zaiblog | Google Chrome OS

Google Chrome OS

The inevitable happens, Big G announces Chrome Operating System.

SAN FRANCISCO — In a direct challenge to Microsoft, Google announced late Tuesday that it is developing an operating system for PCs that is tied to its Chrome Web browser.

The software, called the Google Chrome Operating System, is initially intended for use in the tiny, low-cost portable computers known as netbooks, which have been selling quickly even as demand for other PCs has plummeted. Google said it believed the software would also be able to power full-size PCs.

Google’s vision of “online everything” is starting to become a reality. The determination to use netbooks and handhelds as launching elements is primarily a good standpoint — they’re quite cheap (accessible) and they churn way faster than run-of-the-mill desktops.

Just like Android, the Google Chrome OS is built upon Linux and has support for both x86 and ARM architectures. Google also stated that the Chrome OS will totally be separate from Android, as the latter is for smartphones.

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.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html