10 things I want from the Google Chrome OS
If Chrome can achieve these 10 feats, Google will not only defeat Microsoft, but Apple and Ubuntu will fall as the OS of the common man.
Chrome OS may be the OS that proves that the OS doesn't really matter
1. Instant on – Please power up in well under 30 seconds. There is no reason for an OS build around a browser to do anything less (or more).
2. 512 MB of RAM and 1Ghz processor – Give XP users a reason to skip Vista, Windows 7, etc. and give their old machine new life.
3. Make it USB bootable – Chrome OS could be a truly portable OS. Not only will your information be in the cloud, but a 2GB flash drive could turn all computers into dumb terminals. Find an computer, plug in your flash drive, POOF! your home computer is running in the motel lobby or public library.
4. Market Chrome OS as a 90 percent computer – The worst thing Google could do is try to make Chrome OS a “do everything” OS. Don’t build it for gaming, video editing, etc. Just make it do what 90 percent of people use their computer for 100 percent of the time.
5. Function over fashion – The beauty of the Chrome browser is its minimalism. RIM has proved to geeks and non-geeks everywhere that technology that works is better than technology that’s pretty.
6. Don’t try to put it all in the box – The world needs to learn how to download and install drivers. Ethernet drivers are the only hardware drivers that Chrome needs to support during the initial install. All other drivers could be posted in an easily searchable database. A nice side effect of this, might be a desire from companies to create more standardized drivers.
7. Off-site backup – I hate the idea of subscribing to Microsoft Office online, but I would gladly pay $10/month if I had 100 gigs of off-site backup where my entire system could be backed up regularly.
8. Use off-site backup in any browser – Once Google had off-site backup working, there would be little keeping the entire OS from being usable from any browser (Chrome preferred).
9. Give Google Wave a purpose and platform – Perhaps the reason that nobody completely understood Google Wave when it was announced was because it s a part of a bigger product.
10. Make it seamless online or off – Having a cloud OS is great. I just hope that they provide options to sync some data such as music, pictures and files to be available offline as well.
About The Author
Adam Cochran
Adam Cochran - computer guy, social media enthusiast, college instructor, former radio DJ, radio talkshow host, podcaster, photographer, writer, and capitalist.
Other posts byAdam Cochran
Author his web sitehttps://www.talkingdigital.org
Agree wholeheartedly with all but one: #6. Many of us who really want to plug and play get really spooked by having to download and install drivers.
And put all the drivers/addons into a single repostitory… none of this going to a million download sites just to download a driver with a virus in it…
Kinda like the WordPress plugin repository, but Google style!
Nicely done Mr. Adam. I especially like #4. And being so many of the current crop of lightweight OSs have sub 30 second boot times, I’m sure #1 will be met. I’m thinking that with Google’s name, it will lend some credence to all Linux OS. Should be interesting at the least.
Mattew… I totally agree. I almost used the WP repository as an example in the article, but I felt it would be a foreign concept to most readers. I would like the ability to search brand and model of computer, motherboard, video card, etc. and have a list of all compatible drivers appear.
I agree with all of this except, in regards to #9, it seems obvious to me what the purpose of Google Wave is: to put a nice wooden stake through Facebook’s unholy heart.
Google chrome would be the worst thing to happen to computers. The cloud is absolutely a bad idea. Your data should be on your local storage all the time. To entrust other people with your data is a mistake. You absolutly throw away your 4th Amendment protection (or your country’s equivilent if there is one) against search and siezure. You see, it is easier to get Google to turn over your data (indeed they may even not let you keep data they find objectionable) than it is to get a search warrent for your computer.
Computing in the cloud completly kills all of the computer and information freedoms you can have running software locally. Please boycott Google Chrome OS it is a threat to freedom of informaton as well as Free Software
On one hand, you seem to be wanting a Google-branded Linux. On the other, you seem to live in a bubble where computer users just dick around. Otherwise, you’d be aware that if you were to add up Microsoft Office users, computer-game players, mmo-players, cgi & video-editors(including YouTube users -who, at least to some extent, edit their damn videos before posting) add up to pretty much more than 90% of the users. To whom exactly, then, did you want this OS targeted? Twitter&Facebook kiddies, possibly?
im very suspicious of ‘cloud computing’ i’ll be keeping my data with me,,thanks all the same
Anonymous –
My article isn’t written about what 90 percent of computer users do – it’s about what 100 percent of computer users do with their computer 90 percent of the time. Pick any 10 people on the street and ask them what they use their computer for most of the time. They will tell you email, digital photography, surfing, banking, etc. MMOs, video editing, and gaming in general will be far down the list.
I am sure that is what you and all your friends use their computers for 90 percent of the time, but the average user can do everything they really need in Web 2.0 apps.
I can tell that you are new to this Web 2.0 stuff. You should look into it. It won’t replace your gaming computer or video editing system, or CAD setup but that’s not what Chrome is about. Cloud computing is about giving you access to your content anywhere you need it.
I don’t think in a Windows vs. Mac mindset. I believe that your computer is a tool to get a job done. My love of pliers doesn’t replace my occasional need for a screwdriver. Fanboys who refuse to adapt to new tools only end up making themselves obsolete in the end.