Ouch. Just as Microsoft was poised to continue its netbook dominance with Windows 7, Google on Wednesday announced an OS of its own, Google Chrome OS, which will run on both x86 and ARM systems.

The emphasis of the OS is the same as what netbooks were originally designed for: light, Web-based computing. Obviously, Windows XP wasn't designed for such a scenario, but its relative light weight, low cost, and familiarity have made it a big hit with netbook buyers.

Google's new open-source OS will almost certainly beat XP and Windows 7 on cost, and will be lighter weight, but there's no telling how it will be to actually use. The relative dearth of Linux on netbooks also shows that people tend to prefer a more Windows-like environment. Google's blog entry about the OS says:

"The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the Web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work."

According to Google, the Chrome OS runs "within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel," and will eventually run on everything from netbooks to full desktop PCs. That's the key differentiator between the full-blown Chrome OS and Google's Android, which will start appearing in netbooks in the next few months (Google says there will be areas of overlap for the two operating systems, netbooks being the main one).

From a developer standpoint, the Chrome OS is good news, because there's basically no new platform to write for—any browser-based app will work with Chrome, just as it will in any browser on any OS.

It remains to be seen how the Chrome OS will affect companies like DeviceVM, which provides a quick-boot Linux-based environment that can be quickly loaded before Windows. DeviceVM, and rival Phoenix Technologies, provide access to the Web and multiple apps in seconds, far less time than Windows needs to load.

"The announcement of the Google OS further validates Splashtop's value proposition to consumers who are demanding instant-on, easy to use, secure computing," said Mark Lee, co-founder and chief executive of DeviceVM, in a statement provided to PCMag.com. "The market has been moving towards an instant-on model for several years now, and DeviceVM has already seen tremendous success in the space, with tens of millions of consumers already using Splashtop today, and 8 of the top 10 PC OEMs shipping Splashtop on devices this year.


Google says it is already talking with "multiple OEMs," and that we can expect Chrome netbooks to hit store shelves in the second half of 2010—yup, you've got a year to wait. Will you have Windows 7 on your netbook by then?

I'll wait 4 chrome os to be used for like 3yrs before i join the train, the idea is bound to have loads of bottlenecks @ first

That is the sensible thing to do anyway. As it is now, you cannot even get it RIGHT NOW even if you wanted to. It will NOT be available to manufacturing until 2nd Quarter of next year. Some people have been saying this is MS killer but I doubt it. From what I have read, it is going to be a lightweight OS (no unneccessary graphics), directly competing with Windows 7.

As it is, it is a straight fight between Google and MS. I bet MS will win. The good thing about this kind of competition is that we developrs and users win. No more buggy code, see what Firefox did to IE. Better products is the result of all these competitions. At the end of the day, who wins. It is neither MS, Google or any of the companies out there. It is we the users.

I even heard they are working on a Web OS. Those guys are ever ready to take the world by storm!

http://googleblog..com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html

No rational person would want a web based OS.
Except google have some security inovations, this thing is already doomed.
Google software seems to always miss the point anyway.

The whole thing sounds crazy, whats their kernel going to be? Linux? Or are they going to create one from scratch (incompatibilities will fry it quicker than it happened for Vista).

The whole thing is just a smoke screen to keep Microsoft running in Circles. Microsoft just launched Bing, and it is doing very well, then out of no where Google announces Chrome OS(It is not even ready) basically trying to make Microsoft think google is going after it's bread and butter (the OS Market), when really google is trying to protect it's Search market.

@ Beaf The Google Web OS is actually meant for heavy internet users (like my humble sef) and I think it is quite a great idea, and an outstanding motivation to web 2.0 enthusiasts all over the world.

My only regret is that they are a bit loud mouthed. I wish they surprised Microsoft by launching the product suddenly, and not announcing their "intention" to do so. Hope Microsoft doesn't do something about this "Web OS" innovation, because I love Google Corporation.

I can't wait, sounds good. Looks like Microsoft has new competition!!!

