Google today have announced they have been working on a new open-source operating system that will take the game to Microsoft, and other netbook OS manufacturers
It’s long been on the cards, since the release of Google’s Android OS for mobile phones, and the inevitable hacking culture of users getting it to work on a netbook. Since then, it showed its ability to hook into other hardware and raised the question, “Could Google be working on something more than just a mobile OS?” I thought so.
Since then, it’s made perfect sense for Google to create their own OS for something bigger than a mobile phone. There is competition, but quite frankly it is having to adapt to the netbook market. Look at the imminent release of Windows 7, which at it’s most basic form is being coded to work on a netbook. Then also look at the rumour mill surrounding Apple creating their own netbook. It’s a growing market, with competition already starting to become fierce. Also, In an otherwise stagnant IT industry, Google don’t want to be left behind.
So, today, the Google Chrome Operating System was officially announced to the world. Although being marketed as separate from Android, there is mention of “overlap”. One view could mean parts of Android and the Chrome OS will be at least in common and familiar, but possibly also an easy interface between netbook and cellphone? The key design idea behind the OS is, much like the Chrome browser, to be quick, simple, clean & effective – looking at a very quick power-up procedure to get the user as quickly as possible onto the net. As should be obvious too, it will be geared towards Google’s online services with the ability to synchronise and view your stuff offline (see what I did there?). After all, a netbook without an internet connection, and everything hosted online, is about as useful as a plastic brick..
I think the biggest problem for the OS that it will need to overcome, is to make Google’s online services compelling & visible enough to replace the offline equivalents. It’s great having GMail, Calendar, Docs and the rest of the Google services online, but if the average netbook buyer on the street doesn’t know about them, it’s going to be a futile task trying to sell them a new computer.
Earmarked for a hardware release in the second half of 2010, Google’s Chrome OS will be another player in an increasingly squeezed market for Microsoft. The benefit will of course be for the consumer, with either a compelling new OS, or a reduced cost Microsoft product. Fingers crossed..