Microsoft says Google Chrome OS is nothing new
By Mike Ferro
Google recently unveiled its new Chrome OS that will be coming out next year on various netbooks. Chrome OS is said to be operational on desktops as well. Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer recently made some comments regarding Google’s latest venture into the OS market.
According to Digital Daily, former CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates made some comments regarding Google Chrome OS. He indicated that Chrome OS seems like just another Linux distro and that there is nothing special about it. It seems like Gates feels that Google’s announcement was overblown.
He stated, “There’s many, many forms of Linux operating systems out there and packaged in different ways and booted in different ways.” Clearly, Gates is trying to point out that Windows is uniquely built from the ground up by Microsoft. The hype over Chrome OS is in regards to its unique concept of creating easily accessible Web Services.
Steve Ballmer tag teamed Google earlier last week when he bluntly stated, “Who knows what that thing is.” This comment was made in reference to Chrome OS. He questioned Google’s logic as to using a dual-OS strategy with Chrome OS. He also criticized Chrome OS by indicating that it probably won’t be good while its not connected to the Internet.
Whether or not Chrome OS is a threat to Microsoft is yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure – it has Microsoft riled-up. Microsoft has been the one in the past to encroach upon Google’s space, and its interesting to see things the other way around. Google’s promise of seamlessly making any Web application into a Web Service with Chrome OS is an interesting proposition. The new Chrome browser already does some of what Google has been promising so it will be interesting to see what Chrome OS will offer.
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Stumble It!
July 20th, 2009
In a literal sense they are right. Chrome OS is a skinned Linux distro. What they fail to comment on (I doubt they don’t understand it) is the potential in an OS that is navigated using web standards. That means little to no UI training for users.
A web UI also means less additional training for developers. It means apps written for the web will need little modification to be turned into (faster) local apps. It means little to no new development will be needed to support the OS in addition to Windows, Mac, and other platforms. It also means a high degree of backwards compatibility as new releases come out.
And with a Linux back end, technical support, OS security, and OS administration tools are already available. And device support is already good and likely to only get better.
November 13th, 2009
It is not surprising that Microsoft would try to belittle or attempt to put down any other operating system because it would go against their self centered interests. Microsoft has been the dominant player for years now, and it must go against the grain for them to realize that their dominance is coming to an end.
November 14th, 2009
Microsoft has an OS?