Seeing Chrome through the Windows...

[lostcarpark]

Unless you're ignoring all IT related news (very wise) you'll have heard Google's announcement of their new Chrome OS (I'd post a link, but you might as well just Google for it). Initially aimed at Netbooks, Google hope to later take a slice of the Desktop OS pie later.

So what's in it for Google? After all they're not charging for Chrome OS (or for that matter, Chrome Browser)? Sure, they get money when we look at websites that almost certainly contain Google ads, but they get that anyway when we use a different OS and browser (except for those of us who have installed ad-blocking software).

However, when we look at the web through Google's browser and/or OS, we can potentially be giving Google so much more information about our browsing and general computing activities, and that information becomes incredibly powerful when it comes to delivering us tailored advertising. I'm sure Google won't collect or use that kind of information without asking our permission (with their famous "Please read this, it's not the usual yada-yada"), but I'm sure they'll be working on ever more ingenius carrots to tempt us to give them our consent. There are some wonderful things coming out of Google labs, so perhaps the juciest will be reserved for those complient users who tick the yes box (hmmm, perhaps our government could learn a thing or to about holding referenda from them).

If it takes off, is there a danger that we'll just replace Microsoft dominance with Google dominance?

But that's probably just me being paranoid. I'm actually looking forward to trying it out. It's Linux based, which is surely good. I expect Google will start giving higher priority to getting out Linux versions of it's applications for a start.

The future is good. The future is Chrome. The only price is your soul.

Comments

[daniellelavigne.livejournal.com]

That's what they said about cocaine. That turned out strawberries.

I think Google dominance is possible, but it's more likely they'll end up with a share the size of Apple's, as switching from Microsoft for the first time can be very scary for consumers. As frustrating as it is, Windows feels safe. We know it'll go horribly wrong, but at least Windows goes wrong in the normal way: The Windows Way.

[spodlife]

I'm not sure Chrome OS is designed for much local computing - it seems to be very much about getting on-line where you have Google Mail, Google Docs, Google Calander, Google Video YouTube, Picasa and, of course, Google Search to find everything else.

As the OS will be based on a Linux kernel, and presumably the standard (GNU) C library, it should also be able to run all the existing Linux software, including Wine or a VM to run real Windows. Except I don't think that's the target market, especially the ARM netbook market mentioned. I'm wondering how much separation there will be between Android for ARM based mobile phones and Chrome OS for ARM based netbooks.

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think the intention is for most/all of the applications to be web-based, but with some local caching layer so you can access things like Gmail and GoogleDocs when you're offline. So the idea seems to be to enable net-based computing for local usage.

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that it will have a means of running the Google apps locally for when you're not connected to the net. Some sort of fake server emulator I presume.