non-technical buyers install new software and updates start mounting. All this just to get a few more ads in front of a few more eyeballs, which is the motivation Google is perceived to have behind launching its own PC?

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