Google announces Chrome Linux... err... Chrome OS

primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' BoopinDetroit, MI Icrontian
edited July 2009 in Science & Tech
Google announces Chrome Linux... err... Chrome OS

Comments

  • gondwannabe
    edited July 2009
    Here's the point - this is not about replacing the PC as a workstation - there will still be a need for many Windows and Mac applications for doing 'serious' work like multi-media - rather this is about web/cloud based communication, converged with telephony (Skype, for example) - with a persistent, cheap, always on and most important mobile platform. The PC users perspective misses the point about how most users use their computers today. Most personal use doesn't need a PC in the traditional sense - when is the last time you had to roll-back a driver in your tv? Why do you think the iPhone is such a game changer? Google get it.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited July 2009
    And yet the "Micro$oft" crowd is using this as a rallying cry... That's the part that I don't get. I totally get the point of Chrome OS. It's the people who replace "s" with "$" that don't.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited July 2009
    Would be great for terminals that are web orientated. Stick it on my old original ASUS netbook for travelling. Like it.
  • MrTRiotMrTRiot Northern Ontario Icrontian
    edited July 2009
    I was just reading this...

    Anyone else notice this comment?

    "Acer, the world's third largest PC vendor, was unable to immediately provide a comment, while Asustek Computer declined to comment."

    http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/168034/google_is_already_working_with_pc_makers_on_new_chrome_os.html
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited July 2009
    It'll have it's uses but it's not a death knell to any existing OS, well accept perhaps linux in some areas. Which is ironic at best since it's basically saying linux is going to be the death of linux.

    The true test of the OS will be how much utility is given to the user when they aren't connected to the net. Because, ya know there are times when you don't have net connectivity.
  • GargGarg Purveyor of Lincoln Nightmares Icrontian
    edited July 2009
    The best thing about this, other than its intended use, is that it keeps the pressure on Microsoft. Windows 7 is a step in the right direction, but it would likely be the last step unless the pressure stays on.

    I got sucked into the Wikipedia vortex yesterday and was reading about the history of OS/2 and early Windows. Microsoft thought OS/2 was bloated, and at the time, Windows 2 & 3 were pretty trim. If you think about it, both of these old school OSs did an awful lot on a small footprint.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited July 2009
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  • Cliff_ForsterCliff_Forster Icrontian
    edited July 2009
    As decent and zippy as Windows 7 is on even fairly light weight hardware, Google will have to do something really compelling.

    I remember a little net argument with Thrax a while back on how I expected the Linux Ubuntu user base to grow, it was free, relatively light weight but still full featured enough that you could do most things in it (except DX gaming), but after struggling with countless driver issues on my last Ubuntu install, and getting to a point where I am pretty much married to the goodness that is Windows 7, I honestly would not suggest Ubuntu to the web surfing, document making, emailing with an occasional light photo edit crowd like I would have a year ago, Windows 7, simply put, is well worth paying for, even if that is all you do, your experience is just going to be better. I do this rarely, but I have to concede this argument to Robert, he was right. A year ago, even six months ago before growing to love Windows 7, I saw this movement starting to form for Ubuntu and was excited about the possibilities, now, I just can't recommend it to anyone.

    Now enter Google, who does show the ability to recognize great software and develop some pretty compelling software as well, and they have something the Ubuntu guys don't have, a big giant boat load of cash.

    So, I guess I am saying this, other lesser Linux distributions are probably going to have a ton of trouble keeping their projects afloat. I see Google being more of a threat to them than they are to Microsoft at this point.
  • chrisWhitechrisWhite Littleton, CO
    edited July 2009
    I am 100% underwhelmed and uninspired by this. It sounds good, sounds like a solid idea for netbooks and it could be a great solution for people who only use their computers for email, internet and Office but everyone else will stick with what they have. Maybe Google should just get Chrome finished for OS X and Linux before writing a whole new OS.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited July 2009
    Now to be a pundit:

    ChromeOS (I'm dubbing it COS right now) seems like the logical conclusions for Google's ambitions in the cloud, but it's an uninspired gesture. Windows 7 offers familiarity, speed and polish -- even on the netbook. The FOSS faithful have Ubuntu which, despite familiarity shortcomings for Windows regulars, has its own certain polish. Then there's Moblin, the rising Netbook distro from Intel that already demonstrates awesome usability, great boot times and low resource usage.

    Where does COS fit into this landscape? Nowhere, really. I'm not convinced that users will swallow the pill that Google is offering. Users return netbooks in record numbers when they're fitted with Linux. COS' arrival will herald even less of the familiarity and versatility that the PC-buying majority is accustomed to.

    Blithely selling the Internet as a platform that reaches everyone is a shrewd spin on a solution that will meet few people's expectations.
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited July 2009
    Comedy gold: http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-all-take-deep-breath-and-get-some.html
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