Google goes after Windows with launch of Chrome OS

[Sola1280]

Found this interesting ....

Google said late Tuesday that it will launch the Google Chrome operating system, a computer operating system that initially will target netbook computers by offering a faster, better and more secure way for users to access Web-based applications.

The Chrome operating system should not be confused with the Android operating system that the company launched for mobile devices. While there will be some overlap between the two systems, Android was designed to work across a number of devices, such as phones, set-top boxes and netbooks. The Chrome OS is being designed to power computers that range from small netbooks to full-size desktop machines

Google goes after Windows with launch of Chrome OS | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

[CrowdAds]

[Maico Shark]

How can they market an operating system to the public, I mean don't they have to go through the manufacturer?

[ctal]

Originally Posted by Maico Shark

How can they market an operating system to the public, I mean don't they have to go through the manufacturer?

It sounds like they will be offering it (free!) to netbook manufacturers, and in fact they might even pay the manufacturers to put it on their machines. Here is another good article on it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/te....html?_r=1&hpw

And a quote from that article:

Google says its operating system will be initially aimed at netbooks, which are generally not powerful enough to handle the latest version of Windows.

Google’s fundamental business model, too, may play to its advantage. The company says it believes that making Chrome free to PC makers will be worthwhile because more people will spend more time online, using Google’s search service and its other Web-based applications like Google Docs, a Web rival to Microsoft Office. That will help Google make more money from advertising, which accounts for nearly all of its $22 billion in annual revenue.

That approach essentially reverses some of the dynamics used by Microsoft to crush Netscape. At the time, Netscape charged $50 for its Web browser, and Microsoft undermined its leadership by making its own browser, Internet Explorer, free. Now it is Microsoft that faces free rivals to both Windows and Office, its two biggest cash cows.

Under its model, Google could even afford to pay computer makers to install its software on their machines, essentially subsidizing their cost.

Regards,
-- Al

[Sola1280]

They said they are going to to open it up to the open source community. It will be interesting to see where it goes. If its successful MS might be in for some trouble. I guess we will see.