Google to launch OS

Yup, in the end it won't be an adaptation of Android like they announced previously but an all-new "Google Chrome OS". It's supposed to be "based on the search engine" whatever that means.

I wonder how close to Unix it will be. Unix dates from the early 70's, Windows NT from the early 80's, it would be nice to see something really new for a change (besides Plan9 of course).

It's based on the Linux kernel so it should be fast and stable at least. It already has a one up on Microsoft in that regard. I've been saying for a few years now that Microsoft's dominance is going to be challenged by Linux going after low end, outdated PCs. Looks like I wasn't the only one thinking like this. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on upgrading to new hardware, and hundreds on a MS OS, I downloaded Ubuntu Linux for free and never looked back. The main problem with Linux has always been installation difficulties, but they have certainly hammered out those problems now. It's so much better now in fact, installing Linux on your desktop is far easier than installing Windows, and faster too. Ubuntu's install took a few mouse clicks and 20 minutes of downtime and I booted up to the OS in 30 seconds, all drivers installed and activated, and already connected to my network. Slackware is supposed to be the most difficult Linux installation, usually deemed for experts only. I installed just to test it out. Went just as smoothly as my Windows 98 installations. Not quite as easy as XP, but no more difficult than 9x. edit: Not a fan of the Chrome browser, and not going to like Chrome OS probably, but am glad another threat has appeared to MS's dominance in the OS market. I don't think most people realize to beat MS you don't have to have your operating system installed on 90% of the desktops out there. Just enough to disrupt them enough to put them on the defensive, which this will definitely do. Also, Ubuntu is getting better by leaps and bounds with every new version.

There are some rumours that say that Google did this to overshadow something that Microsoft is supposed to announce in the next few days. For netbooks, I like where moblin is going.

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Interesting. Not a fan of cloud computing though.

No internet = nothing can be done.

I have access the vast majority of the time but what about that small percentage I don't and I want to work on something e.g. travelling.

Prediction: Regardless of whether or not 1000 new companies come out with new versions of Linux over the course of the next year - Win 7 will still crush them, drive them before it, and hear the lamentations of their women.

TS + Bill Gates is the least likely alliance/pairing in the history of the world.

Oh, not much new then. Too bad.

Of course it will. Windows will be the dominant operating system for a long time to come, but as of now they are no longer in the cat bird seat and will face real competition. With competition Microsoft may want to listen to how their users want to use their computers rather than dictating to them how to use their hardware. It will be a win-win for everyone.

Yeah Apple OSX is built on top of FreeBSD, which is a Unix OS. Nothing wrong at all w/ the Linux kernel. And to succeed they don't have to take 90% of the market share for PCs, all they have to do is show people there are alternatives out there. That in itself should send MS into a panic.

Somehow I don't think MS is anywhere near panic mode. When you can effectively sell your product to 80% of the total available customers in your market - Why would you change your product to appease the 20% many of whom are unlikely to buy your product even if you give them what they want?

I think that unless MS loses another 20% of market share in the next 10 years or so, they are going to keep on pushing out product according to what is likely the most successful business model in the history of free market enterprise.

I don't see MS losing market share. In fact, I'd be shocked if Win 7 didn't boost it slightly.

LOL yeah monopolization is a pretty good business model. Let's see how they handle competition now, something they've never had to do before. When Netscape released the source code for its browser it pretty much meant the beginning of the end for their dominance. And your percentages are way too high. It certainly won't take a 20% loss in market share to send their stock prices into a tailspin. Companies live and die by margins. I see it as a slow death by a thousand cuts when more and more free alternatives are released tailored to specific uses and users. And that greatest business model on earth is being called into question now, read the Cathedral and the Bazaar. edit: The only way I see Windows 7 boosting their market share is if a ton of people decide to go out and buy new PCs...which in this economy I don't see happening.\\ see, it has already begun. http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/stor...FREE&cm_ite=NA

Don't get me wrong. It could be a good OS. It just won't be radically new or ground-breaking, and I was hoping for that. Basically, they are taking a Linux kernel and sticking an environment on top, like Apple did, which will give us yet another Unix clone. Big deal.