Google Chrome OS: full details unveiled

Very dependant on Google

If they decide to drop their Google apps or start charging suddenly your left with a very expensive doorstop

By cyberindie on 19 Nov 2009

Given how poor mobile broadband is at the moment, and how dodgy the wi-fi on trains is Google might have a few issues to work through if they expect us to live in the clouds. Oh, and any visit to an elderly relatives house is out - mine are still using dial up.

By stoin86 on 19 Nov 2009

As long as I can access my external drive with my music, photo's and other stuff (whenever I want) - and the OS can handle it - I'm all for it :)

By nicomo on 19 Nov 2009

Will it come with a built-in BASIC interpreter and a real floppy disk-drive? Because it looks about as sophisticated as the Commodore 64 in my cupboard.

By c6ten on 19 Nov 2009

So when the internet's down or otherewise acting funny as it does from time to time nothing gets done? I'll pass.

By Gz_nigelcarter1a on 19 Nov 2009

Changing 95% of the application base and 100% of the hardware base - at one go. As Sir Humphrey would say, "Courageous, Minister, very courageous".

By AdrianB on 19 Nov 2009

Hmm

Cloud computing does have a use (possibly) but this is not it.

So it's designed for laptops but only works with a web connection, so you either have to be in wifi range or pay a fee for 3G connection. Plus you have to trust Google to look after all your data (with the weekly outages they have all the time recently)

This sounds like a crap idea.

By JStairmand on 19 Nov 2009

This sounds dumb.

"If your cloud is down it affects any computer you're on,"

Yes which is why my computer is not cloud based at the moment. The infrastructure to make this work properly does not currently exist and will be almost pointless when it does. I would prefer to have control over the system I am using and think inexperienced users would be utterly bemused by why they are unable to use their new laptop.

By jonners99 on 19 Nov 2009

Has Potential

There are a great many people who crave the TV like experience in a computer. If they can somehow get round the limitations of mobile internet access in this backward country they they could have a winner.

Don't think computer - think digital information appliance.

By hjl4354 on 20 Nov 2009

Not mentioned above

Some things not mentioned above that I read else where,
Chrome is Debian based,
Canonical (Ubuntu) is working with Google on Chrome,
Chrome (browser and probably OS) runs JavaScript 39% faster then MS explore.
I am not keen on a cloud based system but Kubuntu will do until the clouds prove to be solid or not. These netbooks will be CHEAP and offer all the functions needed.

By M_Hamer on 20 Nov 2009

Ubuntu 9.10

Ubuntu is as close to a TV like computer as you get.

I've installed it on a 4 year emachines computer, it boots up in 15 secs and shuts down in 3 secs, quite unbelievable.

All app's that you'll ever need, I can open office doc's, I can rdp to my windows servers, I can watch DVDs etc

And all for free, and all on my own HDD.

By a_byrne22 on 20 Nov 2009

@ c6ten

LOL! Couldn't agree more, it's like stepping back in time.

All these years of getting OSes to look good and be user friendly seem to be going out the window! (Excuse the pun.)

By Grunthos on 20 Nov 2009

Blown it

How disappointing.

The up side is that Windows 7 rocks, and I never ever thought I'd give MS any kudos whatever.

So what would I need GoogleOS for now anyway.

But I was looking forward to building some apps for it.

Very sad. I hope Google think again!

By gfmoore on 20 Nov 2009

Hello, I'm a Googintosh

There's one thing I really don't like in all this. Google usurping the right and position to tell us what we really need and what we do not. I am used to this kind of hutzpah from Steve Jobs but coming from Google is rather disappointing. Especially for a product with such shortfalls. The idea of netbook is mainly portability, so try to use one with Chrome OS on a plane.

I'm beginning to feel I'm not cool enough for Google now :/

By Josefov on 20 Nov 2009

Choice of Browser

What happens if it becomes very successful? Will the EU force Google to offer a choice of browser to encourage competition?

All jokes aside, for people who use software such as Dreamweaver or Photoshop, Chrome OS doesn't sound like it will fit the bill. What about games?

By tomh86 on 20 Nov 2009

I look forward to the new generation or versions of apps such as Dreamweaver, photoshop in Chrome OS :) It certainly is an innovative approach and worth considering, I'm also sure somebody somewhere will start a wave of new games for it too and if it is based on Linux then there already are a number of games that may well work on it. Give it time to develop and who knows what we will have in the end - something to annoy M$ thats for sure, but M$ has its niche and Chrome is only going to take a small chunk out of it if anything.

By nicomo on 20 Nov 2009

not all that bad

The OS supports local caching and, as its based on the chrome, google gears. so it should operate when its sunny.
IIRC google is being a bit spendy with adobe etc getting conventional (PC and MAC) programmes ported to Linux so don't expect the cloudy OS to be the only one they're working on.....

By darkhairedlord on 20 Nov 2009

no download?

I was extrememly suprised and a bit annoyed when I read that I wouldn't be able to download and install this on my EEE PC 701. Making people buy a new device just to run thier OS is daft, with all the old early EEE PC's that are probably sitting around in the backs of cupboards that could run it fine. And as stated in another post, "what do you do when you have no internet connection?" Nothing, that's what.

By timwb2 on 21 Nov 2009

Novel approach but....

Its an interesting idea but the trouble with online apps is that developers like to tinker with them all the time. Sometimes the changes will suit you, sometimes not. But if not, you don't usually have the option to stay with the old version.

For example, I use the Google translate tools quite a bit. They're free and excellent tools (providing you understand the inherent limitations of such tools). Recently Google have 'improved' the interface. I can see for some people it might be better, but I preferred the old version, but I have no option, I have to go with the new version.

(Actually some credit here is due to Yahoo, they introduced a new version of their webmail but you can continue to use the 'classic' version if you prefer it).

By rjp2000 on 21 Nov 2009