This article from Ubuntu Forums made to the Digg homepage today:

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=280622

I agree that Google's (big) commitment to Ubuntu would made it extremely successful. I don't have doubt about that. Though I'm not sure I want Google to operate another part of my live :] On the other hand it still would be GPL, sources would be available and would belong to the public.