Google releases a new kind of browser called an "operating system"

[il d00d]

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

I am split down the middle on this one, with "meh" and one side and "but why?" on the other.  I think google and other cloud computing advocates are producing software for the way they think things shoulda been, not the way they make most sense for most users.  I think these companies fail to notice how cheap hardware is.

[superjohn]

I actually think Google is on to something. Hardware is cheap at first glance, but if you need more memory, it costs more. If you want to be able to recover from a hardware failure, you need more hardware. The latter especially is a rub since it's hardware that sits there and does nothing most of the time.

With bandwidth getting cheaper and more ubiquitous with wi-fi and 3G/4G broadband wireless offerings, Google is going to be able to leverage it's massive data storage and retrieval capacity to reduce the need for the consumer to worry about it and just have a convenient mobile appliance.

Now couple it with a small data communications device (say, an Android) that can share said connectivity and they may really have a big hit on their hands. No need to sync. No need to pick which songs from your library you want. All of your data available at the push of a button.

[mitt]

It could change things.  What if instead of cheap hardware just getting cheaper, the hardware savings went towards faster networks, more wireless access, and to the point where you didn't need any hardware other than a good browser running on a solid state device with 20 hours of battery?

It doesn't work now for everyone, but maybe in 10, 20, 50 years?  Reliability, security, speed, power, and other factors would need to be improved of course, but it would be nice to have your information with you all the time.  

Some big time companies are piloting the chrome OS for google, and it could work perfectly today for bidness type workers.

mitt

[Bladecutter]

Well, it will work for devices that just need web access, which is what its targeted at currently.
However, if you need to have a program capable of working hard installed on your computer, like for Graphic Design, you're going to need to use a different computer.

If you just need to create a report for school, or an excel type spread sheet document, I'm sure they are already working on including the OpenOffice suite that they worked with Sun on. They make all their employees use OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office, if you didn't already know that.

The one thing I can guarantee is that anyone who uses their Chrome OS will have to deal with constant ads targeted to their computer, if not down right invasive ads targeted specifically to you, as this is the way Google works. You won't have nearly as much control over the cookies, since its not your hard drive that they are being loaded onto.

I can understand wanting to have a choice in who's OS you want on your computer outside of MS and Mac, but to completely give up conrtol of your computer to Google? No f'ing way.

And I used to work for Google, up until April.
No f'ing way would I let them run my computer.

BC.

[angler]

As a small business owner, I am very excited about this technology.  I run a one man consulting business and really like taking my show on the road whenever I can.  I am no IT guy and I hate managing my own back ups etc.  I hate traveling with a portable hard drive and dealing with kludgy remote desktop apps.  I am already a smart phone user and can't wait for the next android in the spring.  I already use google calendar and will start using google voice soon.

I am also a bit wary of it as well.  If I adopt it, does it mean that I will have to quit wearing my tinfoil hat or does it mean I'll have to buy thicker tin foil???

[MendoDave]

It might be good for just a web based computer though.

[superjohn]

If you just need to create a report for school, or an excel type spread sheet document, I'm sure they are already working on including the OpenOffice suite that they worked with Sun on.

Google already has it's Google Docs suite to handle Office type stuff, so they have that covered.

My professional complaint is that they now account for a huge amount of the traffic running across the Internet backbone, so of course they're now lobbying to have "The Internet" declared an open range, but they don't mention it's composed of the integrated networks of a lot of other companies whom they have no intention of compensating for all the extra bandwidth usage.

Coupled with all the data mining operations they do and I am starting to wonder what they're up to over at Google. All this cool stuff that increases convenience has a significant "dark side" as well that I'm keen to keep an eye on.

[hoyden]

Google World Domination:

Epic 2014

http://googleworlddomination.com/ols-master.html

(video created in 2004)
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googlezon )

[triangleforge]

Google World Domination:

Epic 2014

http://googleworlddomination.com/ols-master.html

(video created in 2004)
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googlezon )

Fascinating -- and supported by Google Ads along the bottom...

[cduarte]

Google is giving me the willies lately.
I'm grateful for making internet simpler and more accessible but I feel Google is becoming malicious corporate animal.
And I wish I didn't read that big-brotherish story about G. recently. That made me even more paranoid.

If they were after $$ like every other corporation it would be easy to predict and defend against it. But they are after global population control and they are having it easy so far.


On the positive note - I like this technology. I always imagine the day when all our information would be on hands reach everywhere.


/thin foil hat back on

absolutely, some of the things that google is doing, while convenient for some things, borders on major invasion of privacy...