TechCrunch's Michael Arrington reports that Google's Chrome operating system may be available for download as early as next week. Google first announced plans for the OS this past summer. If it's anything like Google's Web browser, also called Chrome, expect the OS to be fast and a little buggy.
Google is taking a cloud-based approach in its operating system strategy. With traditional operating systems, the OS works with your computer's processor, memory and hard drive (or other storage medium) to execute commands. But Google is looking to port those tasks from your computer to a network of Web servers. Instead of saving a document to your hard drive, you'd save it to your Google account. The actual information will exist on a remote server. Instead of storing lots of programs on your computer, you'll access Web applications. It's diabolical!
It also means the computer you use doesn't need to be powerful or have a lot of storage capacity. It just needs to be able to access the Internet. If Google can create a stable, reliable operating system, it could revolutionize the consumer computer market.
Since the operating system won't put heavy demands on your machine, it will load much faster than competing operating systems. It would be the perfect OS to slap onto an underpowered netbook. Hello, cheap computers!
Google might not charge anything for its operating system, which could cut costs further. Google may plan to earn money from the operating system the same way it does everywhere else: through ad deals. Google dominates the Web search advertising market. We may see a similar strategy for the Google Chrome OS once it launches.
Will the operating system be an instant hit? I doubt it. I think Google will have to prove the OS is stable and useful first. But the company has seen recent success with its Android mobile phone operating system. And it's won some goodwill after announcing that it will provide free WiFi to several airports during the holiday season. Maybe this is the perfect time to strike.
Find out more about Google at HowStuffWorks.com:
How Google Works
Why is the Google algorithm so important?
How the Googleplex Works
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