What Google's Chromium OS Is Reaching For 216
MojoKid sends in a piece that takes a step back from Google's much-analyzed OS to look at what it is trying to accomplish. "Last week, Google open-sourced its Chromium OS project, more than a year before the operating system is scheduled for release. In doing so, Google hopes a variety of developers and companies will become involved in the project, and has pledged to release regular updates as well as a comprehensive log of bug reports and fixes. This article takes a look at Google's design vision for Chromium, the unique benefits it offers, and a bit of why Google is throwing its hat into this particular ring in the first place. Chromium, after all, is a Linux-based OS entering the smartbook/netbook market at a time when the product segment is already being well served by a variety of Linux distros, XP, and Windows 7. In the midst of all these options, do we need another operating system? We just might."
Re:RTFA (Score:2, Informative)
Here's the link (Score:5, Informative)
http://hothardware.com/News/Chrome-Detailing-Previewing-Googles-New-Operating-System/ [hothardware.com]
Re:A bad trade off. (Score:1, Informative)
I think this is what the masses (but not slashdot readers) want: appliance computing. A computer where thinking, decision making, or user competence are not required. It explains the success of the iPhone: a smartphone dumbed down so you cant put anything bad on it.
Re:Diversity is good. (Score:5, Informative)
There is not an unlimited supply of skilled OS developers despite what people may think and even less of a supply of those willing to freely contribute to projects.
I really can't agree with that. As Google is paying good salaries for developers to work on Chromium, the situation is quite different from the traditional open source labor contribution model.
Re:Niche Product (Score:3, Informative)
Chrome OS comes with a web-based media player. I think Last.fm claims to have streamed the equivalent of 2000 years of music. Web based media players might be the future.
GIMP is such a pain that Ubuntu is dropping it. My wife uses web-based image editting tools exclusively these days.
There has been work on an OpenGL ES framework for full 3D accelerated programing inside the web browser. So there can be a Second Life client that runs natively fully in your browser in the future. It isn't unfeasible.
Re:Here's the link (Score:3, Informative)
HTML5 renders Gears (almost) obsolete. Any browser that implements HTML5 will be capable of local storage.