By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-12-13 17:29:51 | Word Count: 664
There is a buzz in the air, and it’s going to become a full-fledged announcement sometime this morning, December 7th.
Google is set to announce its official release of the Google Chrome Web Store and the Google Chrome OS—the first browser centric operating system. It is set to be the first widely used cloud- based OS. Ahead of the release, You Tube videos explaining both items have cropped up.
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Although it has release has not exactly been a well kept secret, the launch will be targeted to users who spend most of their online time on the internet. As such, the Google Chrome OS is somewhat minimalistic in design. Currently, it will only be available on hardware from some of its current business partners.
The target market for the Chrome OS according to Google’s executives, are to reach notebook users. The problem is that you need to have Windows 7, XP, or Vista to use it. In an effort to sway those using Apple’s iOS, the Google Chrome Web Store is to be released at the same time and will provide a place where users can still have access to a multitude of apps.
It will remain to be seen whether the Google Chrome OS takes off because it will have to bring advantages that notebook users have been promised but haven’t actually seen yet, like a truly fast 10 second boot up. Also, since the iPad’s inability to print for nine months after its release hindered its adoption by users, Google’s much touted Cloud Print needs to be fully functional from the get go. They claim it will work with basically any printing device, so any bugs not yet worked out to make that promise a reality will be just as widely touted by upset users. Additionally, if it won’t have the ability to run Android Apps or accommodate iPod synching, it will be a very inconvenient option for a good segment of the market.
There’s another problem: could it be arriving too late? Some skeptics believe the death knell for notebooks has been sounded since the introduction of tablets. With the release of Apple’s iPad and its continuing popularity, many who didn’t originally jump on the tablet bandwagon are now being more exposed to the possible advantages it could bring to their lifestyle. The number of Apps that are available for download on the iPad are also astounding and continually being expanded. In addition, the Blackberry Playbook is soon to be released next spring, which is set to give Apple’s iPad a run for its money.
With all if these factors in play, it begs the question of whether a cloud based operating system specifically targeted to net book users will become obsolete before it has even began.
Google has shown that they have thought about the possible pitfalls that might hinder adoption of the Chrome OS by notebook users, by coming out with the Google Chrome Web Store and Cloud Print at the same time. However, their possible shortsightedness could be their inability to size-up the tablet market to see where the note book market is headed. Only time will tell.
