Computers & Electronics

Google announces they are working on a Chrome OS

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  • Jul 9th, 2009 8:37 pm
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Jul 28, 2005
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Google announces they are working on a Chrome OS

I think a lot of us figured it was coming, but now they have officially announced it. They plan to open its source later this year, and feel in will be ready for consumers in the second half of 2010.

And as expected, it's a lightweight OS that will be targeting lower powered devices such as netbooks. Although, maybe slightly surprising, they're saying it will be a separate project from Android.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/ ... me-os.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10281744-2.html
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Aug 17, 2003
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IMO the android/chrome differentiation isn't that surprising considering the goal of Chrome OS.

Microsoft is working on something similar to Chrome OS --> Gazelle.

I really like the strategy/targetting netbooks
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One year ago, I believe a lot of people were under-estimating the impact of netbook. I was one of them until I got my first netbook. I must admit, Intel's Atoms is one beautiful CPU that just hit the right spot in the consumers market. So the two 500 lbs gorilla targeting this netbook market segment is only logical (if not essential).

Google seems to be ahead of the game though. People who have used Google Chrome should have already noticed the various features that diminish the boundaries between browser and OS. With that implement on a netbook, it's like a perfect solution. I am looking forward to this.
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I'm excited to see this. Personally I think Microsoft needs to share some of the pie and Google is probably one of the only companies with enough resources to steal some away from them.
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Jul 5, 2005
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Strange move by google. If I want an open source OS for my netbook I already have linux. It'll be interesting to see what they eventually do but I find it hard to believe that they'll do much in the netbook market when linux and windows already fit the needs of pretty much everyone.
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hugh_da_man wrote: Strange move by google. If I want an open source OS for my netbook I already have linux. It'll be interesting to see what they eventually do but I find it hard to believe that they'll do much in the netbook market when linux and windows already fit the needs of pretty much everyone.
People always seem to overestimate linux....I'd bet that 80% of the population doesn't even know linux exists which isn't really going to change.

Google has huge name brand recognition which will help it here.
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torseller07 wrote: One year ago, I believe a lot of people were under-estimating the impact of netbook. I was one of them until I got my first netbook. I must admit, Intel's Atoms is one beautiful CPU that just hit the right spot in the consumers market. So the two 500 lbs gorilla targeting this netbook market segment is only logical (if not essential).

Google seems to be ahead of the game though. People who have used Google Chrome should have already noticed the various features that diminish the boundaries between browser and OS. With that implement on a netbook, it's like a perfect solution. I am looking forward to this.
Based on my observations I haven't seen much of an impact. I don't know a single person who owns one and I've seen very very few in public that have one.
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Jun 3, 2004
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ullyeus wrote: People always seem to overestimate linux....I'd bet that 80% of the population doesn't even know linux exists which isn't really going to change.

Google has huge name brand recognition which will help it here.
I couldnt agree more.

Ubuntu is on the market for years, but still not many people knows it.
and there are others too.

This reminds me like when Yahoo and Hotmail were the leader on the email market and Google came up with Gmail and it became HUGE.

with the opensource codes, it could become a really good OS for old PCs as well. Providing the drivers to the old Hardware will be a problem at the begining but it can be solved with opensource codes easily.

I'm really excited to see the Chrome OS.
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Nov 25, 2007
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The main problem with Linux is the complexity in configuration management. (It's meant to be a programmer's OS after all.)

Now if Google can effectively shield the configuration management from the users by using a browser (Google Chrome), that's something to look forward to. Deploying it on netbook (or other portable devices) would give Linux an extra edge over conventional Windows distribution.

I have been using a netbook extensively in the past 5 months or so. I think what netbook excels in is communication (IM, emails, posting in forums / facebook, voice chat) and searching (google or look up any information that you want on the web). Both are pretty practical and important application that we all do everyday. The premise though is that we have ubiquitous web connection (via wifi). Sadly, I have this feeling Canada will lag behind in the whole movement due to oligopoly of Bell and Rogers.
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scan wrote: Based on my observations I haven't seen much of an impact. I don't know a single person who owns one and I've seen very very few in public that have one.
Same. I haven
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ullyeus wrote: People always seem to overestimate linux....I'd bet that 80% of the population doesn't even know linux exists which isn't really going to change.

Google has huge name brand recognition which will help it here.
I'm not overestimating linux. I'm saying that people who want an open source OS already have that in linux. People who don't know that linux exists won't be installing Chrome OS either, they'll be buying windows because that's what they're used to.

Who knows, maybe it'll do well but windows will be tough to beat on netbooks even if it's $50 more than the Chrome OS model.
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hugh_da_man wrote: I'm not overestimating linux. I'm saying that people who want an open source OS already have that in linux. People who don't know that linux exists won't be installing Chrome OS either, they'll be buying windows because that's what they're used to.

Who knows, maybe it'll do well but windows will be tough to beat on netbooks even if it's $50 more than the Chrome OS model.

Who says Googles new OS will be open source? Free or based on an open source development does not mean the final project will be open source. Also Google TOS and their motives behind an OS makes me personally lean towards Windows and Linux OS. I am running Windows 7 perfectly fine on my AMD 64 2800+ with 1GB ram, hopefully a streamlined version for netbooks will run much smoother. I have never been a fan of Chrome too (uninstalled it very quickly).
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Asad_A203 wrote: Who says Googles new OS will be open source? Free or based on an open source development does not mean the final project will be open source. Also Google TOS and their motives behind an OS makes me personally lean towards Windows and Linux OS. I am running Windows 7 perfectly fine on my AMD 64 2800+ with 1GB ram, hopefully a streamlined version for netbooks will run much smoother. I have never been a fan of Chrome too (uninstalled it very quickly).
Um... that would be google.
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/ ... me-os.html

I am rather interested in this ChromeOS and I will be keeping a close eye on it to see what it can offer. One thing that I have always respected about google is that they consistently provide increasing functionaly while keeping things user friendly.

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jz1n wrote: Um... that would be google.
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/ ... me-os.html

I am rather interested in this ChromeOS and I will be keeping a close eye on it to see what it can offer. One thing that I have always respected about google is that they consistently provide increasing functionaly while keeping things user friendly.
LOL yeah I read the OP first post and realised that...
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Mar 23, 2005
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I really don't want to hand over my personal information to an operating system like Google.
They already know enough.
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gordholio wrote: I really don't want to hand over my personal information to an operating system like Google.
They already know enough.
And you think Microsoft doesn't do this? At least with Chrome OS being open source, they can't steal your personal information the "traditional way" (although if they had the intentions, they can still do it through other means...)
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Like android it will be linux or bsd with a google stamp on it. :cool:
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Jon Lai wrote: And you think Microsoft doesn't do this? At least with Chrome OS being open source, they can't steal your personal information the "traditional way" (although if they had the intentions, they can still do it through other means...)
M$ tried (via MSN before I believe) but quickly stopped when faced with some debate in regards to the legality of it. I believe Chrome tried the same thing. However if google offers the OS for free, I wonder if they would be able to get away with a clause in the TOS.

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