Microsoft bigwigs Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer have broken their silence on Google's Chrome OS - hyped as a potential competitor to Windows - with separate attacks questioning the capabilities of the new platform.
New platform is no Windows challenger... yet
CEO Ballmer promised to be "respectful" of Chrome OS, but did point out that Google's desktop operating system won't ship for a year and a half, a fact that relegates it to the vapourware category for now.
"The Chrome OS thing is highly interesting," said Ballmer, before adding, "'Who knows what this thing is?"
Ballmer also knocked Google for developing two client operating systems: Android, which is gaining traction as an OS for smartphones and maybe other mobile devices; and Chrome OS, which will debut on netbooks and eventually challenge Windows 7 on laptops and desktops, Google hopes.
According to Reuters, Ballmer implied that Google's OS efforts lack focus:
"'I don't know if they can't make up their mind or what the problem is over there, but the last time I checked, you don't need two client operating systems,' said Ballmer. 'It's good to have one.'"
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, meanwhile, said he was surprised at the level of interest in Chrome OS.
"There's many, many forms of Linux operating systems out there and packaged in different ways and booted in different ways," the Microsoft founder told Cnet.
"In some ways I am surprised people are acting like there's something new. I mean, you've got Android running on netbooks. It's got a browser in it."
Related articles:
- Analysis: Google Chrome OS is bad for Android
- Google Chrome OS FAQ
- Is Ballmer secretly scared of Chrome OS?
With additional reporting from Jeff Bertolucci, PC World US magazine
Comments
Tim Wessels said: Well when it comes to vaporware Gates and Ballmer have been the masters Didnt these guys read the Google announcement Chrome OS is being designed from the ground up as and Internet aware OS And unlike all Microsoft Windows OS offerings Chrome OS will compact and based on open standards In the era of cloud computing all of Microsofts former strengths like controlling programming APIs and an army of developers is going to be stripped away Google Chrome OS could be end of the Microsoft Windows monopoly