Google announces Google Chrome OS
Who says the netbook industry is boring?
Google announced Tuesday night that they were indeed working on a new operating system, separate from the Android OS, called the Google Chrome OS. Targeting initially the netbook market, the new Chrome OS will be available to consumers in the second half of 2010 and will be Google’s attempt to “re-think what operating systems should be.”
In a posting on the official Google blog, Sundar Pichai (VP of Product Management) and Linus Upson (Engineering Director) laid out the key aspects of Chrome OS – “speed, simplicity, and security”. The new OS will be “fast and lightweight” from the get go; have a minimal user interface that’s designed to “stay out of your way”; and a redesigned security architecture that eliminates the need for users to worry about “viruses, malware, and security updates.”
In other words – “It should just work.”
Continuing on, the two of them describe additional features that will be a part of Chrome OS including:
- Support for both x86 and ARM processors
- Running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel
- It’s all about the web – the web is the platform with Chrome OS
- Designed for a range of devices – from netbooks to full-sized desktop systems
With this announcement, it’s clear Google sees an opening here in the world of operating systems. Netbooks have allowed Google and many others to promote the notion of all-day computing as well as cloud computing. Ironically enough, it’s the low-power nature of netbooks that has finally made the late 90’s idea of thin-client PCs a reality. When consumers are at home, they typically want the best in a computer system. Yet when they’re on the road, things change. People want long battery lives, instant-on capabilities, and the ability to access their content no matter where they are. To that end, a new OS that delivers on speed, simplicity, and security makes a great deal of sense. Combine that with cloud computing and web applications, and you have a powerful platform in the making. Why work on Microsoft Word when you can stay within Google Docs? Why deal with Outlook when you can send and receive email through Gmail?
This all leads to the inevitable question of “why do we even need Windows?” And yes.. this is where Google Chrome OS comes in. If done correctly, Chrome OS has the potential of supplanting a decent portion of the netbook market away from Windows. It surely won’t eliminate Windows simply because there will still be a large populace that insists on familiarity and Windows, love it or hate it, provides that familiarity.
Google will open-source Chrome OS later this year and is already actively talking to partners about this project. It’ll be interesting to see what Chrome OS ultimately looks like for netbook systems. We’re certainly excited! In the eyes of Google, the future is indeed the web (and ultimately cloud computing).
Related Posts
Add New Comment
Viewing 7 Comments
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Add New Comment
Trackbacks
(Trackback URL)