Google Chrome OS

[Sparky]

This is my first post from the Google Chrome OS.

I am on my Acer netbook with Chrome OS booted from a 4 gig usb key.

No installation required and the OS booted in only a few seconds. It asked for my google login and immediately took me to my gmail and calander.
Youtube works and surfing the web seems pretty good.

It sometimes locks up while its thinking but i don't know if it's the OS or the netbook.


If you want to try the OS go to http://memac.com/chromeos/

It has instructions and downloads to put the OS on a bootable USB key that will not interfere with your current OS.

If this is the very first release with no developer or driver support i think it might be a pretty decent OS a year or 2 from now.

 

[TheGodBen]

You log in with your Google account? So there's no offline mode at all? I had assumed (hoped) that they'd include offline versions of software like Google Docs, but if the entire experience is online then there's a large segment of the market that it's not going to be useful for.

 

[Colin Xavier]

You log in with your Google account? So there's no offline mode at all? I had assumed (hoped) that they'd include offline versions of software like Google Docs, but if the entire experience is online then there's a large segment of the market that it's not going to be useful for.

Chrome OS will support Google Gears so Gmail, Reader, Docs should all work offline.

Majority of online web apps however will always require an active connection.

 

[Amaris]

I'll look into it once they employ authentication for wireless networks.

J.

 

[Colin Xavier]

I understand what Google is trying to do here, but is it a good idea to make an operating system with less functionality than Windows 7 Starter Edition?

 

[Australis]

I'd rather retain stuff locally than use online storage and apps.

But then I'm old skool.

 

[TheGodBen]

Chrome OS will support Google Gears so Gmail, Reader, Docs should all work offline.

Majority of online web apps however will always require an active connection.

The thing that threw me was the fact that it asked for a Google login on bootup and not a localised account. I'd hope they've implemented it in such a way that you only need to log in with a Google account once and after that your password and account details are stored locally, because if you need to be connected to the internet every time you want to turn the thing on then it's only going to be an expensive piece of junk.

 

[StarryEyed]

I'd rather retain stuff locally than use online storage and apps.

But then I'm old skool.

I feel the same way. I feel a lot more secure when my apps and my content is on MY hardrive and backed up on MY USB drives where nobody can take it away.

 

[Amaris]

I'd rather retain stuff locally than use online storage and apps.

But then I'm old skool.

I feel the same way. I feel a lot more secure when my apps and my content is on MY hardrive and backed up on MY USB drives where nobody can take it away.

Or look at it any time of the day, even when my PC is off.


J.

 

[Arrqh]

I understand what Google is trying to do here, but is it a good idea to make an operating system with less functionality than Windows 7 Starter Edition?

Considering what most people use netbooks for, yes, yes it is.

 

[USS KG5]

I understand what Google is trying to do here, but is it a good idea to make an operating system with less functionality than Windows 7 Starter Edition?

Considering what most people use netbooks for, yes, yes it is.

Indeed - we all need to remember that the market for Chrome will be a very specific niche.

I do feel, however, that Google have missed the boat here. Now that windows 7 will run on Netbooks Google have to face down not the bashed linux and ancient XP previously supplied but the latest and greatest (and frankly damned good) Microsoft OS.

It seems that Windows 7 is as much of a success as Vista was a failure, so will Chrome OS be very late to the party? Especiallly when you consider we will be on SP1 of Win7 before Chrome gets onto Netbooks in any quantity.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

There is no way Google made this or has anything whatsoever to do with it. Why the fuck would they have you download bits of it from Rapidshare?

Scam, scam, scam, SCAM!

 

[SamShouman]

There is no way Google made this or has anything whatsoever to do with it. Why the fuck would they have you download bits of it from Rapidshare?

Scam, scam, scam, SCAM!

I couldn't help reading your ingenious comments without replying. Google made their Chrome OS an open source meaning that people like us can compile different versions of it and share it with the community, this is a preview release where it can break and not work perfectly but its normal, until Google host or prepare a more stable release people can get an early build from different sources, like the Dell Mini v10 build, or individual's builds like the ones available on rapidshare and other file servers.

