By now you’ve probably heard that Google plans to introduce its own full-blown operating system called Google Chrome OS. This initiative is a shot across the bow of Microsoft and Apple, and represents a sea change in how we think about operating systems.
Most of today’s most popular operating systems, like Windows and the Mac OS, began their lifetimes before the age of the Internet. These are monolithic, top heavy conglomerations of software that have become increasingly complex over the years as more and more features are packed into them. They consume large amounts of resources (disk space, CPU) and have (at least in Microsoft’s case) become a nightmare in terms of security.
Chrome OS represents a clean break with the past for operating systems. It has been designed from the ground up with the idea that the Internet, not the desktop, is where computing will take place in the future. Chrome OS is essentially a windowing system built on top of a Linux kernel. There are no facilities for storing and manipulating files and data on your local computer. Keeping with Google’s web-oriented roots, Chrome OS stores everything in the cloud. It’s sort of like a web browser on steriods. It will be able to boot up on its own in just a few seconds without the aid of any other software and put you immediately on the Internet. The user interface will look virtually the same as the Chrome browser. Your applications will run in tabs inside the browser. The most likely target platforms for Chrome OS will be netbook-type computers that are likely to become increasingly popular next year, but Google also says that Chrome OS will eventually be available for desktops.
For a large subset of today’s computer users a fully web-based desktop operating system may be a good alternative to Windows or Mac OS. These users will be freed from the hassle of configuring their computers, updating their software, managing anti-virus and anti-spyware applications, and organizing and backing up their documents. For a lot of people taking this approach will mean little or no “feature loss”.
Here’s a screenshot from a netbook running Chrome OS:
You can see a full demo here. I am personally looking forward to purchasing a netbook running Chrome OS so I can have it sitting on my coffee table in the living room at an arm’s reach. This will save me from climbing the stairs and having to boot up my clunky Windows XP machine.
Nice post. I’m finally reaching the point where I’d like to be relieved of maintaining my computer, but letting go of file management is a big deal for more than an internet notebook. Hypothetically, if google OS can’t connect to the internet, what do you have?
Probably not much. For the majority of people however that’s probably not an issue since they are unlikely to power on their computers anyway if they don’t have connectivity to the internet.