What to look for in Google OS launch
Google is scheduled to give the first public demonstration of its forthcoming Chrome operating system tomorrow. Here are some of the questions which could be answered by the event:
What’s the selling point? Is it speed? Price (or lack of it)? The Google brand? Ease of use compared? Microsoft detractors would argue that simply “being better” has never been enough to challenge Windows, so Chrome will need a focused marketing message.
What hardware deals have been struck? While enthusiasts will be willing to download and try Chrome OS, it’s not going to make any serious inroads unless it comes pre-installed on machine. The announcement of some major hardware partners would do a great deal to establish that Chrome has a shot of being a real player.
How dependent is the system on a net connection? All indications suggest that Chrome OS is largely a web-application based system. While that’s fine for those with reliable high-speed broadband, people who get the occasional outage or rely on patchy mobile broadband will need reassuring that a dropped connection doesn’t render their machine largely useless.
What is the situation with drivers? Vista showed what can happen if an operating system ships with less-than-ideal driver support. Given that Chrome will be aimed mainly at netbooks, that may not be such a problem, but at the very least it needs to be compatible with a healthy majority of printers.
What’s the timeline? At the moment, all that’s really known is that a release is likely in the second half of next year. A more precise timetable would raise confidence in the system, particularly if it becomes clear that devices running Chrome OS will be in stores in time for next year’s holiday shopping season.
How free is free? People aren’t stupid: they know that Google makes its money from selling advertising. If Google truly believes Chrome can work without incorporating any advertising, it needs to make that commitment. If it does envision some form of embedded ads, it needs to give an up-front explanation of what that will involve, reassure users that it won’t be intrusive, and state clearly whether or not any ads will be related to the user’s own activity on the machine.
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