Google Chrome OS | Google Chromium OS
As if our favorite search engine isn’t already “the cats meow” for creating Google Caffeine, Webmaster Tools and Analytics, now Google really want to spoil us …
Shortly after Matt Cutt’s explained Google Caffeine in more detail, there was another announcement that was just exciting regarding their new Google Chromium OS. This new operating system will become available mid 2010 and the pricing comparable to other similar products. This is exciting news for Chrome browser users, though we are also scratching our heads. Google obviously surpassed Microsoft Bing’s technology in just the few days that the Caffeine search engine has been active. Can they make a better operating system than Microsoft, Linux, Mac OS and the others? Well, Google Chrome OS is not exactly the same type of operating system. It will come loaded on Acer, Asus, Dell, Lenove, Hewlett Packard and other netbooks, though we will not have the ability to install it on our own computers; PCs will access it online. Additionally, Google says their operating system is jam packed with features. The primary being that Chrome OS is going to be extremely fast (see video below).
The following provides more details about the features of the Chromium OS.
Additional features of the Google Chrome OS?
Chrom OS is designed for people that spend the majority of their time on the Internet. This is what Google thinks that a modern day operating system should accommodate users as opposed to, the ones we currently use, wasting resources and time. It runs with these primary functions: CPU & Memory Unit, Load & Start Kernal, Hardware Initialization, Login and Browser. By eliminating the other functions traditionally programmed in operating systems, Google has provided us with the ability to access the web as quickly as possible. When you close your netbook, the application will sleep. It will start as soon as you open the computer. Martin Bligh provides an excellent explanation on their Youtube Channel (www.youtube.com/user/googlechrome).
The following is a summary from his video:
1) Chromium OS is an open source project. Just as with the Chrome browser, it is free.
2) This is a super fast operating system that is fully operational to those who use the browser.
3) Chrome OS boots from the computer kernal instead of the firmware.
4) The splash pages are removed (again the emphasis is on saving time).
5) Do not need a boot loader because it boots from the kernal.
6) This is a native web device, so there is no need for the app to load twice.
Other cool features of Chrome OS …
1) Speed – Fast and lightweight, get on the web in a few seconds.
2) Simplicity – It provides easy access to all Google products.
3) Security -
4) We will have access to a Google Toolbar.
What do you think about the 2010 Google Product?
- Will it become a stand alone operating system that we can install ourselves?
- Are you excited to use it or do you think Chrome OS is fluff?
Business Blogs
Step Away From the Cloud Kool-Aid – and At Least Look Before You Drink!
I think it is a very bad concept for users. It is the equivalent of having rent to own furniture except, well, you never own it. I wrote a blog post on it at StandardsGirl.com, but to briefly outline the issues for readers here…
Google Chrome = Slave Terminals
IE you become a slave to whatever company is offering you a cloud app or cloud system.
For our webmail or video this is not a big deal as we still own a copy, but on the Chrome OS you have NO HARDDRIVE. You cannot buy an app and have it on your system. You must use what is available on the web and then rely on the benevolence of that company not to charge you for it. Which in a capitalistic economy is a fool’s bet.
So let’s just take a look at why companies might be so eager for you to move to these cloud systems. Well the biggest reason is THEY CAN MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
Think of it. When was the last time you really had to pay for a major app? Even if you did pay a few hundred dollars you owned it when you were done. Cloud apps are never owned. You NEVER Stop paying. So you might think, but it is only a few dollars a month (in the case of Microsoft). So ok a few dollars a month. Well for my homesite which cost $69 I would still be paying and would have paid over $400 by now and of course that is as long as I use it. And what happens if one month you cannot pay for your apps? What happens then?
See for the user, this is bad deal, but for companies like Microsoft, they get rid of all the issues along with cracked copies and having to give you free versions. Nope, they will sell it as a benefit as they rake in the extra millions every month from everyone that now must pay them to open up their copy of word. Of course if you cannot pay, that copy of word simply will not open. Guess they gotcha now, because you can no longer access your app, so in the case of MS you choose to continue to pay ad infinitum OR in the case of Google you have no option to purchase, so you will pay FOREVER!
Oh and I know right now some of you are getting to write, well Google gives them for free. Are you going to rely on that? Because there have been definite shifts in Google’s benevolent approach. Site search which used to be free costs money, companies that want their apps pay, while this may be a solution for some businesses. For the homeowner, it is a bad deal anyway you look at it.
Then there are the issues of thing like privacy, what happens when your favorite app is discontinued? How many apps can you afford a month? And what about server security?
There are no safe servers. The NSA, CIA, World Bank, FBI and yes even Google and Microsoft have been hacked. Now think of the temptation for hackers (and even government) to obtain all that data now stored online because everything you do will be located on someone’s server.
Don’t believe me? Check out http://www.google.com/dashboard that along with Eric Schmidt’s assertions that no one should expect any privacy on the net (and with Google that includes Google Wave, Google Talk, Google email, Google Apps – they are all searched and stored. Heck even your searches are stored now unless you turned it off.) and you should be thinking very hard about letting your computer become a slave to a company, any company, even Google.
It is like working at a large company and you don’t get the cool computer where you can download whatever you want. You get the company issued slave terminal. Where you are limited in what you can do. Google and the others will make it open source and distract you with shiny thing similar to iPhone apps, but in the end, you no longer own your computer. You are just plugged into the corporate grid.
So hope you will consider this long and hard before you do.
Thanks for listening!!
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I do understand why this causes alarm, though the installed version is on new systems. Same as when I bought my last desktop and was forced to take a Vista system home. Now, I could have reformatted and installed XP … maybe I should have … The next was a laptop with the “better” version of Vista … then the next with one that I almost battle for (but that is personal preference at this time). It is an open-source program that Google is asking for help with per their decision that the browsers we use are outdatied. I personally think it is a beta for the paid version they will eventually offer in an attempt to shame Microsoft. Regardless, this is how it goes unless you want to program your own operating system and make sure that is compatible with apps, social sites, systems, etc. etc. etc.
The question is would you rather it be Google or our government.
So, how about Google Caffeine – Is that a yeah
or nah 
to you? (let us know on that post).