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Google Chrome OS coming to netbooks in 2010

July 8, 2009 at 11:53 am


Google ChromeThe speculation surrounding a Google operating system has existed for many years. Finally, the rumours are no more, Google has officially announced the Google Chrome Operating System. As you can probably tell by the name, the OS is a natural extension of the Chrome browser. It is an “open source, lightweight” OS that will initially be targeted to netbooks for release in the second half of 2010.

Google says that the key attributes of the Chrome OS are “speed, simplicity and security”. The OS is based on Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. This means that much of the user experience takes place on the web (or cloud computing if you like). The Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 and ARM chips, so there should be no limitations on whether we see this OS on netbooks or smartbooks.

Google is setting themselves quite ambitious targets. They are aiming to get you up and running on the web in just a few seconds. The security aspects will be built from the ground up to make sure that viruses and malware threats are a thing of the past. As well as the web apps provided, new apps can also be developed that can be used on any internet browser.

So what happens to Android on netbooks you may ask? Well it sounds as if Google will be pitching both operating systems against each other and let the public decides who wins. “While there are areas where Google Chrome OS and Android overlap, we believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google,” read the statement.

Google’s vision of cloud computing, means that a person would simply have to load up a web browser from where ever they were in the world and within that they would be able to do everything from e-mails and world processing, to watching films and organising photos. It’s going to be interesting times ahead, that’s for certain, and we’ll bring you all the developments as they happen.

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