Google Chrome: An OS for Netbooks
Google has made the long-awaited and rumored announcement that it will launch an operating system. Carrying the same name as its Chrome browser, this will be built specifically for running lightweight Web apps on machines that are built around Web access.
In other words, it’s a shot at Microsoft and the longstanding paradigm of big, heavy operating systems built to run robust desktop software. With the advent of cloud computing, this is a good move: More and more users are turning from desktops to laptops and netbooks. Chrome OS will be a more effective way to run browser-based applications.
It will also be open source, built on the Linux kernel and optimized for machines that run on x86 architecture chips and ARM chips, which power an increasing share of notebooks and netbooks. The open source architecture should also be an enticement for OEMs to adopt it, given its price tag (free), in the face of shrinking margins.
If this sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the same philosophy behind Google’s Android mobile OS. Chrome can be seen as the Android of the PC world, with a little bit more power to run netbooks as opposed to smartphones. Android in fact has already been speculated to be a suitable OS for some netbooks, and Google has admitted there will be some overlap.
Bottom line: Like Android, the development of an OS that meets the technical specifications of the device and the trends of how they’re being used is a logical move. This will also entice developers to build applications that use the browser as an access point: in other words, Web apps. We’re seeing the same thing in the mobile world.
The HTML 5 standard is wrapped up in all this — a strong push for Google and something that will allow developers to build Web apps that have functionality previously reserved for heavy desktop software. This is a big move but not an unexpected one — following the ongoing trend toward cloud computing and mobility.
Its groundbreaking idea from Google web OS and they are planning to wipe out Windows in a most strategic manner. Google clearly pointing to Microsoft when they say “The operating systems that browsers run were designed in an era where there was no web”. But there are few questions which are unanswered like what will happen when we will go offline in Chrome OS? Can we use offline applications like iTunes or Photoshop? Can we run third party applications? How they are going to make profit from it ? I am also bit concerned whether Chrome OS will be embraced by enterprises as it is open source and web based as there is always a security issue….Just wait another thought can Chrome OS will become a global hit especially in small countries where internet is very fickle. But leaving these things aside its going to be win-win situation for the users and it will be interesting to witness the war between giants.
Great points about the drawbacks in a corporate setting. I also agree about the direct shot at Microsoft in the Google blog post. OEMs meanwhile will like the price tag because their margins are being squeezed more and more.