Microsoft have nothing to worry about. This is nothing other than a variant of Linux. Hello, there are many variants and packages already, I very much doubt google would bring anything that can challenge MS to the table.

The idea of using Google on netbooks aint the first. It failed the last time - just check out the numbers of eeepc/netbooks with linux that was returned, or bought only for windows to be installed on it. I should know, I am one of them.

ah, at last there is worthwhile competition for microsoft besides weak apple!

George_D:

ah, at last there is worthwhile competition for microsoft besides weak apple!

Please explain to me as to why it is a worthwhile competition. . . Maybe I am missing the point. You do realise this is direct at those who may be into "cloud computing".

well thumbs up for research and development
I think the chrone OS will be a success b/cos most simulations are gradually becoming web-based,but i quite agree with beaf; we are in the era of illegal system penetration,in lieu how reliable is the user-security features of the chrone OS Besides the web is too open,Microsoft has the resources to come up or improve its OS.with these,the chrome might not be able to create a healthy competition,even though it is rooted on a different platform,it might end up being second to microsoft like linux,apple and the like.

Let's even see the thing at work before we run more analysis.

Guys, in terms of a stronger branding and CR (Customer Relations), Google Corporation may not equal Microsoft but regarding customer-friendliness, Google tops the list over Microsoft! What am I trying to say? When Google rolls out a strong OS from the competent hands of their powerful programming team, people will flock immediately. Chikena!

God help Microsoft IF Google makes their OS open-source, I'll really console Mr Gates.

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@ngel0v3:

Guys, in terms of a stronger branding and CR (Customer Relations), Google Corporation may not equal Microsoft but regarding customer-friendliness, Google tops the list over Microsoft! What am I trying to say? When Google rolls out a strong OS from the competent hands of their powerful programming team, people will flock immediately. Chikena!

God help Microsoft IF Google makes their OS open-source, I'll really console Mr Gates.

There are already existing open source that is probably as good, but hardly has it given MS a headache. How you arrive at that, I am interested.

@ngel0v3:

Guys, in terms of a stronger branding and CR (Customer Relations), Google Corporation may not equal Microsoft but regarding customer-friendliness, Google tops the list over Microsoft! What am I trying to say? When Google rolls out a strong OS from the competent hands of their powerful programming team, people will flock immediately. Chikena!

God help Microsoft IF Google makes their OS open-source, I'll really console Mr Gates.

i really admire your sentiments mr ngel0v3 but please inject a dose of realism. customer friendliness? how many google products do you personally pay for? am sure you are saying this on a system running xp or vista and not unix.

then call me on 08060032733

well, this is not a suprise to microsoft or bill gate. in the 90's when netscape launched the first browser, the navigator, bill gate postpone all the then current project going on in microsoft and directed the whole energy and resources of the company in coming out with its own browser. he forsaw a future in which the internet could render all the functions of the desktops os and applications software useless since applications could be down loaded as applets and does everything its own line of products can do. we can see sme some these as the little wordprocessor in compose in yahoomail. he came out withits own IE1, IE2, which was a childplay untill he strarted the real challange with IE3. If the future of computing lies in internet OS, bet microsoft will launch its own version and the competition continues.

I read this over the weekend and i must say that i found it interesting. I just hope google don't come stuck like netscape.
Like every new project, it'll have a few problems earlier on. Fingers crossed, they'll come good.

@aikmenuk

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Find another place (perhaps Nairalist) to post your adverts. This is not the right place for that. Thank you.

@ElRazur

There are already existing open source that is probably as good, but hardly has it given MS a headache. How you arrive at that, I am interested.

Men, you don't get it yet? Google is deliberately flexing muscles with Microsoft. I don't know exactly why they are so opposed to Microsoft (you know, background [boardroom politics]) but Google intends to fully utilize what they have that MIcrosoft can't really boast of: loyal fans!

Microsoft may seem to have fans of her own, but 75 - 80 percent of them don't really enjoy the expensive monopoly that Microsoft exercises through their WINDOWS OS. If Linux, which is open-source was less technical, it would have been popular among the general population. But it ain't!