Your elitist tone shows your immaturity and inexperience in real world use of computers. Until you are educated enough to understand how these things work, maybe you need to stay on Facebook or twitter talking about what you have watched on TV last night.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

There is no way Google made this or has anything whatsoever to do with it. Why the fuck would they have you download bits of it from Rapidshare?

Scam, scam, scam, SCAM!

I couldn't help reading your ingenious comments without replying. Google made their Chrome OS an open source meaning that people like us can compile different versions of it and share it with the community, this is a preview release where it can break and not work perfectly but its normal, until Google host or prepare a more stable release people can get an early build from different sources, like the Dell Mini v10 build, or individual's builds like the ones available on rapidshare and other file servers.

Your elitist tone shows your immaturity and inexperience in real world use of computers. Until you are educated enough to understand how these things work, maybe you need to stay on Facebook or twitter talking about what you have watched on TV last night.

Wow, now who's the elitist? "Go back to twitter, newb!" Cute!

While I'm sure there has been work put into this, it is fraudulent to claim Google in any way endorses this project.

The real site for their open-source operating system is here.

Simply put, the context of the original post indicates that this build is in some way endorsed by Google, that it represents an official (though pre-alpha) distribution of a Chrome-based operating system. It doesn't.

It's an enthusiast effort, much like the "Chrome OS" distributed earlier this year. That's nice and all, but one should avoid claiming something is associated with Google when it isn't.

Maybe Sparky didn't know any better, but people should be aware that this release is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google in any way, shape, or form.

Google will release an official version in their own time--next year, they say. I am only concerned about false information being spread around here. This is not the "Google Chrome OS." It's a community build of the Chromium OS project, and Google was not involved with the build or release hosted on memac.

 

[sojourner]

If this is the very first release with no developer or driver support i think it might be a pretty decent OS a year or 2 from now.

It's Linux under the hood, so drivers aren't an issue.

As far as whether it is better than Win 7? Well, personally, I think they stripped Win 7 Starter down too far. I mean come on! I can't change my desktop background? really!?! That's just lame.

Chrome OS in my opinion seems to be a fifth wheel of an OS. Who needs it that doesn't already have something else?

I have said it for years. If someone wants to make a serious break into the home/personal computer market with an OS they need to get the game makers onboard. If I need Windows to run WOW, why bother with anything else?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

If this is the very first release with no developer or driver support i think it might be a pretty decent OS a year or 2 from now.

It's Linux under the hood, so drivers aren't an issue.

As far as whether it is better than Win 7? Well, personally, I think they stripped Win 7 Starter down too far. I mean come on! I can't change my desktop background? really!?! That's just lame.

Chrome OS in my opinion seems to be a fifth wheel of an OS. Who needs it that doesn't already have something else?

I have said it for years. If someone wants to make a serious break into the home/personal computer market with an OS they need to get the game makers onboard. If I need Windows to run WOW, why bother with anything else?

Yeah, I didn't even bother criticizing Chrome OS as an actual operating system, because really, it's just another Linux distro. After so many years, Linux on the desktop still isn't happening. Maybe Google thinks it'll be different this time, but we'll see.

 

[Amaris]

If this is the very first release with no developer or driver support i think it might be a pretty decent OS a year or 2 from now.

It's Linux under the hood, so drivers aren't an issue.

As far as whether it is better than Win 7? Well, personally, I think they stripped Win 7 Starter down too far. I mean come on! I can't change my desktop background? really!?! That's just lame.

Chrome OS in my opinion seems to be a fifth wheel of an OS. Who needs it that doesn't already have something else?

I have said it for years. If someone wants to make a serious break into the home/personal computer market with an OS they need to get the game makers onboard. If I need Windows to run WOW, why bother with anything else?

Holy Schnikes, I read up on Starter 7 and you're right, no changing of the OS background. Something tells me after a crapload of users complain about it, there will be a patch for that, maybe in a service pack. I get the other limitations, but not changing the background? That's silly. While netbooks and portables need to conserve space, CPU and memory, that's just a pointless limitation.

