In September 2008, Google announced the first part of its efforts to shake up the computing landscape.  That launch was Google Chrome, my new favorite web browser.  Now, over two years later, Google is building towards the second part of its effort to change the way you use computers with Google Chrome OS, a cloud-based operating system designed to supplant traditional powers Windows and Apple by beating them at their own game.  Google announced the release of their first Chrome-powered computer, the Cr-48 netbook, designed to serve as a piece of testing hardware for the upcoming launch of Chrome OS.

“For us success means being able to reach tens of millions of users over time, so we expect this to have an impact.  I don’t think of it as throwing down the gauntlet.  I want to raise the bar and Chrome did that in several areas of browsing and with Chrome OS you will see us raising the bar significantly.  The key challenge has been time.  I wish we had more time.”  Added Sundar Pichai, Google’s head of product for Chrome, “What keeps me up at night is we are entering the PC space in which people have 30 years of legacy expectations where old habits die hard.  We are worried people will stick with the safe and familiar and comfortable but confident that if people used Chrome for a week or two they would choose that.”

Chrome OS promises to be the lightest, most usable computer operating system on the market.  Given that it basically functions as a glorified web browser, I can see how that would be possible.  Google’s rationale is that most people use their computers mostly to do things online, which is a safe assumption.  That’s why Chrome OS will keep most of your files and software stored safely on Google servers, rather than forcing you to clutter your computer with downloads.

Tags: Google, Chrome, Google Chrome OS, Chrome OS, cloud computing, Google launches Chrome OS, Sundar Pichai, Google demonstrates new operating system, new operating system, completely new OS, cloud-based computer operating system, computers, personal computers, Cr-48, Google Chrome OS netbook

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