I trust that Google's incoming desktop and WEB OS (which I am so enthusiastic about) will rock the world. Microsoft fans: AWAIT LIBERATION SOONNNNN!!!!!

. . .One thing about Netscape. They were selling their browser!

Microsoft gave us the free browser. So the web is now democratic.

A lot of the anti-MS religion is down to the bitternes of netsape after MS won (and even planted a giant IE logo in netscapes fountain  ).
MS is better for the average joe than linux ever will be.

If I'm gonna base my judgement of their OS on the performance of their current browser, Chrome. Then I have to say that it'll be a huge success. But its hard to say right now. Who knows what microsoft have up their sleeves

ElRazur:

Please explain to me as to why it is a worthwhile competition. . . Maybe I am missing the point. You do realise this is direct at those who may be into "cloud computing".

any competition is good enough besides steve jobs!

@George_D My dear, let's leave Steve out of this for now. That guy is in a league of his own I call, "The Elders' Clique".

George_D:

any competition is good enough besides steve jobs!

Thing is google is already very late in the cloud computing market. MS, Amazon and others have been there and dominate. . . Cloud computing is already a failure, so will chrome os based on a failed concept.

@ngel0v3:


@ElRazur
Men, you don't get it yet? Google is deliberately flexing muscles with Microsoft. I don't know exactly why they are so opposed to Microsoft (you know, background [boardroom politics]) but Google intends to fully utilize what they have that MIcrosoft can't really boast of: loyal fans!

No. You do not get it. Google is not doing anything new. And they are not flexing any muscles. It is the media that is reporting as such.

Again, another reason why you do not get it. There are no loyal fans when it comes to things like this. People who buy apple brand,  use a pc one way or the other. Besides, loyal fan is not the basis for running a business.

Microsoft may seem to have fans of her own, but 75 - 80 percent of them don't really enjoy the expensive monopoly that Microsoft exercises through their WINDOWS OS. If Linux, which is open-source was less technical, it would have been popular among the general population. But it ain't!

Before MS came into the game, things wasn't unified. It was after, that your printer will work with most PC without much configuration etc. It is one of the main reasons a lot of people have a PC - not because they are fans like you have pointed out.

What are you talking about? Linux is not "less technical" the problem it had is the non-unification [unlike MS/Windows Os]. For example, you may need a few tweaks to get a program running on different Linux based OS. This is something the public shyed away for.

And from what I can gather, it appears the Google OS is another Linux variant, I wonder if we should call it "less technical"?

I trust that Google's incoming desktop and WEB OS (which I am so enthusiastic about) will rock the world. Microsoft fans: AWAIT LIBERATION SOONNNNN!!!!!

Well done. You. . . . Fanboy.

For the record, this is not even a direct challenge to MS. It is an attempt at introducing cloud computing to the masses. I am not so sure how this would take off and the implications for other avenue - e.g Legal papers etc. NO lawyer is willing to send a legal document, or some top secret paper to the web [secured or not] and print it out the next day. The server could be hacked or it became lost etc.

People like that - Lawyers, Military, Spies etc would prefer to have their document on a local host than cloud computing.

George_D:

any competition is good enough besides steve jobs!

Competition is good, I am not arguing that. However, this is not a direct threat to MS in my view like some people are claiming.

Its just google Wave being packaged as an os. Sad.
Its all web services and Wave, not something new and clever; similar configurations of linux failed in the mini laptop market. Google might add more zing, but I'll ratther not be tied to a company that treats privacy with levity; when the time comes this will be a major issue.

Beaf:

Its just google Wave being packaged as an os. Sad.
Its all web services and Wave, not something new and clever; similar configurations of linux failed in the mini laptop market. Google might add more zing, but I'll ratther not be tied to a company that treats privacy with levity; when the time comes this will be a major issue.

Why are we on the same wave length?

I bought the first ever eeepc - 7inch version, and while everything works, it still not a match for windows OS. After enduring it for three months etc. I had to return it and get the bigger brother, but with windows installed on it.

whether this will unseat MS is better left for time to decide. nonetheless,
it is a welcome change at least for once in many years.