Google Chrome OS: Five Big Obstacles in the Windows War
Google's upcoming open-source operating system for PCs has certainly caused a stir — but is everyone drinking too much of the Windows-killer Kool Aid? CIO.com's Shane O'Neill reports that there's five big obstacles Google must overcome.
CIO — Google announced yesterday that it has an open-source operating system for PCs in development that shares the same name as the company's browser: Chrome.
The Chrome OS announcement generated more buzz than a swarm of bees and has been called an OS market game-changer by some in the blogosphere. A Google blog post heralding Chrome OS offers a direct challenge at nemesis Microsoft and will raise some eyebrows in Redmond.
In the post, Google provides some details about Chrome OS, including: it is separate from mobile OS Android; it is targeted at netbooks; it will run on both x86 and ARM microprocessors; and it will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010.
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But should Microsoft feel truly threatened by Google's shot across the bow? Not right now, say industry watchers. Too many factors are working against Google to make real inroads at this time.
Five key obstacles face Google as it prepares to get in the PC operating system game.
It's Just a Netbook OS
Google has framed the Chrome OS as fast and lightweight. It will use the Web as its platform, which is perfect for the growing netbook market, but not enough to take on Microsoft in a serious fashion, say industry analysts.
Roger Kay, veteran analyst and president of research firm Endpoint Technologies, says Google's Chrome OS will not be much of a threat to Microsoft if the OS is not equipped to manage hardware.
"Google will need years to build up the library of device drivers to really take over the hardware world," Kay says. "Google's view is that all you need to see is a pane of glass — a browser window — to look through, but a real OS has to manage hardware as well."
Long-time software analyst and ZDNet blogger Dennis Howlett agrees that Chrome's potential to steal market share from Windows has been blown out of proportion.
He writes in a recent blog post: "The initial target seems to be the netbook, but I don't see how anyone can realistically extrapolate that to world dominance of the entire PC market, let alone the crucially important server market."
Even Netbooks Not a Sure Thing
Howlett goes on to question Chrome's ability to succeed in the netbook market itself.
He writes: "Linux has not fared so well in the netbooks market and I don't see anything here that makes me think Google Chrome OS will do any better."
