So Google announced that they are launching their very own operating system: Chrome. Not to be confused with their browser, also called Chrome. Or their operating system for phones called Android.
So why is Google doing this? What on earth could be their reasoning? Wired has an article on how Google Chrome is going to make netbooks great. Bob Walsh at 47 Hats believes it is about content and advertising on those netbooks.
My problem with all of this is, it revolves around netbooks. Netbooks are tiny, cute little things that have no real computing power and are barely more powerful than my iPhone.
Within a couple of years I honestly don’t expect netbooks to be the hot seller that they are right now. Smart phones will have them beat (if they don’t already). Why carry around a netbook AND a laptop AND a smart phone? Because let’s face it, for doing much more than the most basic of tasks, netbooks are terrible. They won’t help you edit pictures, they are not great as presentation machines because of their low resolution and so on.
So let’s move beyond the netbook. Let’s say this is Google trying to create an operating system that is for a specific market. But what is this market?
1. We have Windows for those that want an OS that will run on a lot of different hardware configurations. It is great for work, games, and more. It is widely adopted.
2. We have Macs for those that don’t care about hardware configurations – they just want an OS that works. It is great for work, video and photo editing and more.
3. We have Linux for people that are really into Open Source – you can choose lightweight for netbooks or heavy-duty for desktops.
4. We now have Google Chrome … for … something. For those that love Google Apps and use them for everything? Perhaps. But this means their market is strictly for those that buy netbooks AND use all Google all of the time. This doesn’t seem like the MS Windows beater that so many in the press are billing this as.
For those that might think it is great as a low-cost OS for low-cost computers … well this was already done. gOS is an OS based around being light-weight and is optimized for Google Apps, Skype, IMs and so forth. This was even sold in low-cost computers through Wal-Mart. Not exactly a world-beater even so.
Heck, getting people to change operating systems is a tough task. This is particularly tough considering most people don’t even know what a browser is, let alone worry about what operating system they use. Don’t believe me? Check out this video made by Google where they asked people these very questions.
So what is the point of this OS? No idea. I can’t find one. This just seems insanely niche to me. Are they just doing this because they can? I am sure they have a master plan somewhere. I am just unsure of what that might be.
While I support anything that weakens the bloatware produced by Microsoft, I have to agree with you. I wish Google had adopted a Linux flavor and promoted game development and business apps for it. If there was a Linux flavor that had support from gaming companies, Windows would go away.
Of course I am an outspoken OSS advocate, and I support freeware. On my machine at home I have Office 2007 because I of my work requirements, but I use OpenOffice, also VLC, Foobar, Irfanview etc. So take my opinion with that caveat.
Googe’s Chrome OS will be targetted towards web developers who want to use what they know, namely HTML 5, to make desktop apps instead of web apps.
Palm Pre’s WebOS allows this, and has garnered a lot of developer excitement because of this.
Google is thinking that if they make development easier their app environment will be rich and that will, in the end, attract users.
Google has been right before, so I’m interested in the outcome.
I won’t disagree that it could be very cool. Geeks, like myself, will no doubt try it out when it comes out. But any kind of wide-adoption seems very unlikely to me. It still strikes me as something that is going to be very niche. No way does this end up with a bigger market share than Mac – let alone Windows.
More than likely it will be like Linux (as a desktop, not server, OS) – people who really love to tinker will use it. A few businesses might switch. But in the end it will just be a cool think for developers and people who like using cool things from developers for it.
I can see this being in my VM – but I don’t see it ever being a primary OS.
I also firmly believe that netbooks – which Google is making this for – will be gone in a year or two. I mean, smartphones are just about as powerful as a netbook these days, and far more portable.
I disagree that netbooks are a fad that will last only a short time. I am eager to purchase one to replace the need for a pile of cookbooks in my kitchen. Perhaps I could use a smart phone for this, but I doubt it would work well covered in flour. I need a larger screen. In addition, all I ever seem to do 90% of the time during the evening is research random info online, answer email, and update Facebook—our economy laptop is overkill for these tasks.
Unless they are super-fragil I could see netbooks used in classrooms for online quizzes and posts to sites like SchoolFusion.
I know I need to check Chrome out because I do, “love Google Apps and use them for everything”! : )
If you are looking to get a computer for recipes, I suggest going to eBay and bidding on an older laptop there. The screen will be larger, you could have it across the counter – or room – without squinting and the price will be the same or cheaper. Heck, if you are feeling really industrious you can even take it and do this with it: http://bluelinecity.com/projects/kitchenet/
As to using them in schools – perhaps. But if you want the students to do anything beyond tests and posting to Web sites – like say visiting a flash-intensive site about astronomy or using software that does the same – a netbook will be woefully underpowered. Not to mention that the kids will all get eye-strain from hours on those tiny screens. They are not meant as full-time computers, and using them all day in their classes would not be a good thing.
As to loving Google and using everything: You can do all of that now on Windows or Mac. Using a new OS (that doesn’t come out for another year anyhow) just doesn’t seem necessary to me.