Google Gives First Look of Its Chrome OS

Google announced in July this year that they were working on a new Operating System, Google Chrome OS and today they released its source code and also outlined some of its features and what keeps it apart from the other operating systems.

Pricing, Release Date & Speed

Though, Google released the source code of their Chrome OS, a finished and complete Google Chrome OS would be available for the general consumers only after a year from now. It is interesting to note that Google wont be providing its OS to be downloaded for installation on any computer, instead it would run on computers with specific hardware which would save a lot of boot time by skipping a lot of hardware checking steps.

Google emphasized that they would be pushing the manufacturers to develop notebooks with larger keypads and mousepads along with better display. Although, they did not gave any pricing hints for their Google Chrome OS, but said that the notebooks would be released as around the same prices as we see today.

If the speed of Google Chrome Browser is any indication to go by, topped by the live boot up time as Google showed earlier today, Google Chrome OS would be super fast as compared to other operating systems. The project head for Chome OS mentioned a 7 seconds Boot-up time, now that’s really fast.

Google Chrome OS : Interesting Notes

• Every application a web-application in Google Chrome OS : There are no conventional or traditional application in Chrome OS. All the applications are a web application, a url, a link.
• It has been assumed that Google Chrome OS would be integrated with your Google Account, this would enable users to login to their computer using other netbooks which run Chrome OS.
• Google Chrome browser would run faster on Google Chrome OS than on a Mac or Windows since Google has re-done the browser for its OS.
• Everything Online : This is the thing which made head turns when Google first announced its Chrome OS plans earlier this year. Although, it is not clear as to what sorts of applications would be available on Chrome OS, but by the looks of it i guess it “only” suitable for people who are “online” round the clock. Every settings on your netbook, whether its notepad or wifi settings everything would be backed up in your Google Account.

Since everything is on the cloud, there are many concerns which were raised such as printer’s support and other hardware support. Google assured us that Google Chrome OS would definitely be able to print but would take a “more innovative approach’ for supporting printers.

As was announced earlier, Google said they were at present only focused on releasing the OS on netbooks, and depending on its success, they would also impart it to laptops and desktops.

Our Take

I personally like almost all the Google Products. Going by the information available so far on this new Chrome OS, i think it would be a real time saver for users who are Google savvy and use it for all the needs. If Google entirely links it with its Google Account then their might be some resistance by a section of users who are not using Google much, apart from searching. One more issue might be the security aspects, since all thing is done online using your Google Account, if by any chance the account gets hacked or you loose password or something, it can lead to disaster. I am sure security is main aspect at which guys over at Google would be looking at.

For more “official” screenshots head to Gizmodo.

Google Chrome OS Event