That being said, I'm using Windows 7 Home Premium and it is delightful. My Acer AspireOne uses Windows XP SP3 and it hauls like a greased up banshee going downhill in an ice storm. I've done a little looking around, and I'm pretty certain Windows 7 Home Premium will run on my little Acer. I'm so very tempted to download the Beta onto it and see if it works.

J.

 

[Arrqh]

If this is the very first release with no developer or driver support i think it might be a pretty decent OS a year or 2 from now.

It's Linux under the hood, so drivers aren't an issue.

As far as whether it is better than Win 7? Well, personally, I think they stripped Win 7 Starter down too far. I mean come on! I can't change my desktop background? really!?! That's just lame.

Chrome OS in my opinion seems to be a fifth wheel of an OS. Who needs it that doesn't already have something else?

I have said it for years. If someone wants to make a serious break into the home/personal computer market with an OS they need to get the game makers onboard. If I need Windows to run WOW, why bother with anything else?

Yeah, I didn't even bother criticizing Chrome OS as an actual operating system, because really, it's just another Linux distro. After so many years, Linux on the desktop still isn't happening. Maybe Google thinks it'll be different this time, but we'll see.

Except they're not targeting desktops. Anyway, one of the main reasons why Linux can't get a real foothold in the desktop market is the GUI and ease of use. Taking something like OSX as an example, the fact that it's a BSD derivative doesn't matter at all... what matters is what it presents to the user. Similarly, it doesn't matter that Chrome is just a Linux distro, what matters is what it presents to the users. Which, for people using netbooks as a mobile supplement to their "real" computer, seems pretty good.

I haven't actually used it nor am I really ever intending too as, well, I don't have a netbook. I'm just sayin' that there's a clear target market here that currently is only being served by cramming Windows into a space where most of its features are extraneous.

 

[Galactus]

Man I am not happy about this story. I was looking forward to running Chrome on a desktop next year. Now I have to learn to use Ubuntu.

Are they still playing on putting Android on netbooks too? I remember that was the original plan, wonder why they changed.

 

[sojourner]

It's Linux under the hood, so drivers aren't an issue.

As far as whether it is better than Win 7? Well, personally, I think they stripped Win 7 Starter down too far. I mean come on! I can't change my desktop background? really!?! That's just lame.

Chrome OS in my opinion seems to be a fifth wheel of an OS. Who needs it that doesn't already have something else?

I have said it for years. If someone wants to make a serious break into the home/personal computer market with an OS they need to get the game makers onboard. If I need Windows to run WOW, why bother with anything else?

Yeah, I didn't even bother criticizing Chrome OS as an actual operating system, because really, it's just another Linux distro. After so many years, Linux on the desktop still isn't happening. Maybe Google thinks it'll be different this time, but we'll see.

Except they're not targeting desktops. Anyway, one of the main reasons why Linux can't get a real foothold in the desktop market is the GUI and ease of use. Taking something like OSX as an example, the fact that it's a BSD derivative doesn't matter at all... what matters is what it presents to the user. Similarly, it doesn't matter that Chrome is just a Linux distro, what matters is what it presents to the users. Which, for people using netbooks as a mobile supplement to their "real" computer, seems pretty good.

I haven't actually used it nor am I really ever intending too as, well, I don't have a netbook. I'm just sayin' that there's a clear target market here that currently is only being served by cramming Windows into a space where most of its features are extraneous.

Have you used a Linux distro in the last 5 years? The GUI, whether you go with Gnome or KDE rocks! On my netbook I have Win 7 and run Ubuntu netbook remix from a usb key. I have to say ubuntu is the better OS for the situation.It looks better, has a stronger feature set and runs faster. The only thing keeping me from wiping Win 7 and going to Ubuntu full time is game access. I want to be able to access WoW on the netbook. While I could try that with ubuntu, it's a pain. If they ever release a Linux client for WoW or some of my other games Windows is history.

Still can't see a reason for Chrome OS.