Google OS Finally a Reality
PrintThe big news out of the Google camp last night is that they've been working on a Chrome operating system, which the search giant says will be a natural extension of Google Chrome. Google will initially target netbooks, but reassured its newest project won't be replacing either the Chrome browser or Android.
"Speed, simplicity, and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS," Google wrote in a blog post. "We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the Web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of the way, and most of the user experience takes place on the Web."
The barebones approach isn't surprising, considering that Google's Chrome browser follows the same philosophy. And as the name might suggest, the two are linked by more than just design goals. Google's essentially tweaking the Chrome code base to run within a new windowing system piggybacking on top of a Linux kernel. It will run on both x86 and ARM chips, and Google has already put the wheels in motion with various OEMs to bring several Chrome-based netbooks to market in the second half of 2010.
While Google Chrome OS is still a year away from shipping, Google said they will have more updates this fall.
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DDTechGuy
July 08, 2009 at 4:13pm
I think the thing I'm most surprised about this whole thing, is that the responses here have been so few!
A minor undertaking by 'LittleJoe's Computerama" into the OS game would at least get a mass of cynical replies...but when the biggest techno driving force on the planet, who claims to want every bit of every person on the planets data in a db under their control, decides to toss their hat into the one place that could make that a reality...**crickets chripping**
The most 'noise' I've heard about this today stems from the financial community as they try and figure out how to make the most money off this venture (See Money Matters on MSNBC.com). Capitalism at it's best...woot!
Maybe 'resistance IS futile!' after all!!
DDTG
kiddcreole99
July 09, 2009 at 5:46am
Break out the tinfoil hats!
I don't think Google's approach to the way they run their business is any different than the folks in Redmond. They (M$) want to have as much of their product on your PC and in your home as you are willing to pay for, and in rare cases, offered for free (Windows Defender).
I think the totalitarian approach that Micro$oft has taken has been more well received by the general public because they brought us the all-mighty Windows, but how many antitrust suits have been filed against them around the world?
Regarding Google's "claim to want every bit of every person on the planets data in a db under their control", that is up to the user and whether they elect to put all of their eggs in the Google basket. Google is merely providing a single-vendor solution for things that most people currently spread across several web-based services.
Before the accusation is thrown out, I am not a Google fanboy by any means. The only two products I use are Chrome (web browser) and Gmail, and I have no intention of using the new OS (barring any major advantages or advancements over Linux or Windows). I just think it's not right to dig on a company that tries to challenge Micro$oft on all fronts on the grounds that there is some data-hording conspiracy.
Kazabet
July 08, 2009 at 1:56pm
I've used Chrome exclusively since the day it was released. I can't go back to something as slow as Firefox, or as non-standards-compliant as IE.
dreamsburnred
July 08, 2009 at 12:53pm
Lol, hopefully I will be on Mac OS X by the time GOS (Google OS) comes out as seriously.
1) Linux is still 10 years behind in ease of use for the end user. As installing is getting better but its no snap.
2) The Shell will not die.
3) After seeing chrome, GOS will be the buggiest OS EVER...crash crash crash, update update update.
4) More Confusion.
Its a nice try, but it seriously won't go anywhere as it would be only useful for the home users, and most of us are already happy with Mac/Windows.
DBR
Trooper_One
July 08, 2009 at 11:24am
I like the idea but just like the browser war, there's already too many flavours of opened source OS. I like Chrome but it just wasn't enough to pull me away from Firefox, which I' so used to. Maybe they need to concentrate on improving Chrome before moving into the Open OS areana, though I can see them being a force to reckoned with if they can make it really easy to use for the masses with their netbooks.
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