Comments on: What to Expect from Google Chrome

By: Bobby

Bobby — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:32:43 +0000

Hey guys! I recently read an article on Venturebeat from a former Google employee (though he admits to being unaware of the Chrome OS project while he was there) that talks about what he feels is Google’s motivations behind the Chrome OS — it’s actually pretty interesting and he makes some good points beyond the typical “looking to the future of the internet”, delving more into -shaping- the internet as strategic move in the competition game.

Check it out here: http://bit.ly/6UCHcV
Total Comment by Bobby: 1

By: James Bathgate

James Bathgate — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:26:44 +0000

I totally agree with you Kosmo, it’s good for a small group of people, but I think most people who grew up in this technology driven world are going to turn their nose up at it. I think this operating system will be good for the netbook users they are targeting and that is it.

I think they also made the mistake of it only being a browser, they could have added some small interface improvements to allow users to treat certain web applications as true OS apps like they allow people to do in Chrome browser. I use multiple windows as part of my work flow and that is something hard to change. The main reason I don’t use meebo as my chat client is due to the fact I can’t get used to the way it handles notifications, I prefer a nice bouncing or blinking icon in my task bar to draw my attention to something that can be hidden behind other windows that I get in a web browser.
Total Comments by James Bathgate: 6

By: kosmo

kosmo — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:21:46 +0000

I’m not sure that Chrome will ever be a great OS for “Power Users” or even “typical users”. But I think it would be great for people like my Mom or in-laws.

My mom uses exactly one application – email client. My in-laws use exactly two applications – email and web browser. I am being literal – no exaggeration. There’s a ton of overhead in a traditional OS that is completely dead weight for them. Why not run a bare-bones OS that runs wicked fast?
Total Comments by kosmo: 589

By: James Bathgate

James Bathgate — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:08:17 +0000

I got it running on my macbook pro using virtualization, and for me I just don’t see the point right now. I use too many non-web apps to be able to use Chrome OS. The biggest issue for me is messenger clients. Google even points to them in their presentations as something you can do on the web, but I have yet to find a good web based messaging client out there. There just doesn’t seem to be a way of setting up a good notification system from the browser.
Total Comments by James Bathgate: 6

By: Evan

Evan — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:59:05 +0000

I think that right now, Chrome OS might be a couple of years ahead of its time. I booted into it via a USB flash drive this weekend (Bobby on our site wrote about how to do this), and found that I had sort of a “OK, now what?” reaction. I knew going in that it was internet only, but it really hits you when you’re actually using it that all it does is allow you to run a web browser. I think it will be really hamstrung until internet access is everywhere, and even then it will really only be an OS you use on a secondary computer.
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Total Comments by Evan: 104