Should be interesting to see what happens in 2010
D'ya think it will work?

The Windows brand certainly has been tarnished by multiple security holes, bloat, instabilities, incompatibilities, expense to upgrade and maintain, the Vista yawner, etc. A light weight and clean OS certainly would generate some viable competition.

Google Chrome OS is open source.
Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips.
I wonder if it'll be 'free'?

If anyone could make Linux user friendly and useful I suppose it's Google.

Wouldn't that be a brick now?

IF Windows 7 stumbles... M$ is in deep SHT!

Apple and Google could pull a huge number of users away.

So far Windows 7 looks like a safe bet, but lets see how the public treats it. Remember most of the analysis has been by geeks who know how to get around small problems... the General Public usually does not, and can be easily frustrated.

We'll see.

Article in NYT.

Google Plans a PC Operating System

"Google’s plans for the new operating system fit its Internet-centric vision of computing. Google believes that software delivered over the Web will play an increasingly central role, replacing software programs that run on the desktop. In that world, applications run directly inside an Internet browser, rather than atop an operating system, the standard software that controls most of the operations of a PC."

"To combat these efforts, Microsoft began offering its older Windows XP operating system for use on netbooks at a low price. In addition, the company has vowed that its upcoming Windows 7 software, due out this fall, will run well on the tiny laptops, which have stood out as the brightest part of the PC market during the global economic downturn. Microsoft’s current Vista operating system is designed for more powerful machines."

I'd think Apple's fortunes could be negatively affected by the new Google OS also, not just MS.

Agreed. Apple is every bit as exposed as Microsoft. If Google's OS is a slick piece of kit, prepare for some strange changes on the horizon. Look at the adoption rates for Gmail, for instance. Look at Google's virtual lock on the search world. Look at how much freakin' dough they have to throw at a problem. They are not to be underestimated. Jeez, these players are all titans, really. Interesting times.

On the other hand, strong competition is good. Means Apple will be fighting tooth and nail to deliver functionality and slick user enhancements for their own software.