Forums | MacLife

Bat · 2009-07-08 5:07 am

MS releases Bing; Google announces it's getting into the OS biz. It's war.

Introducing the Google Chrome OS
7/07/2009 09:37:00 PM

It's been an exciting nine months since we launched the Google Chrome browser. Already, over 30 million people use it regularly. We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web — searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends. However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web. So today, we're announcing a new project that's a natural extension of Google Chrome — the Google Chrome Operating System. It's our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.

Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we're already talking to partners about the project, and we'll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.

Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and we are working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year. The software architecture is simple — Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. For application developers, the web is the platform. All web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite web technologies. And of course, these apps will run not only on Google Chrome OS, but on any standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux thereby giving developers the largest user base of any platform.

...

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/ … me-os.html

sp

Last edited by Bat (2009-07-08 5:08 am)

ukimalefu · 2009-07-08 9:27 am

Being from Google, maybe all your desktop pics will be ads. wink

This looks like yet another netbook OS. Intel's Moblin looks the best so far, IMHO anyway.

I like Google, but they should stop trying to reinvent the wheel, and everything. But if they're doing just to annoy Steve Ballmer, then ok, go on. Make a gaming console too.

Bat · 2009-07-08 2:52 pm

As an aside, have you noticed Gmail and Google Apps are finally out of beta?

Yeah, it's mainly a netbook OS. They are the fastest-growing market segment, and as they say, this is supposed to boot and get you on the 'Net ASAP.

(Gee, I wonder what the default homepage will be. Think they'll bundle a browser? All your webz are belong to us. wink )

gd · 2009-07-08 3:00 pm

Yes yes and yes. I think we know which those will be.

mrreet2001 · 2009-07-08 5:06 pm

I can see it now ...

You boot into Google OS
you open Google Word Processor
You begin typing a letter
Google assistant pops up "I see you are writing a letter. Would you like to buy some stationary."
You click no
You save the document as Dave.txt
Google assistant pops up "I see you like Dave would you like to download pictures of dave?"

RUDE .. lol

Nefarious · 2009-07-09 1:41 am

A lightweight browser might rock the house. On the other hand, looking at the CPU data of Activity Monitor, I don't see a lot of overhead with OS X.

I prefer Google over Bing and Cuil, but competition is good.

robco · 2009-07-09 8:58 am

The Chrome browser is a nice novelty, but it's not really earth shattering. I guess it's nice to have yet another flava of Linux for netbooks. I guess we'll see what it can do that Ubuntu Netbook Remix can't.

avkills · 2009-07-09 11:00 am

* Yawn *

-mark

TheMouthOfSauron · 2009-07-09 12:03 pm

Nefarious wrote:
competition is good.

It'll be interesting to see how this shakes down. I won't hold my breath waiting for it to unseat Windows, though.

Bat · 2009-07-09 2:11 pm

...especially since it's at least a year out, and Windows retained most of its marketshare even thru Vista. Most folks with older machines just kept XP.

TheMouthOfSauron · 2009-07-09 10:09 pm

Hmm, I must've been imagining things since the article makes no direct digs at MS or Windows. I still agree that the competition will be a good thing.

Mr. T · 2009-07-10 4:39 pm

Nefarious wrote:
On the other hand, looking at the CPU data of Activity Monitor, I don't see a lot of overhead with OS X.

I think they're talking more about bloat than CPU overhead. This OS is supposed to take you from power-off to the internet in 3 seconds. If Chrome OS can do that, it's definitely going on my Aspire One.

NightCougar_37 · 2009-07-10 5:38 pm

I just don't get this netbook craze. I see them and think...gee what a glossy piece of recycled old parts with new brand names and stripped down OSs. Do people really need to be online within 3 secs? Are online porn addictions that bad now? lol

Pariah · 2009-07-10 6:31 pm

I think NetBooks make perfect sense for light, mobile computing.

knobtwirler · 2009-07-10 11:30 pm

It's showing the future of devices geared specifically for specific tasks, in this case one of the things that has made computers ubiquitous in a social networking and communications sense. Why wait for a whole OS and a full computer to boot when all you need is to get online?

avkills · 2009-07-11 6:00 am

knobtwirler wrote:
It's showing the future of devices geared specifically for specific tasks, in this case one of the things that has made computers ubiquitous in a social networking and communications sense. Why wait for a whole OS and a full computer to boot when all you need is to get online?

iPhone. Done deal.

-mark

Mr. T · 2009-07-11 11:30 am

NightCougar_37 wrote:
I just don't get this netbook craze. I see them and think...gee what a glossy piece of recycled old parts with new brand names and stripped down OSs. Do people really need to be online within 3 secs? Are online porn addictions that bad now?

I don't need a whole laptop on the go. I just need to get connected, take notes, check email, word processing, and sometimes programming. Visual Studio is a bit sluggish when running through VMWare Fusion (the Atom lacks VTX). So now I just dual boot between Leopard and Vista.

