Comments on: Google sees separate paths for Android, Chrome OS

Android is already on the horizon for Netbook makers, and Chrome is supposed to be a Netbook-optimized operating system. What's a Netbook company to do?

[slickuser]

I don't believe Android handles "complicated" process of handing off...

Android is an application OS. The handling of cell phone specific (comms) is handled by
firmware running on the same device.

Anyway, another Microsoft in the making...or are they already?

[SenorFrog]

How are they another Microsoft in the making? In what arena is Google so powerful that you have no other choice but to use their product? In search, web apps, web services, desk top widgets, etc, there are plenty of competitors for Google and there will continue to be for at least the near future, which is all we can predict when it comes to anything dealing with technology. Google's moves will keep both Apple and Microsoft (but more so with Microsoft) on their toes and hopefully we, the consumer, benefits from this competition. Bing shows that Microsoft can still counter-punch and that's also good for us. In the long run, Microsoft will be the one to keep Google from becoming another Microsoft.

[YankeePoodle]

No one talks about Gazelle (except for InfoQ), just another proof the silicon valley based tech media are Google and Apple fanboys.

[mbenedict]

Gazelle isn't really a product. It's more of a "proof-of-concept" for research purposes. We don't even know if Gazelle will ever be a shipping product. For example, Gazelle concepts could be adopted into a next-generation IE instead.

Having said all that, I agree that all the hype touting Chrome OS as a "Windows killer" is largely undeserved.

If anything, I believe Chrome OS (if successful) will threaten Apple more than Microsoft. Chrome OS might end up diluting the "alternative to Windows" market. In other words, people who seek to leave Windows might choose Chrome rather than Apple.

Apple touts OS X as being "simple to use", "fast", and "secure"... well Chrome OS might be even simpler, faster, and more secure.

[stm24]

You know if you google or bing Gazelle, you'll see that websites where talking about it back in Feb 09! No one paid any mind to it until websites started talking about Chrome OS.

[frobots]

Interesting to see Microsoft's army and fanboys spreading FUD around these forums.
How can anyone defend this company is beyond comprehension.

[monkeyfun14]

Blind Microsoft hate much?

No one even mentioned any FUD.

[g15host]

Until you can switch OS on any machine as freely ($0 cost) and easily as changing your search engine/site in a browser, comparing Google to MSFT is a joke.

[jlxsolutions]

Well or exampe switching to ubuntu linux. is as easy as registering on a forum.
toss in CD tel it where you are what you speak and your time zone and tell it if youwant to keep (macrosh*t)on the side.
and voila your done whit 0 cost. and a very nice OS

[forever4now]

Personally, I like the idea of running Android on a netbook, if all of its smartphone functionality is enabled (i.e. cell phone calls, SMS/MMS, LBS, etc.).

It would be cool making/receiving phone calls with a bluetooth headset, while my netbook is in my backpack. The other location-based apps, etc. would also be useful, when traveling or roaming around the city.

Hopefully, the Chrome OS will include some/all of Android's smartphone functionality.

[dbloyd]

I would like to see Android continue on it's path as a mobile Linux client and Chrome OS as a pure Web 2.0 platform. I think a rich client is possible now when it wasn't back in the late 1990's. People are still going to want to have their Mac or Windows PC. I see it as another computer in the home. A nice touch screen browser only PC would be nice for the kids or Grandma.

[codynews]

"With Android already on the horizon and Chrome pitched as a Netbook-optimized operating system, what's a Netbook company to do?"

Um, use Windows 7?

(assuming they want to SELL Netbooks rather than make a unprofitable jab at MS)

Cody

[maeckg]

Even with a great user interface, Chrome OS will be a niche OS, which may lead to options for a lot of users. It is likely because Android was not conceived as more than a mobile phone OS that to rework it would for a PC mean redoing most of it anyway, so why not just do a Linux distro from kernel up
What could be a real step in the right direction is to offer it encapsuled with a virtual machine: it could run on top of other OSs while offering a big advantage of security. It would then setup just the services it needs to run web apps but using some local machine resources for performance.
Actually, all web browsers should run in a virtual machine by default to protect the host OS. This could work on a netbook/nettop as well. One could switch easily from host to guest OS. MS could do this too. Opera and Firefox could offer a version of their browsers as appliances like VMware does, but with newer versions. It would give web apps a virtual workspace while not risking attacts on host applications that need to be protected.
Google woujld be smart to Chrome OS both as a compact web centric OS for netbooks and users who want just cloud apps, but also as a web appliance with it's own virtual machine to easily and securelly run on normal Windows/Linux desktops. It would reach a larger group of users and develop to strength as an example of cloud computing instead of worring about device drivers of thousands of different configurations.
.

[ZetaZeta_]

I'm still a little confused.
Android is linux. It runs a (so I've read before) "modified version of Chrome" or something to that effect as its browser.
You can probably getting Android running on a netbook, with a full screen chrome-esque browser.

So, what is Chrome OS? Chrome on bare-bones linux? Is that not less functional than just making a full version of Chrome on Android?

I don't see where the separate paths are. :x Give Android a way to run Android Market Apps in a window or something, and get a port of Chrome running on it, and I'm good to go? Why the development of 2 products?

Will Chrome OS be competing with Android on $99-$199 or so netbooks? (Anything for $299 or so and I'd immediately opt for Ubuntu or Windows 7.)