Google Chrome OS First Look

Chrome, A much awaited OS was demonstrated with its partial progress at Mountain View, California last week. Please keep in mind that it was neither a product release nor a beta release of Chrome OS. Chrome OS, announced in July, 2009, is set to launch in 2010 end. Chrome OS is open source. You can have compiled VMWare image of Chrome OS here. You can start playing with it. Chrome OS is built with minimalist approach. It completely relies on Cloud computing. No hard drive needed on your notebook. It just looks like Chrome browser at this point of time. Meanwhile, Mozila had announced not to build such Firefox OS. In other words, ‘Mozila don’t want to mess with software giants, Google and Microsoft.’ Lets take a look at Pros and Cons of Chrome OS.

Chrome OS PROS:

Chrome OS Architecture

1) Chrome OS will be much faster while booting. It would be just like Television, Flip a switch and it is ON. Look at the architecture of Chrome OS. It will boost the Chrome speed,

2) User does not need to worry about data loss, data security, data protection. No more Anti virus binary installation and updates needed.

3) Even for any application User is not supposed to buy and install any app on her PC instead just get subscription to suitable web application and consume it.

Chrome OS CONS:

1) No convential netbook support

Yes, you need to buy new one from Google’s hardware partners (HP/Acer/Lenovo/Asus..). Price range will come into picture in mid 2010. Google justified this by saying ‘We want to reinvent the personal computing experience & it is more than the software.’

2) Internet needs to be much much faster

For an instance think, Can you simultaneously work on few Adobe applications as well as a movie download from Internet and even playing your favorite tune? For all these to happen, Internet speed needs revolutionary increase.

3) UI problem:
Windows addicted people will be harder to convince with browser like Chrome OS UI. Google had assured to work on UI and to make it more attractive than existing browser type of interface.

4) Data secutrity on cloudUser will be reluctunt to store his highly confidential data on cloud.

For example, Mr Shah has prepared one PPT on long term planning and strategies for his firm. Definitely he will prefer to store this PPT in encrypted form on its own harddrive than storing it on Clouds.Google should find out alternative as Chrome OS netbook would not be having local hard drive.