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Google previews its upcoming Chrome OS
Google offered a preview of its upcoming Chrome OS during an event today. Stressing its target audience, Google said it is building Chrome OS with web users in mind, and that it probably isn't going to be a replacement for Windows, OS X or Linux desktops. Instead, the search giant is trying to form a new niche.
The unique aspect of Chrome OS is that it will be completely executed inside the Chrome browser. For example, things like applications, configuration, and file management are all contained within tabs on the Chrome interface.
One key characteristic of Chrome is that actual data storage and programs themselves are all stored and run online -- local machine storage is only used to speed up those processes. You can liken Chrome OS to a thin client of sorts, though the application is clearly different.
Chrome OS is also fully open source, and will run on a wider variety of hardware than standard x86-based PCs. However, it is specifically tailored to the hardware Google intends to support, meaning you may have to seek out "Chrome OS approved" hardware. The demo, which you can watch here, was done with an Eee PC. That being the case, I have a feeling Google will push to make Chrome OS available on a very wide variety of mobile devices.
Google hasn't given any timetables or specific release dates, only assuring people that development is underway.
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User Comments (19)
Post a comment| xclusiveitalian on November 19, 2009 3:09 PM | wow, i wonder how start-up and shut-downs are, other then those unknows it looks like a really amazing netbook OS, simple yet stylish in design. For some reason it reminds me of a Mac in a browser. I trust google more than both Windows and Mac, lets see how this finishes up. |
| gobbybobby on November 19, 2009 3:26 PM | vid makes it look good, but the person speaking was clearly reading from a script. |
| Kibaruk on November 19, 2009 3:58 PM | I expected way much more, much much more than just a google
chrome explorer with cloud-like system and bar tabbing than
just tabs. I feel this somewhat like Mac with iPhones did, knowing everything you did from your iPhone. I'm starting to hate google! |
| treeski on November 19, 2009 4:26 PM | Still can't get over the fact that all of the data/programs
would be stored online. I assume you would have to pay
extra for online storage? Even if not, I just personally
prefer having direct control over my data and
programs. I understand that this is not a replacing for the current major OS players. This is really just something different. But I don't think I'll be included in their target audience. |
| Timonius on November 19, 2009 11:15 PM | Sounds dissapointing already with the online storage stuff. What is Google trying to do? Try to make your private information searchable too? Scary stuff. |
| Puiu on November 20, 2009 12:39 AM | This will be very good for smart phones and netbooks but i don't see anyone looking beyond that. It also needs a more features and i hope that hardware support (aka drivers) won't disappoint like it did with vista. Also what about games? |
| Kibaruk on November 20, 2009 6:48 AM | This will be very good for smart phones
and netbooks but i don't see anyone looking beyond that. It
also needs a more features and i hope that hardware support
(aka drivers) won't disappoint like it did with vista. Also
what about games? If you really think that will work
on a 2, maybe 3" smartphone screen you really didn't see the
preview video.
|
| xclusiveitalian on November 21, 2009 2:06 AM | I think if they can also make it optional to save online and instead save data straight to your netbook, that would be better. |
| peas on November 21, 2009 11:20 AM | Remember folks... Chrome is an open "OS". Vendors will be free to customize it as they like, including where data is stored. There will be alot of innovation around Chrome OS. |
| Guest on November 22, 2009 1:51 PM | I was hoping the Chrome OS would have been a viable option
against Windows OS. With many older computers becoming
unable to run Windows 7 because of it's RAM limitations,
You're gonna see a lot of them in the landfills as unviable
machines. Linux for the masses is still not user friendly
and with Chrome being a Linux-based OS a major player could
have been seen as a User-Friendly Linux based OS. I would love to replace the many "Hacked" versions of Windows XP Pro that have come to me for repair with Chrome OS and was looking forward to seeing this OS come out, now I'm a bit disappointed at what it is being touted to be. |
| Guest on November 22, 2009 4:50 PM | Hi folks. I have a question. I admit I didn't watch the
vid yet but it just occurred to me...what about anitivirus
protection? I've read a bit about chrome but I don't recall
seeing how the antivirus would work. I've ran the online
scans before but there'd have to be a bit more than that to
make chrome computers secure. Saying that, I'm definitely
one who likes the separation of the net and "my stuff" but I
wouldn't mind a netbook with chrome on it, solely for
browsing away from home; for everything else, I'll keep my
big ol' laptop with vista  .
|
| Guest on November 22, 2009 5:21 PM | Hmmmm just watched the vid, now I have to ask...what about IM such as msn and yahoo? If you can't download them to your machine, how do you access them? I've used their respective webmessenger programs but those are no where near as good, so that can't be the answer. |
| T77 on November 23, 2009 7:16 AM | its a nice concept,utilizing cloud computing power. it is good for the weakest of computers. |
| realxboxmaster on November 24, 2009 8:52 AM | It's a nice thought, but it won't make a dent at all. |
| Aolish on November 24, 2009 11:12 AM | Google said it is building Chrome OS
with web users in mind, this is the one thing that
i'm really looking forward to. I have a PC on my network
that my parents use that is extremely outdated. My father
constantly complains about how slow it is. Despite me doing
a full format and reinstall of the OS, the system still is a
little slugglish. It takes eons to first load up firefox.
I'm not sure why. Maybe firefox is just a little bloaty? The
system is a P4 2.5ghz with only a measly 256mb of ram. I'm
hoping Chrome OS will be a little slender and leaner then XP
in the hopes of speeding things up on the aging pc.
|
| Vicenarian on November 24, 2009 3:19 PM | Isn't Chrome OS based off Linux in the first place? |
| Vicenarian on November 24, 2009 3:22 PM | Aolish said: I installed Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic on
a friend's Sempron 2800+ a few days back, it only has 512 MB
Ram, runs fantastic. I can have Firefox going with video,
skype running, and a word processor going, and yeah, it
works just great. Firefox loads in about 2 seconds or so,
and the computer starts up and shuts down fast too (shutdown
is like 5 seconds). If your parents don't mind getting into
ubuntu, it's worth a shot, especially if you are going to
reformat in the future anyway.
Google said it
is building Chrome OS with web users in mind, this is
the one thing that i'm really looking forward to. I have a
PC on my network that my parents use that is extremely
outdated. My father constantly complains about how slow it
is. Despite me doing a full format and reinstall of the OS,
the system still is a little slugglish. It takes eons to
first load up firefox. I'm not sure why. Maybe firefox is
just a little bloaty? The system is a P4 2.5ghz with only a
measly 256mb of ram. I'm hoping Chrome OS will be a little
slender and leaner then XP in the hopes of speeding things
up on the aging pc. |
| Nirkon on November 25, 2009 2:10 AM | I thought it was released already, I guess what I saw was
leaked releases of the OS... I wonder though if I'll be able to run this from a jump-drive! that'll be perfect! |
| jazboy on November 25, 2009 11:59 AM | wow... I was really waiting for Google chrome OS to come out. Can't wait to try. I am very eager to try this out. |
