OS Overpopulation: Google Chrome OS – Do We Really Need Another Operating System?

chrome-logo Google has been on a developing spree ever since the launch of its Chrome Browser. Now the latest news is that their Google Chrome OS, first announced in July will be available for download as early as within the next week.

It raises a few questions in my mind: How different will it be from their Android OS for Mobile and what distinct features it might have. Since it is in its early stages of development and is said to be based on Linux.

  • What could be the possible limitations of this OS.

  • Will it run third-party applications from the hardware or simply connect to applications in the internet cloud.

  • Google claims it will end security related issues. Will the new OS be ‘really free’ from viruses, trojans and malware.

  • Will it be limited to the applications hosted by Google.

Google Chrome OS is claimed to be lightweight and targeted at the entry level notebook users. Google intends its Chrome OS to be lightweight and connect its users quickly to its Cloud applications, which it hopes will consume very less system resources.google-chrome-os

But do we have any use for the Chrome OS on a desktop? Atleast not right away! On a notebook it might provide some functionality. But on a desktop pc it might just serve as a gateway to connect to the internet while completely relying on the internet to get any work done.

Although in terms of performance; an OS such as this one with minimalist functionality could outpace the current crop of operating systems. It may free these notebook devices with limited functionality from running memory hogging operating systems such as the Windows and Windows Applications.

But from a practical point of view for many computer users notebooks are ‘practically’ useless for any real work.

Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Cinema 4D or even PC Games or any other heavy duty stuff would be possible in the cloud? I don’t think it would be possible, at least not at the moment. So for some of these reasons it may not hold much value for developers and power users alike.

It would be naive to say that all the pc users account for the aforementioned, but the trade-off here is that for those who use computers for ‘data entry’ this would provide a more ‘cost effective’ option as opposed to running a Windows OS. The Google Chrome OS is free and open-source and subject to future development and upgrades from vast number of developers.

The trade-offs here need to be considered. These days with the many manufacturers and wireless carriers selling notebooks as another piece of communication hardware, and not a full blown computer; an operating system such as the Google Chrome OS might actually be worthwhile on a notebook.

With most of us looking for an working operating system that pretty much does what we would like to get done; Windows, Mac and even Linux seem to fit the bill very well, therefore leaving very little space for Chrome OS to occupy.

If you wish to read more about the Google Chrome OS, read all about it at The Official Google Blog and Google Chrome Blog.

This post was published by on November 16, 2009

About the Author: Thilak Rao works as a Social Media Expert. He is one of the first professional bloggers from India, and he loves to write, travel and click photos. Follow him on Twitter @thilak

  • http://tech-buzz.net Thilak Rao

    I totally agree with the points which you make here. For entry level notebooks are netbooks, we've got so many distros of Linux which are doing so well. Basically, what Google is trying to do is, expand it's footprint. If I was Google, i'd be doing the same thing. Let's wait and watch what Chrome OS has to offer!

  • Rockstarsid

    Exactly my point.. everyone wants to expand.. Google is just trying to make it the new level encroaching our desktop and I bet this will work!

    Just like now we have orkut, youtube, chrome and now OS.. so a complete warehouse of entertainment from Google!

  • http://meghan.in/ Meghan Naik

    Agree with your points.

    It will surely be interesting to watch how Google takes on the other OS in the years to come. I'm sure notebooks are just a start and with the source code open to development, in the future we might actually see a robust OS which is more than a glorified terminal to connect to the internet.

  • http://myrtlebeachtours.com/otherstuff.cfm Myrtle

    I would like to ry it and see what kind of ads it is infused with and how little Resources it will use. I have a pile of old computers with little memory and would love tobe able to get them back into service for some reason. Haven't figured the reason.

  • http://meghan.in/ Meghan Naik

    It good that you have some old systems to test it on. I plan on doing quite the same, but on a older laptop.

  • http://meghan.in/ Meghan Naik

    True, Google want's everything and their approach isn't flawed. There are news of Google not being able to launch the OS in time. I'm hoping that the source code is released or the OS is launched ASAP. So that either way, we can do some testing with it.

  • http://bluelinchpin.wordpress.com Yvette Lessard

    We really don't need just another operating system, no. The problem is that up till now, even with Linux, they've been pretty much the same. None of them have truly changed how computers work. It looks like at the very least Chrome will do that – so while we may not need another OS, it's a step towards changing how operating systems work, and I think that's the point.

  • ravichauhan002

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  • Anonymous

    The good thing about chromeOS is that it´s like a huge nuke aimed at M$ heart. I´m gonna bet that ChromeOS is gonna make such a big hole in M$ Windoze´s marketshare that M$ is gonna need CPR by the time the dust settles. And all Linux will need to do is to take the marketshare that M$ leaves empty.

  • Raj

    Nice post,

    Would like to try Chrome

  • Raj

    Nice post,

    Would like to try Chrome