Before I left for my monthly users group meeting this morning, I caught a quick glimpse of Google’s announcement to enter the world of operating systems on Twitter. Most folks in the tech business figured it would be a natural leap for Google to work towards their own operating system, especially after the release of their Chrome browser last year. I couldn’t wait to return home and participate in the techno frenzy.

I spent most of the evening reading many of the already thousands of responses to the Google announcement introducing the Chrome Operating System. My colleague, Adam Cochran, penned a nice article from the perspective of a Google OS wish list. Give his article a read, I especially liked his #4 point. Unfortunately, many of the articles I read tonight seem to be focusing on what Google Chrome will not be versus what Google themselves already stated it will be.

The executive summary of Google’s announcement:

• Google will release Chrome OS later this year
• Chrome OS will be available on products by mid 2010
• It will be based on Linux
• Promises to boot fast and be secure
• All applications will work within the browser (web based)

Although a new name and player, the Google Chrome OS will not be really new. These lightweight OS and OS hybrids are available now:

• Splashtop
• Moblin - a Linux Foundation and Intel project
• CrunchBang Linux
• Ubuntu NBR
• Cloud OS from gOS (vaporware at the moment)
• JoliCloud (not totally released yet)

I wonder if Google will be working with any of the above and retool and rebrand one of these existing systems?

Consumers want fast, safe, easy to operate computers and cheap, but get brain lock if they don’t see a Windows logo.

The first netbooks, before they were called netbooks, all came with a small, fast Linux operating system installed until Microsoft muscled into the space and screwed it up. Also to blame are consumers who have no intention or drive to learn or attempt to learn how to do their computing in anything but Windows.

While it is true that small percentage of computer users need Windows for proprietary software, games, and specialty software, all the above systems (and the upcoming Google Chrome OS) can perform the tasks folks work with the most often; word processing, digital photography (including light editing), email, social networking, and of course web browsing.

Windows won’t go away and really can’t go away (any time soon). With Google throwing their considerable weight into the operating system arena, I see an opportunity for Microsoft to stop trying to be all things to all people and concentrate, instead, on power users and businesses. Small, nimble Linux and web based operating systems can more than adequately serve the average computer user and even small business user. I am excited to see how today’s announcement plays out over the next year.

What about you? What are your thoughts on Google’s announcement and the future of computer operating systems?

Related articles:

1. Intel Helped Google with Chrome OS
2. Yet another reason to ditch Microsoft Office for web based apps
3. Email of the Week – 006

Tags: Google, netbook, operating system, os

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 at 10:05 pm and is filed under Riding Shotgun with Rick, Tech News. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.