While many of us thought Google's laptop and desktop OS would be an extension of Android, Google had been working on the ChromeOS.
Announced today in a simple blogpost by Sundar Pichai, Google VP Product Management and Linus Upson, Engineering Director, the new OS is also a Linux derivative and will also run on ARM and x86 processors.
From reading the post, here are my first impressions:
The ChromeOS is going to be an almost "instant-on" OS like Splashtop or Hyperspace. Google says you'll be browsing and emailing in a few seconds from turning the machine on.
This also means there will be no "sleep mode" and the computers running ChromeOS will be using 0 power when not in use.
It will be "Cloud-based" meaning that all of your files will reside in the cloud. It isn't apparent yet if the ChromeOS will cache files locally.
Google Will likely use some sort of Gears/HTML5 DB capabilities to keep local access to file system going as they now do in their browser.
While it will run on desktops, it is geared toward Netbooks and Google expects ChromeOS Netbooks to arrive by the end of the year.
The ARM vs Intel battle will unfold on Google hardware as it seems this is the first place each will be otherwise equal in Software.
Competition is going to be great for the consumer both in driving down prices as well as squeezing out performance.
On the software development side, they are taking the "Palm Pre model". Applications are going to be developed using CSS and HTML 5 specifications and will be portable to other platforms (Windows,Mac, Linux through the Chrome Browser - which is no longer a browser but more a platform - like Adobe Air.
The OS Wars are now officially back on, with the Google Chrome OS looking like a worthy contender to do battle with Mac and Windows.
Comments
simon said: good for me good for you although not sure about having my files in the cloud
jackhenry said: Where does the hysteria that pours out against Microsoft originate from Competition is good for all industry those that succeed come out top My opinion on the latest Google dream to be Master of all is no different to be what Microsoft set out to achieve Cloud computing my be the way of the future but there are many many fences to jump before it is totally and fully secure
tom said: To DieSseDream on
DieSse said: If they get it right and we know Google can get things right - thisll really put the cat among the pigeonsMy personal view in recent months has been that instant-on Linux will be the thing that finally dethrones MS grip on the OS world
les said: its just going to be yet another linux distro guys - so no real threat to windows
Simon said: Maybe the master race microsoft might take their customers more seriously and work towards a faster leaner OS
PC Advisor said: Thanks A1an Corrected
A1an said: TypoThe OS Wars are now officially back on
Ryan said: I definatly think it will improve Windows ideas in creating a faster operating system because Mac OSx and now Googles OS are both fast at starting up and shuting down unlike most of windows operating systems