GOOGLE PICKS GATES' BRAINS The broader concept Google is pursuing is similar to the "network computer" envisioned by Oracle chief Larry Ellison during a speech in 1995. The idea is that companies or consumers could buy a machine that costs only about $200, or less, but that has very little hard drive space and almost no software. Instead, users would access a network through a browser and access all their programs and data there. The concept floundered, but programmers note that Google could easily pick up the ball. Already, its Gmail free e-mail system gives users 100 megabytes of storage space on a remote network ? providing consumers a virtual hard drive. Make that 1000 Megs. And the Slashdot folks didn't question this concept. But, I think there are enough browsers already. Maybe Google will customize one of the existing ones. That $200 computer idea is right on target though. Finally, no more dumb users struggling with Windows to figure out what happened to all their files. Their online, being backed up by professionals now mam. No need to worry any more.