Bear in mind that my main computer is an i7 Hack Pro @ 4GHz / 6GB DDR3-1600 / 8800GT SLI (GeekBench score of 13,174). The fastest MBP is roughly 1/4 as powerful, and costs several times more. Portability is exponentially proportional to performance-per-dollar. A lot of people pick one machine and compromise between performance and portability. With two machines, I can get the best of both worlds --the best possible performance and the best possible portability-- while saving a smurf ton of cash in the process.

barrfid_od · 2009-07-11 2:16 pm

Mr. T wrote:
NightCougar_37 wrote:
I just don't get this netbook craze. I see them and think...gee what a glossy piece of recycled old parts with new brand names and stripped down OSs. Do people really need to be online within 3 secs? Are online porn addictions that bad now?
I don't need a whole laptop on the go. I just need to get connected, take notes, check email, word processing, and sometimes programming. Visual Studio is a bit sluggish when running through VMWare Fusion (the Atom lacks VTX). So now I just dual boot between Leopard and Vista.

Bear in mind that my main computer is an i7 Hack Pro @ 4GHz / 6GB DDR3-1600 / 8800GT SLI (GeekBench score of 13,174). The fastest MBP is roughly 1/4 as powerful, and costs several times more. Portability is exponentially proportional to performance-per-dollar. A lot of people pick one machine and compromise between performance and portability. With two machines, I can get the best of both worlds --the best possible performance and the best possible portability-- while saving a smurf ton of cash in the process.

http://download.intel.com/design/chipse … _Brief.pdf
Intel® Virtualization Technology is a set of hardware
enhancements on the Intel® Atom™ processor Z5xx
series that provide the ﬂexibility to run dual operating
systems and applications in independent partitions.

Some Atoms have VTx

robco · 2009-07-11 2:59 pm

I think I'll be a little more bullish on Atom when it goes dual-core and when Intel knocks off their monopolistic behavior and we see Ion-based netbooks. The Dell Mini 10 is getting there - at least it can be had with a decent screen rez. Not sure about the keyboard. Honestly, I don't think I'd get one unless there was good synching software. Moving files back and forth doesn't sound like a lot of fun. For now, I think I'll stick with the "compromise" of using a MacBook. I'd consider the Air if Apple would double the amount of RAM.

dv · 2009-07-11 6:44 pm

Atom has ben dual core for a while. And it's hyperthreaded.

Via Nano is more powerful on a per-core and per-MHz basis, but it's not dual core yet and it pulls a fair amount more juice. An Ion netbook would be awesome.

I have my files on a NAS which gives me FTP access over the web. It's a mirrored RAID to prevent data loss. Syncing, shmyncing.

nayrk · 2009-07-12 7:57 am

Well at the very least it might open the door for more mainstream computer users to adopt Linux.

Nothing like a good gateway drug... er i mean... OS

knobtwirler · 2009-07-14 1:02 am

avkills wrote:
knobtwirler wrote:
It's showing the future of devices geared specifically for specific tasks, in this case one of the things that has made computers ubiquitous in a social networking and communications sense. Why wait for a whole OS and a full computer to boot when all you need is to get online?
iPhone. Done deal.

-mark

well, not really, cause an iphone takes a long time to boot up, has a tiny screen and software input device. I was referring more to things like public stations or internet cafes or libraries. The iphone is great for the individual, but not in a communal sense.

Hartmut · 2009-07-15 9:05 am

not sure if you guys noticed but M$ responded to Goog£€ by announcing a lite version of office for online collaboration a'la google docs (only better)
http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-offi … t-1349204/

ukimalefu · 2009-07-15 9:10 am

Hartmut wrote:
not sure if you guys noticed but M$ responded to Goog£€ by announcing a lite version of office for online collaboration a'la google docs (only better)
http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-offi … t-1349204/

How is it better? Because it has the "Office" name in it? That doesn't make it better. We'll see how good it really will be.

And you can use Google docs now.

sturner · 2009-07-15 9:39 am

How good is it through a dial-up connection? or as someone in another forum commented, on a slow and unreliable WiFi connection?

Forums | MacLife

#1 2009-07-08 5:07 am

Google Chrome OS

#2 2009-07-08 9:27 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

#3 2009-07-08 2:52 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#4 2009-07-08 3:00 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#5 2009-07-08 5:06 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#6 2009-07-09 1:41 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

#7 2009-07-09 8:58 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

#8 2009-07-09 11:00 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

#9 2009-07-09 12:03 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

Nefarious wrote:

#10 2009-07-09 2:11 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#11 2009-07-09 10:09 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#12 2009-07-10 4:39 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

Nefarious wrote:

#13 2009-07-10 5:38 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#14 2009-07-10 6:31 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#15 2009-07-10 11:30 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#16 2009-07-11 6:00 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

knobtwirler wrote:

#17 2009-07-11 11:30 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

NightCougar_37 wrote:

#18 2009-07-11 2:16 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

Mr. T wrote:

NightCougar_37 wrote:

#19 2009-07-11 2:59 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#20 2009-07-11 6:44 pm

Re: Google Chrome OS

#21 2009-07-12 7:57 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

#22 2009-07-14 1:02 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

avkills wrote:

knobtwirler wrote:

#23 2009-07-15 9:05 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

#24 2009-07-15 9:10 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

Hartmut wrote:

#25 2009-07-15 9:39 am

Re: Google Chrome OS

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