Source. tl;dr version:

Quote: Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks.

Quote: 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.

Will this have a far-reaching impact on web development? Is it really practical to have the web be the application platform for an OS?

It's too hard to say if it will make a big impact or not. Google is a strong company with a good reputation and influence. Time will tell how much market penetration this product will have.

Look at Linux for example. There are many people who use it and love it, but at the same time there are many more Windows users who wouldn't even consider it. It has it's market share which will likely grow, but it is a long way off from replacing Windows (if ever).

I'm not saying that Windows will never be replaced, but it will be around as long as people have their investment in their applications.

If the day comes where everything we do is delivered from the Internet in a platform-independent way, then Windows may vanish. Until then, Google Chrome OS will likely not be the mainstream operating system of most users.

John

I don't think this is all that big news. In fact, I was father dissappointed when they said "we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS" and then in the very next paragraph, "the software architecture is simple — Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel"

So basically, all they've done is they've replaced X Windows. Not that that is a bad thing, X Windows is a horrible piece of architecture and in major need of replacement, but to say it's a whole new OS with a completely redesigned "underlying security architecture" is a bit of a stretch.

Oh boy, has it been ten years already? Time to invent the NC again! What a good idea it will be this time!

Looks interesting enough. I'm very curious about how this will turn out eventually.

Seeing as Google is a big company, it might help balance the playing field in OS competition. I'm sure they will release a polished Linux version that's very user friendly, which will help boost the Linux community.

I wouldn't mind trying it out when it comes out. I've had bad experiences with Linux in the past, so I'm hesitant to touch one again, but maybe this might help me enjoy Linux more.

Quote: Original post by Codeka
I don't think this is all that big news. In fact, I was father dissappointed when they said "we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS" and then in the very next paragraph, "the software architecture is simple — Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel"

So basically, all they've done is they've replaced X Windows. Not that that is a bad thing, X Windows is a horrible piece of architecture and in major need of replacement, but to say it's a whole new OS with a completely redesigned "underlying security architecture" is a bit of a stretch.

Hypothetically, if Google did redesign the security architecture by modifying the Linux kernel, it would still be a "Linux kernel" - no?. Either way, I am interested if they have come up with any nice ideas in this regard, maybe more sandboxing like they did with Chrome.

Other than that, I don't really see it as very exciting. It appears to be yet another Linux distro, just this time with Google's name on it. I do hope they do it well though, it could be interesting.

inb4betafor5years

Quote: Original post by Mithrandir
inb4perpetualbeta

Fixed that for you.

Apparently google has taken away my ability to joke about their use of 'beta' :(

[Edited by - HelplessFool on July 8, 2009 7:41:05 PM]

Quote: Original post by Sneftel
Oh boy, has it been ten years already? Time to invent the NC again! What a good idea it will be this time!

The one difference is this time they're targeting sub-$200 browser appliances that come in pink and fit in your purse or backpack instead of $2000 corporate systems that sit on your desk.

Maybe this will finally be the year of Linux on the (lightweight, battery-powered, thin-client) desktop?