Google has unveiled details on its upcoming Chrome operating system. This open-source, lightweight OS relies heavily on the Internet for functionality and is being designed for netbooks. Its narrow focus eliminates a lot of the headaches involved with a traditional operating system, but also limits its capabilities. A post on Google’s blog revealed:
It’s all about the web. All apps are web apps. The entire experience takes place within the browser and there are no conventional desktop applications. This means users do not have to deal with installing, managing and updating programs.
Second, because all apps live within the browser, there are significant benefits to security. Unlike traditional operating systems, Chrome OS doesn’t trust the applications you run. Each app is contained within a security sandbox making it harder for malware and viruses to infect your computer.
The concept behind Chrome OS sounds great and I could totally work with it. The bad news for Google is that there are a lot of people that can’t work with a cloud OS. The bad news for tech geeks like me is that Chrome OS won’t be out until “this time next year”.
Also, the guy narrating the video is a nob, but he’s not nearly as bad as the toolbox that Square Enix hired for its Final Fantasy XIII video. Anyway, let me know what you think of Chrome OS. Is it something you could use? Would you buy a Chrome OS netbook?
What about protection? Will I need it?
Wow… that's … uh, really thinking outside the box. But, how will this affect playing PC games, or PC games online? What about Steam? Would it be it's own "app?"
-M
@x_nation In general, you should try to use protection. Are we still talking about operating systems?
Here's an interesting and curious tidbit I learned about Chrome OS. Apparently it will only support solid state drives. That's pretty ballsy. I guess between the lightweight OS and solid state drives, Google wants every Chrome OS device to boot up in a few seconds.
Sounds like google is using the Smart Terminal or Thin Client approach. With smart terms or TCs there is no storage capacity on the device and everything must be executed on the server. This means that if you get a nasty bug while using the term or TC you simply turn it off and all is forgiven.
I'll be interested to see more of this down the road. WIthout a decent connection, I see this having problems with multimedia….but the devices themselves that Chrome OS is put on should be relatively cheap and very efficient on battery life. No HDD, just a flashed on OS. Nice.
by solid state i read it to mean that the OS will be flashed onto the equivalent of flash memory and the system will just operate off of Ram.
@Smartguy It could be that or it could be a small solid state hard drive (4GB). Either way, it's still ballsy…and I love it!
Yeah that would mean their netbooks could be supported by ASUS first. Like the eee pcs they put out.
I see it more of the only thing on there is what you need to boot up and there is 2 gigs of Ram on board to handle everything else. Really this machine should be no more than 100 bucks if the screen isn't all fancy. 2 or 3 USB ports and I'd consider getting one just for the sake of having it.
Hey! I found this article on PC Magazine and it helped shed some more light on the issue if anyone is interested:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2356137,00.a…
-M
@ Rpad
I guess since everything is going to be stored over the internet. Question would be does that operating system would require some type of protection? Or does my computer require a specific protection for that OS?
@xnation
You don't need protection for the Chrome OS. Everything is stored on google servers. Kind of like using a terminal server farm. The terminal in this case is the netbook…it can't use executable files. hence…no bugs.
Anyone heard anything about the rumor that firefox may end up on ps3?
When is it coming out anyway? i want this and google wave NAOUGH!!!
@Trikkey Yes, I'll write about that shortly.
@rbee90 Google said around this time next year, but everyone else is saying there will be products before that.
@ smartguy
Thanx…