Google+ Debut - Facebook Contender or 90 Second Knock Out? Testing GitHub as Blogging Platform

Google+ is Googe's version of Facebook and I'm in.  I really like the clean interface, the lack of obnoxious advertisements, and its "circle" privacy management.  A social service only works though if all the people you care about uses it.  It is the *only* reason I bothered with Facebook - even my elderly and technophobic in-laws were using it.  So what will lure people from Facebook to Google+?  

First, time wasters.  I think they'll have to add those stupid games that people play on Facebook.  

Second, integration with other services - including Facebook.  At least for the short term, the ability to cross post status to facebook will be important.  Services like Posterous and Ping will need to add a Google+ option too.

Like Google Wave before it, I'm rooting for Google+.  While less ambitious than Wave in terms of innovation and totally changing how we communicate, Google+ is trying to take on  THE social network site, Facebook, with its 750 million active users.  If nothing else, maybe this competition will force Facebook to fix some of its problems with privacy.  

One thing is for sure, this new entry in the social space is going to confuse my in-laws when they get their invitation from me.  :)