Talks of a PC-based Google OS has been going on for literally years now. It looks like 2010 is the year we finally see it in actual form, with today’s formal announcement of ChromeOS, an open-source, lightweight PC platform for machines running on X86 and ARM processors.
According to Google, the operating system will be a natural extension of their Chrome browser, meaning it will likely be a web-centered platform as has been originally rumored. They add that it will be a redesign of what operating systems should be now that the web is firmly entrenched as a central part of our experiences with computers.
In essence, the architecture will consist of a Linux kernel that boots directly into a Chrome browser. That means, your desktop is essentially the browser, with web apps (and their offline versions) being the only things you’ll run. It’s a radical retooling of the way we use computers that has the potential to change the OS landscape if it succeeds. Unfortunately, it’s up for a long hard battle that will likely take years, if not decades.
This early, the company claims to already be in negotiations with several netbook and smartbook manufacturers to use the OS as their default platform beginning in the second half of 2010. As for the potential overlap with Android (which some companies are now testing for use in netbooks), Google reasons that “choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone.” I honestly can’t wait to see what happens in the space from now till that time.
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