Google Chrome OS

[Sim88]

I didn't see a thread about it, so here it is:

Many have predicted it. It's using Linux kernel so I hope linux programs will work, if so I will definitely try it. But I guess google will own everything I do with the computer, and the table it is sitting on.

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.

Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android. Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks. Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems. While there are areas where Google Chrome OS and Android overlap, we believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google.

We hear a lot from our users and their message is clear — computers need to get better. People want to get to their email instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers to boot and browsers to start up. They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them. They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer or forgetting to back up files. Even more importantly, they don't want to spend hours configuring their computers to work with every new piece of hardware, or have to worry about constant software updates. And any time our users have a better computing experience, Google benefits as well by having happier users who are more likely to spend time on the Internet.

We have a lot of work to do, and we're definitely going to need a lot of help from the open source community to accomplish this vision. We're excited for what's to come and we hope you are too. Stay tuned for more updates in the fall and have a great summer.

Update on 7/8/2009: We have posted an FAQ on the Google Chrome Blog.

Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google Chrome OS

[E6600]

Windows am doomed!
With more people using computers to browse the interwebs, check emails, listen to music, watch the odd movie and play a simplastic game, the need for gigantic OSes is diminishing. People who use gigantic OSes and need them will always exist, but for a lot of people a simple and swift OS that can easily let them connect to the Internet is all they will ever need.
I personally do more of my stuff online, including work, I don't play PC games, and GCC (and maybe some IDE) is about as much as I'll ever need if I wanted to get my hands dirty.
My current desktop is a similar setup. I got Linux+X+GNU+Fluxbox+Chromium and that's all I need.

[Darth Alec]

Kill regular Linux, life a shitty life as the wank of nerdcores the world over, get anything good stolen by MS/Apple.

[codenamelenny]

cool, I'll definitely try this out.

[JCRCrasyz]

I'm using it now, damn this is fucking fast!!!!!!!!!!!!

[E6600]

You are confusing Google Chrome the browser with Google Chrome OS the operating system

[JCRCrasyz]

Originally Posted by E6600

You are confusing Google Chrome the browser with Google Chrome OS the operating system

God damn it

[06nbarnhill]

Anyone have details on the Chrome OS?

Honestly I have waited for years to dump my shitty window's PC's...but I could never afford a mac. Maybe google will save me from the painful pit of despair that is the M$ operating system.

[rbbdrooger]

From what I understand Chrome OS is coming to netbooks first. I think Google are (wisely) taking their time with this one.

[06nbarnhill]

I hope they hurry up......I wanna try it out.

WHo knows....maybe I will hafta buy a netbook for while I am on campus and in class.