[Ferrari]

Google Chrome OS

Sources: Google Blog, Seattlepi Blog
Videos: SoldierKnowsBest, GoogleChrome, minipcpro

The gist (and what I don't like):

• Can only be installed on Solid State Drives or Flash Drives
• Web Applications Only... no Desktop Apps/programs PERIOD.
• Will only run on "Google Certified" hardware
• The OS in itself is actually a web browser that is an OS or an OS that is a web browser... ???
• Targeted for Netbooks or Secondary Computers
• All data is stored online

What seems to be impressive is...

"Chrome OS also auto-updates on every boot, and re-downloads pieces of itself if there are any snags or malware detections during startup, Papkipos said. And since all applications are Web apps, they can't change a computer's OS configurations or hardware settings."

Supposed to be released sometime late 2010. Probably awesome for a netbook, but I was disappointed to find out this isn't really designed to be your main OS.

What do you guys think?

Edited by Ferrari, 21 November 2009 - 10:27 PM.

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I suppose there's the catch

But it would be a great match for people using the little netbooks. I wonder how much resources it uses, the same as XP? Or something kind of like Linux

[snowchick7669]

I suppose there's the catch

But it would be a great match for people using the little netbooks. I wonder how much resources it uses, the same as XP? Or something kind of like Linux

[Lord of the Sith]

So it won't be an OS in the typical meaning. Rather a client installed on a computer, something like a cloud.

Surely prefered on netbooks.

[Ferrari]

Yeah, it's completely geared towards "cloud" computing.

[Ferrari]

Seems like it's going to be pretty secure... (goes into detail towards the end)

http://www.youtube.c...feature=channel

EDIT: Forgot to include a demo of it by Google... interesting for sure...

http://www.youtube.c...yer_profilepage

Edited by Ferrari, 29 November 2009 - 01:21 AM.

[Eclipsed]

I've been testing it. You can download a copy for VMs here:
http://gdgt.com/goog...me-os/download/
Just make an account and you can run it on VMware. I personally don't like it because it is pretty featureless. And yes, it only uses about twice the RAM of the chrome browser itself. Pretty light and small.

[carolsoucek]

Yeah it runs fast, but it isn't doing much anyway. Basically a bigger smartphone if you ask me. It can only do web apps so you must be online for it to be mildy useful.

[Ferrari]

You have to be online for it to even start... it won't work unless you are connected to the internet. Definitely geared toward netbooks.

[Broni]

I installed it today on virtual partition and.....I don't want to deal with it.

Web Applications Only... no Desktop Apps/programs PERIOD.

That's the main issue.
After installation, the interface looks like this:



What am I gonna do with it? It doesn't look more, than just a browser.

How To Run Chrome OS in VirtualBox (and how to get it for free): http://www.smartestc...showtopic=38254
Google Chrome OS running on VMware Workstation: http://blogs.vmware....orkstation.html
If you want to install it on VMWare, make sure, you follow the above steps, otherwise, it won't work (at least internet connection won't work, which in case of Chrome is crucial).

[Ferrari]

Have you measured the resources thus far Broni? How's all that looking?

I'm really concerned on how it will do on my future netbook/laptop.

[Broni]

It's hard to talk about resources on virtual partition.
I set it to use 1GB of RAM and it's surely enough.

[Eclipsed]

I wonder if chrome OS will prompt you for a network password. Otherwise it wouldn't be able to connect to any encrypted network.

[dsenette]

yeah....if your only computer is running this as it's OS...and you need to get online to find a solution on how to fix the thing...then what?

[Eclipsed]

Yes, as long as there is no internet then you are screwed. If there is an internet connection the OS is supposed to load OS files on every boot from the internet. Also, it is so simplistic not much would go wrong.

[Xalor]

I ran it as a Virtual Machine and I couldn't get it to work quickly. I gave it enough RAM,and some of the GPU power, but it was still pretty slow. Too bad I don't have a Google Account, but I'm stuck the core processes. I heard its working on the Archos 9 Tablet now, and I doubt that's partnering with Google, but no multitouch, or touch response whatsoever, still need to use a keyboard.