Posted on 07/15/2009 11:43:30 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Google Chrome OS is arriving just in time to take advantage of the perfect storm of cloud services, cheap hardware, and a new generation of platform-agnostic users. Unlike other Linux-based OSs, Chrome has brand recognition that even the biggest neophyte could get comfortable with.
Larry Ellison of Oracle was touting the benefits of the network computer back in 1996. He was ahead of his time. People weren’t ready for the network computer, and the network certainly wasn’t ready for the people.
Fast forward to 2009, when many people view computers as mere tools to connect to the Net. Typical uses for computers involve streaming media, social networking, managing photos and information consumption. When the typical home user uses a PC predominantly for communication and entertainment, the offline computer is nearly useless.
Chrome is also arriving just in time to take advantage of dirt-cheap hardware and super-broke consumers. The future for Chrome based netbooks is in the $200 and under space. At this price level, Microsoft would have to virtually give away Windows. Within a year or two, netbooks could hit the magical price of $99. For this price, people will happily purchase a computer that is nothing more than a simple and fast web-surfing device. While people might expect $300-plus computers to have full-featured OSs they may be less critical when netbooks fall into the impulse buy price range, especially when paired with lightning-fast performance.
Of course, this model doesn’t work very well for businesses, hard-core gamers, and media professionals. For these users, expect the full-featured OS to stick around, for now at least.
In a previous post, I argued that for Chrome to become the dominant operating system, it needs Windows compatibility.
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
Another one...on google’s Chrome and what it means...or could mean.
Microsoft is offering some basic office programs for free now, no doubt because of Google docs.
Would be neat to see how this changes things.
I love Google Chrome the browser, so I bet the OS would be neat as well.
I agree with the tools to connect to the Internet, but plenty of lightweight linux distributions are oput there.
The big get I see is google has put their name on it.
How about you?
If it has Google on it, I avoid it.
From what I read in an article published as a thread here last week, Microsoft is only making those programs free to subscribers to other services they offer. It's not free to the public at large.
YEah, I am in that camp, probably for the same reason. I just loaded up CrunchBang(#!) Linux, a real lightweight Ubuntu derivative design and it works well on older PCs.
I also tried out Ubuntu ‘netbook remix’ and it was nothing special.
I refuse to put my files online.
The idea has been around for a looooong time, but w/out reliable network connectivity, it falls short. However, doesn't Google own dark fiber? Might get interesting
Of course, this model doesn’t work very well for businesses, hard-core gamers, and media professionals.
There is this ‘white space’ issue still out there — google is a driver behind this as well. Now that the digital switch is final I would expect something to be forthcoming here. Could be interesting.
The part about the loooong time and reliable couldn't agree more. Reliable connectivity is the real issue not the OS. If that problem gets solved, software companies like MS are then extinct.
Moblin: a First Look at Intel's Open-Source OS
Another entry in the Netbook free for all....
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Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Nobody really cares about Windows. What businesses care about Office, Outlook, and Project and what home users care about are games. Once users can have those, or the equivalent, without Windows, then Windows is done.
if you understand that sentence then you probably are incapable of understanding why Linux has failed to replace windows.
And as I recall, Scott McNealy at Sun was touting the same thing before then. Some things never change.
Is my software engineering showing? Sorry.
The problem with windows it uses too much resources and costs much more than free. Yes Windows 7 is better, than vista(which I have as well) but not enough. When you are trying to sell $200 netbooks you can’t afford the windows tax.
And yes I use Windows 7 right now ... in fact on this machine I am running the RTM version.
Yup, that MicroChannel architecture made it worth all $8.5k. And that OS/2? Why, that’ll take over the world. Or not.
all it will take is for one operating system (let’s call it Linux) to RUN ANY WINDOWS PROGRAM WITH A USER INTERFACE THAT LOOKS LIKE WINDOWS and it will take over.
But Linux has been around for years and still cannot do that
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