Google Chrome

From wsuwiki

1 Google Chrome OS
2 What is Chrome
3 Why Build an OS around the web: Cloud Computing
4 Chrome Break Down Pros and Cons
5 External Links
6 Bibliography

Google Chrome OS

The battle of the Operating Systems has always been Microsoft's Windows vs Apple's Mac OS with a select few running Linux. Google, already a major player in the world of computing announced on July 7, 2009[1] that it planned to release its own desktop operating system. This is not Google's first OS, it already has an operating system for mobile devices called Android. Speculated to be released in the second half of 2010, there is still much speculations as to exactly what Google chrome will be.

What is Chrome

Little is still known about Google's Chrome OS, although there is a lot of speculation. According to Google they are going back to basics. Google's goal is to strip down the operating system to make it faster and lighter with the ability to get on the web from the time it starts up in just a few seconds [2]. The Chrome OS is Google's vision of the future of computing; Cloud Computing. This is could be the Operating Systems 2.0. Microsoft and Apple created their OS around a desktop centric computing experience, while Google is building its OS around the web.

Why Build an OS around the web: Cloud Computing

With the evolution of web from simple text documents to web 2.0, where users can post and edit and interact with the web it only makes since to build the future of computing around it. With a movement of so many applications to the web it is only a matter of time until the OS is merely a means to get to the web and not much else. There are already many companies offering word processing, power point, excel and other typically desktop based applications online, in fact Microsoft announced it was releasing a web based version of it popular Office suit [3] in its 2010 edition. There are also already games, photo editing, data storage, and much more already on the web. This is the idea of cloud computing. Putting everything into this cloud, which is the internet, and having access to it anywhere to share with anyone. What if a PC was nothing more than a web browser? This is Google's dream. A PC not plagued by viruses, no clunky hardware, just enough to launch a web browser. The merge of Web 2.0 with seamless updates, the Operating System stripped down to the web, and applications moving from the desktop to the cloud would revolutionize the way we compute. While Google's Chrome OS will not replace the Mac OS or Windows, it can provide users with simplicity and functionality and with the ability to access "the cloud" from anywhere.

Chrome Break Down Pros and Cons

This list is based on what we know, what we expect, and what we were promised by Google

Pros
-light resources, fast
-Bridge gap from web to desktop "OS 2.0"
-Based on past Google applications (chrome, Android, Google earth, wave) Chrome OS should be amazing
-Open Source
-No viruses

Cons
-Google makes its money through ads, will they charge for their OS or will your desktop become space for ads. What’s the business model
- not requiring sophisticated hardware, will it attract gamers, CAD professionals and others who will demand better hardware.
- What applications will be available, will it offer limited applications like apple or will it be able to compete with windows application offerings.
-will it be easy to use (Linux is not for everyone)
-As a web based OS, what else will it be able to do (well)