Posts Tagged "Google Chrome OS"

  • Google Chrome OS: The Past Holds a Secret

    // August 21st, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Technology


    IBM 5100

    The history of the personal computer is indeed a curious one. Originally labeled “electronic data processing machines,” IBM was the trailblazer–bringing to life today’s all-in-one portrait led by Apple and Microsoft. This is IBM’s model 5100, the first “portable” computer. Weighing in at 55 pounds, “self-contained” might be a more appropriate moniker. Now we have desktops, nettops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, PDAs, minicomputers, super computers—oh, and the iPhone.


    Still, Apple and Microsoft are the leading agents in today’s market. Apple prefers an exclusive strategy: the operating systems they create are designed to run on the hardware they sell. Microsoft, contrarily, prefers more user-end freedom: Windows operating systems (1.0, 95, ME, 2005, XP, Vista, 7, 8?) have traditionally been consistent with any Windows-based microprocessor. And this battle of the giants has in recent times become overwhelmingly aesthetic. Efficiency has reached some sort of peak, and tiny GUI-based alterations to the user-end experience are now essential to winning over consumers. Enter Google Chrome OS.


    According to Google: “Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS.” Well that’s something new. Up until now, a fancy-looking GUI-based experience has been the means to any alleged speed, simplicity and security offered by Microsoft or Apple. But could these embellished experiences (cough, Vista and Leopard) be a step away from the full potential of a 21st century personal computer? With Google Chrome OS running on a netbook, people will have the capacity to do exactly what they want to do, all on a machine that is designed to process exactly what needs to be processed. This minimal, open-source (FREE!) operating system would be quite the anomaly in today’s aesthetically-dominant emporium. But given Google’s vision, we think Google Chrome OS has the potential to put a serious dent in the personal computing market. Perhaps forgotten simplicity has been the solution all along. Keep an eye on Google’s blog—hopefully they can follow through with their promise of a late 2010 release.