Chrome OS Gains Open Source Home -- Redmond Channel Partner

Barney's Blog

Chrome OS Gains Open Source Home

Google has executed nearly everything to perfection -- except when it comes to Chrome. I first learned of Chrome when I downloaded a beta of the browser. It worked fine, but lacked the features and familiarity of Firefox and IE (which I find pretty interchangeable).

But there is another Chrome, and this puppy is a full-fledged operating system. To reduce the confusion, the browser is simply called Chrome while the OS is called (you guessed it) Chrome OS.

But enough about names. Let's talk about the OS, which, while unfinished, has already been released as open source. Chrome OS is a near-total departure from Windows or Mac OS in that it relies almost entirely on the Internet. Sure, it's a local OS, but after it boots, apps and data reside in the cloud, an approach promulgated by Larry Ellison and Scott McNealy a decade ago.

I like this approach, and I hate it. Given how often Internet connections fail (less so since I bailed on DSL) and how often I'm away from a free wireless hotspot, I can't depend on the 'net. Having said that, I love the idea of all my files being in one location and accessible from whatever device I happen to have.

What I want to see is a hybrid, where my apps are local, the system automatically saves data locally and in the cloud, and the data is synchronized in real-time, not just a backup. What's your optimal system? Send requirements to dbarney@redmondmag.com. And if you've already got data synchronization nailed, send your answers to the same dbarney@redmondmag.com address.

Posted by Doug Barney on November 30, 2009 at 10:32 AM

Share this Page

Reader Comments

Thu, Dec 3, 2009 litl_phil http://litl.com

"I think the days of the bloated local OS loaded with bloated applications that try to do and be everything are numbered. PC's will become specialized workstations and everything else will be network appliances that best cater to each person's situation and needs." That looks to be inevitable as many applications move to the web. If you want to see a cloud-based OS and webbook that is already on the market and that represents a radically different approach to ChromeOS, check out litl.com. We're not just a browser.

Tue, Dec 1, 2009 Bryan

The concept is interesting and generally apealing, but the big hurdle for me and many others is the legal ramifications of putting my data in the hands of a unknown third party, stored in an unknown location and subject to the laws, or lack of laws, of that location. It can already be argued that current online activities like facebook and gmail are stepping well into the grey of personal information protection. If all my data and apps were online I can no longer meet my oblicgation to protect the third party data that I maintain and use. People have to stop making their data storage and protection someone elses responsibility.

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 Tim York

Lets make dropbox an OS. (dopbox.com) It is a great tool that I use practically every day. It syncs files between multiple machines and u have the ability to upload files directly to a webpage if the app is not loaded on your machine. I love it!

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 Huet

"The Network is the Computer" was McNeale's mantra for a while in the mid 90's. The idea was compelling then, but the infrastructure was not there. Now we are quickly (or finally?) moving to a broadband connected world. While broadband connection to the internet is not ubiquitous yet, it is available with high reliability to the majority of people that work in offices. Broadband is also widespread in homes. With wireless broadband advances (4G, 5G) it is only a matter of time until most people will have a reliable and fast connection to the internet 99% of the time. And for those times that you do not have a connection you will still have cached applications and storage. I think the days of the bloated local OS loaded with bloated applications that try to do and be everything are numbered. PC's will become specialized workstations and everything else will be network appliances that best cater to each person's situation and needs.

Mon, Nov 30, 2009 McCloud

You are correct, Chrome OS is really a glorified stand alone browser that lets you do everything through the internet. Maybe some day that is how things will work, right now I don't trust it. Connectivity, Security and Performance are some of the questions that need to be answered.