What Google's Chromium OS Is Reaching For

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."

Comments

The real reason

[sopssa]

Chromium OS is there so Google doesn't break GPL and other licenses. But it's also there to get some open source for their at no cost (*other than the maintenance cost inspecting patches and so on). Really, think about it. It's released full year before actually going out, giving the 'nice' image for open source developers and just waiting them to jump in. So that Google can cash in later (while still obviously keeping the Chromium OS open and free, because it doesn't hurt their bottom line and then they're compatible with GPL and so on)

It's quite common knowledge that Chrome OS will be locked down. There's even *already* been announcements that it will be the worst piece of *DRM* ever in front of security. If *anything* is changed in the system, the OS downloads it and replaces it again. The basic things you have running is basically Chrome OS, which nicely integrates you to Google services. And even before that, because in order to use the OS you will be required to sign-in with your Google Account. Yes, no local user accounts. Just your Google-wide account.

The Network is the Computer

[russlar]

Sun called, they want their concept back.