Google OS Becomes Official
Google Chrome OS vs. Windows Operating System
Google confirmed their operating system that has been discussed quite a bit in the past. In fact, it is something that become obvious to Bob and Scott some time ago:
Google OS PC is Here
The Google PC is Coming
This Google Chrome OS news was confirmed late last night on the Official Google Blog.
This certainly changes the game in the PC world. What a time to jump in. Microsoft is coming with Windows 7 and netbook style PC’s are all the rage. Google’s OS is taking aim at that.
Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don’t have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.
This is a bit different than my earlier speculation that this would be running with Android as the base OS. In fact, it is essentially the Network Computer that Larry Ellison claimed was the future way back in the mid 1990’s. Scott McNealy was on board with the network PC talk about the same time. Google might just have the timing to make it happen.
In 1995, you couldn’t use the web as your platform. The apps weren’t there and you didn’t have the ability to be productive with a network PC only. A local set of apps were an absolute must.
If Google can do this right and ensure an open platform for developers to latch on to (wait, I think I heard facebook say that), then they could create an entirely new ecosystem the way that Apple did around the iPhone. Create a platform, a marketplace, a user base and development will come. Plug in your app, give up your 30% and you are in business.
How will a company like Facebook react to this. They had a similar idea to make Facebook a platform and not just a ‘website’. Guess what, the Twitter distraction might just turn Facebook into the next MySpace. The bold plan to create Facebook as a platform is being lost in favor of an eyeball grab. The worst thing for any company finding that Twitter is distracting them and stealing their user base is the fact that the founders of Twitter don’t need to be bought out. They have been there and done that.
I expect some interesting fallout from the Google OS. If the OS takes hold, here is what I will watch for:
- What happens with Firefox?
Gobbled up by Google was my feeling in the past. Maybe not anymore. Would MSFT gobble up Firefox? Perhaps - How does Facebook react?
Have the abandoned the Facebook as a platform to replace Windows? - How do the PC manufacturers handle this?
Can they jump on board without a backlash coming from Redmond? - What does Apple do?
Is there a reaction needed from Apple? They continue to grow share from folks that realize that their phone was that far ahead of everyone else, so let’s buy their computer. ”Besides, I like their ads” I say “was” to the phone being that far ahead. The Palm Pre is the mobile OS that has finally mounted a challenge to the iPhone in terms of quality.
We have been starved for a catalyst in Tech. Could this be it? I doubt it, but it will be a fun game to watch.
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