Tech & Biz

Google Chrome OS: Coming to Netbooks in 2010

by Jordan Yerman | July 7, 2009 at 09:26 pm

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Google Chrome OS isn't just a rumor. Google is going to launch its own operating system, aimed at cloud computing for netbooks. The Linux-based system is touted as "virus-free". The source code will be available later this year, with the consumer- ready version slated for release in late 2010. This just nine months after the release of the Chrome browser.

This is a separate project to Android, which is Google's mobile operating platform, eclipsed by the clamor surrounding the iPhone. There will be some overlap between the two, though.

According to the link above, Google is aiming to compete on boot time, which is something new. Neither OSX nor Windows is particularly speedy to boot up, but neither can be described as "lightweight".

The Google initiative poses a significant threat to Microsoft's software dominance in the global PC industry, but the Windows maker will be very difficult to beat, analysts say.

However, Microsoft should start to worry a little: Google is going after the netbook market, which is the fastest-growing sector in PC sales. Sure, most home-computer users are trained to asociate the computing experience with Windows, but they're also quite familiar with Google now, and since so much activity these days is browser-based, many users have no true need for a specced-out box or high-end laptop. They just need a browser and something to drive it.

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mudricky

at 10:03 on July 8th, 2009

To that end, the search giant said the new OS would go back to basics.

"We are completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates.

"It should just work," said Google.

Now that would be good.

Jordan Yerman

at 12:28 on July 8th, 2009

I would hope so. Chrome (the browser) has been a bit of a disappointment, as it remains a bug-fest. The sheer engineering power behind Google could be able to brute-force a basic OS; any Android users out there could shed better light on this, though.