Google’s Chrome operating system (OS), which is Linux-based and optimised for web applications, is still a good eight to nine months away from being released.
However, in a media preview of the OS at Google’s local office, I was surprised to learn that the open source Chrome OS will not be available as a free download. Instead, Google will release the OS with the latest netbooks from major computer (netbook, to be exact) manufacturers, like Dell, HP, Acer or Asus.
Google claims this allows them to give users the best computing experience with the most optimised hardware. In other words, Chrome OS is only free to computer manufacturers but not to consumers.
With the free OS, it gives Google plenty of leverage when dealing with computer manufacturers in dictating the hardware requirements it deems fit for the OS. Manufacturers can further lower the prices of netbooks without the need of paying licensing fees for the OS. This, in turn, benefits the consumers. So, what am I complaining about?
Furthermore, given Chrome’s open source nature, a full working version should be readily available for download by the open source community once it is launched. But, I don’t think Google is going to bear any responsibility if the downloadable Chrome OS fails on your “unofficial” netbook. And no one will know if such a version will be able to auto-update itself like the official Chrome OS would.
Ultimately, this means current netbook users will not be able to enjoy the stunning seven-second boot-up time (or less) of the current version of Chrome OS, if their netbooks are using solid state drives.
If that’s already the case, I don’t see why users have to fork out extra money to buy a new Chrome OS-optimised netbook just to get a few seconds shaved off for the boot up time. Unless of course, like TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington reported, Google decides to release its own “Google Netbook”.
Still, given its web advertisement-centric business model, Google benefits from widening the base of Chrome OS users. With only web applications available, Chrome OS users have to use the Internet all the time and this itself will translate to more revenue for Google.
As such, isn’t it a “win-win” situation for both Google and consumers to have fully supported Chrome OS free for all to download and enjoy?
Google’s Chrome operating system (OS), which is Linux-based and optimised for web applications, is still a good eight to nine months away from being released.
However, in a media preview of the OS at Google’s local office, I was surprised to learn that the open-source Chrome OS will not be available as a free download. Instead, Google will release the OS with the latest netbooks from major computer (netbook, to be exact) manufacturers, like Dell, HP, Acer or Asus.
Google claims this allows them to give users the best computing experience with the most optimised hardware. In other words, Chrome OS is only free to computer manufacturers but not to consumers.
With the free OS, it gives Google plenty of leverage when dealing with computer manufacturers in dictating the hardware requirements it deems fit for the OS. Manufacturers can further lower the prices of netbooks without having to pay licensing fees for the OS. This, in turn, benefits the consumers. So, what am I complaining about?
Furthermore, given Chrome’s open-source nature, a full working version should be readily available for download by the open-source community once it is launched. But, I don’t think Google is going to bear any responsibility if the downloadable Chrome OS fails on your “unofficial” netbook. And no one will know if such a version will be able to auto-update itself like the official Chrome OS would.
Ultimately, this means current netbook users will not be able to enjoy the stunning seven-second boot-up time (or less) of the current version of Chrome OS, if their netbooks are using solid state drives.
If that’s already the case, I don’t see why users have to fork out extra money to buy a new Chrome OS-optimised netbook just to get a few seconds shaved off for the boot-up time. Unless, of course, like TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington reported, Google decides to release its own “Google Netbook”.
Still, given its web advertisement-centric business model, Google benefits from widening the base of Chrome OS users. With only web applications available, Chrome OS users have to use the Internet all the time and this itself will translate to more revenue for Google.
As such, isn’t it a “win-win” situation for both Google and consumers to have fully supported Chrome OS free for all to download and enjoy?
Tags: Chrome, Net