Is Google the new McDonald's?

There are many implications for technology in the 21st century generally, and in the realm of education specifically. One of the final questions we are addressing in the 518 Technology in the Classroom course looks at sourcing technology to schools as a single educational offering.  Microsoft has already been largely successful at having their software be the most-used in schools nationwide, and certainly Apple has tried to make inroads with their computers and tablets. Now Google is getting in on the game. They are offering schools not just the hardware, laptops and tablets, but a full spectrum of software. They hope to provide all the necessary classroom management tools that teachers will need as well as the applications that students will need. There is something very alluring about this single product opportunity. It promises to streamline everything to maximize communication and efficiency. On the other side of the coin, (the "dark" side, perhaps) there are many concerns that are raised about this "single product for everything and everyone" system. It would be incredibly unwise to push aside what we know to be true about the true purpose for companies in this capitalist society, and that is the bottom line. Sure, Google wants to make people's educational experience better, but what they really want is to sell you stuff. And everyone who studies economics and culture know that it's best to hook people while they're young. Just like McDonald's aims to snag lifetime customers at a very early age with their salty, fatty, sweet, comes-with-a-toy-happy meals, so Google is hoping to get loyal users as young as possible. Google has had numerous issues with their privacy policy, and that concern should be doubled when it comes to our children.