All the latest on Google’s Chrome operating system
With Google’s Chrome system now somewhat publicly available (through the source code of the latest development stage), it’s continuing to make headlines. Here’s our run-down of the latest news and rumors about the system.
Chrome is, of course, still in development, but is available in a form that can at least partially be tested through virtualization (running it via dedicated software in another operating system). Those who’ve tried it out report that, as expected, it’s really little more than a browser with access to Web-based applications and some basic operating system tasks. Surprisingly one report said it really needs 1GB of RAM to work smoothly, though this may not reflect how the finished, standalone system will work.
The director of mobile computing at chipmaker ARM, Bob Morris, has publicly praised Chrome. He gives the thumbs up to the lack of ties to hardware and the open source nature of the system’s development. Of course, there’s more than just principles in question here: Chrome netbooks could prove a valuable market for ARM’s processors.
Canonical, the firm which distributes Ubuntu (arguably the most Windows-like Linux system) has revealed it is working with Google on Chrome. The partnership involves sharing engineering and Canonical says the idea is to avoid any unnecessary duplication or reinvention of coding. That’s a common goal in open source projects. The firm says it doesn’t see Chrome as a rival to Ubuntu as the two fulfill different roles.
There’s some good news for Google with a forecast by Jeff Orr of ABI research that Linux-based netbooks will outsell Windows-models by 2014. That seems a little questionable to me and appears to be based on the logic that Linux will continue to increase its market share at the current rate rather than find a natural limit. Still, if Linux can get even a healthy minority share, you wouldn’t bet against Google being the firm to take the most advantage of it: if nothing else, “Google” is a much more marketable brand than “Linux”.
Meanwhile Randall Kennedy of Infoworld has an interesting conspiracy theory: he believes Microsoft will loudly welcome the arrival of Chrome, then undermine it by playing up its Linux roots and then unleashing a cheap or even free version of Windows for netbooks.
Related Posts:
