Open Ballot: Chrome OS: zero or hero?

Open Ballot: Chrome OS: zero or hero?

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - December 8, 2009 @ 11:38pm

No, I need more than just a browser

yes

johnvile - December 8, 2009 @ 11:52pm

for now.
when the world has sorted its self out and everybody just gets along. I'm sure there'll be plenty of dual boot scenarios that little OSes like this slot into. It would be really cool already if it had Picasa with it.

NO

Huw - December 9, 2009 @ 12:27am

An OS that only lets you use Google applications, or at best Google-approved apps? No bleeding way. Even the most casual user, in my experience, appreciates some choice when it comes to using PCs. As for we Linux geeks, isn't 'choice' part of the attraction? I recently got fed up with the clipboard manager I was using, so I simply downloaded another. Problem solved. You almost certainly won't be able to do that on Chrome OS, so you can count me out.

Yes, it will have limited appeal to absolute neophytes in computing, but even those people are well-served by other offerings. I just can't see it taking off, even with Google's name attached to it.

Not to mention the presumably limited scope for tinkering around "under the hood."

Additionally

Nobody Important (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 1:05am

Additionally, I think that users yelling about how Chrome OS isn't enough completely miss the point.

Chrome OS was not created to supplant the computer experience as a whole. Google is not stupid, they know this. They've been watching computers and see how things are moving.

We have dedicated computers for playing games or movies. Dedicated handhelds for playing music and checking e-mail. And yet it seems like all of the dedicated internet browsers are either poorly designed or too expensive (or both!).

Like how the iPod was never meant to overwrite your use of your music management software on your computer, Chrome OS is not here to take away the computer environment you love and cherish, but rather offer a small, cheap device that offers Google's services outside of the usual laptop paradigm.

Yes

Kota (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 1:37am

Many of the people I know need nothing more than a web browser with a few additional capabilities. Of course, I expect Chrome will be able to play music and videos that are stored locally, and things like Google chat will increase in popularity because of the integration with Chrome OS. I personally cannot live with just a browser, but for a netbook, I think this is perfect. The minimal boot up time is a great reason to switch, although this is possible with most distributions with a bit of configuration. As mentioned before, this is great news for the hardware compatibility issues under Linux, and on top of that, people who are happy with Chrome OS are bound to try out other full blown distributions such as Ubuntu or OpenSUSE, and a few brave souls may venture out and try Gentoo. I suppose none of those Gentoo individuals would ever try Linux again...

NO

Forget Irving (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 3:45am

OS - What OS! Glorified Google interface is what we are talking about.

Why is that Smart phones are taking off? iPhone & Android (along with Palms WebOS and Symbian) - people want to be able to do things that require local compute cycles and local storage. Yes the web plays a big part in that, but usually not the only part and if you have a device that can do more then why restrict it???

Backup to the cloud, store non sensitive data on the cloud, sync with the cloud - but don't use it as your only platform.

I am sure there are people who will gladly hand over the ownership of their data to Google (or some other 'cloud' based provider) but I for one am not so keen.

Google's desire to "KNOW" everything and control the web quite frankly makes me nervous. According to Eric I am a "miscreant" because I don't want Google peering in to my activities and making them publicly available or even available to Google only. But, by utilising an OS operated by Google then I am essentially going to be doing that!

So "No Thanks" Google - I prefer to be a miscreant.

No

Schalken (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 5:06am

No, I need more than just a browser.

Does that require any explanation? Also, like Kota said, if nothing else Chrome OS will do its part to break the stranglehold MS has on the OS market.

meh

Bill Stone (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 6:32am

Any distro can be striped down to no apps and just a browser. WiFi is not prevalent enough for most people to get around with no apps. I refuse to pay $50/month for cellular wifi with crappy speed and a 5Gb cap.

For me NO, for my mum YES

Istvan (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 7:21am

As above already described we are power users so this also would mean that we are not the main target audience of the ChromeOS. I think the OS will be booting up fast and make the internet goodies available within 10 sec. on a netbook so I think even though we are not the target group we could also use as a second Netbook OS. You know when you are travelling and waiting somewhere and all you need is just a browser to check mails/news or just surf on the net.

On the other hand my mum does not need much more than a browser a mail client and a chat application. Oh and every 3 months a photo browser just to save the pictures from the camera. And she would need these as simple as possible. Without any pop-ups and stupid questions. I don't know how is it with you but I am not happy when I have to problem solving on the phone about what is the latest thing that her PC just pop-up/asked and she is no longer able to reach her favourite application... So for this purpose the ChromeOS would be perfect for her.

This is a good but dull thing

Kevin Colyer (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 8:13am

I think this is a good thing for Google and the FLOSS world but somewhat dull for a tinkerer like me (and I guess most of us here!)

This is good. Google are competing against MS and the mindset that a computer = Windows. The more Chrome OS, Android, Symbian, Palm, Mac OS and Desktop Linux erode MS mindshare the better for Desktop Linux; people will be ready to try something new.

Imagine an embedded terminal program in one of the Chrome OS machines. Every hospital, bank and institution seems to have a terminal open to their ancient back end mainframe systems. More of the systems are moving to web frontends. (I was just in hospital with my wife. MRI scans were accessed from a webpage, blood tests from another webpage, notes on a third system, patient billing and personal data on a terminal system). A fast, secure, free, low power (will run on ARM etc.) solution could fit the bill. Why these places currently seem to run it all on Windows desktops anyway is a mystery.

So I see Chrome OS as very significant to the erosion of MS desktops. This has to be good for the FLOSS community!

Zero

Tobi (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 8:49am

I can't see much of a point in it. The reason why I bought myself a netbook is not only to surf the internet, but also to have a highly portable device that allows me to work in places where I am not connected - trains, busses, waiting at the airport etc (or to kill time by watching a movie in any of those places). A computer that is completely useless everytime my ISP makes problems or I am not at home is a lame compromise.

The only advantage might be if it is incredibly cheap - but even then it wouldn't make much sense. People that cannot afford a 200 Pound Netbook usually can't afford broadband internet either, and I can't imagine working in the cloud with a modem connection is a lot of fun.

Of course Google is also disregarding rural areas and countries that are not that blessed with internet access.

yes

scotty (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 8:57am

linux is about freedom to do whatever, if google want a browser only distro let them make it. it is upto the individual what they want from a distro so let the public decide.

@Tobi

BubbaT (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 9:40am

With regard to the need for a consistent connection to do work I agree that would be a bad requirement for an OS. However it's my experience that when working on a laptop that has intermittent connectivity, I will always lose my connection just when I need to access some remote file.

But I always have some reading and viewing to do, so any netbook I have should allow me to store stuff locally and process it. If Chrome can act as a file manager, and has several important plugings, it would let me do peripheral parts of my work when offline.

OLLLLLLLLLLLLD

root (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 10:12am

Actually, system with nothing but a browser is already in existance, and can be found at xpud.org. Also, i HATED Chrome.

What are they thinking

Anonymous Penguin ++ power Banana (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 10:49am

Yes Chrome is a bit off. strike that.. way off..

and her comes the "But" part

But look 10 years in the future, do you see internet everywhere, whit broadband as a minimum. Yes, this future is unavoidable.

Will development continue moving in that direction. Yes.
The two real questions are: Are people reddy for this,
new = scary.

And: are Google reddy for this; do they have the apps, the support, the community backing, the marked and sales.

after what I have read, I'm afraid the answer is NO, not yet

Definitely!

Fluke Airwalker (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 11:54am

There are ways to use Google web apps offline using Google Gears. Surely these new Chrome OS netbooks are going to have a way to attach portable storage so you can access your offline documents, like PDFs. And if you're using lots of Google apps already, like I do (Gmail, iGoogle, Reader, Gtalk, Calendar, Docs, and most recently Wave), Have you taken a look at Google Business Solutions? If companies can trust their private information and infrastructure to Google, why can't a peon home user trust them too?

Yes, Google has the right idea

Bruno Bernardino (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 12:10pm

A netbook with ChromeOS would be awesome for me. I'd also need my laptop or a desktop but only for professional work (so it could be in my office).

ChromeOS is an excellent idea, imo.

Yes, it' works... as an instant-on solution.

DaVince - December 9, 2009 @ 1:02pm

Tons of people here say "no, I want more than just a browser". But that opinion really makes sense - a lot of the people here ARE power users after all who definitely need more than just the browser. I, however, see launching a pocket browser OS when I only need to access the internet quickly as something very useful! Acer(?) had its instant-boot Linux for small things like playing media or reading text files, and Chrome made it more practical by having a browser instead.

I don't think the OS can work just all by itself - this really needs to be installed alongside a full-blown OS. But I don't think it really ever was Google's intention to have the OS as the "only" one on most netbook devices.

@Tobi

DaVince - December 9, 2009 @ 1:19pm

You do know that services such as Google Docs and GMail are also accessible even when you're offline, right? New features in (previously) Google Gears and now HTML5 allow this kind of offline "browsing".

@Tom Z 1:27pm

NutMotion (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 1:45pm

Ive installed NUR for a laptop im offering too my sister soon. And typing these words right now from Ubuntu 8.04.

So I like ubuntu much. Just like the rest of us here I guess:) ubuntu helped me get in touch with linux. Helped me learn UNIX tricks also. However I like it because Im a soft developer.

And that's the whole point. You can answer NO to GG Chrome OS because of your likes and dislikes.

But speaking for the crowd, if more people can get access to the web, and to computers (as they get cheaper), I say go Google! Cheaper maybe, wider also:)

OOOOH a POSTER with my

John (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 2:53pm

OOOOH a POSTER with my latest LXF! Awesome :D

I like the Google idea but I can't see it becoming mainstream. If I needed a cheap and cheerful netbook for emailing etc when abroad it would be perfect.

Right of passage?

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 4:41pm

Is this a right of passage for every technology company? First IBM and their "we only need X computers in the world", then Sun and their "Java Desktop strategy" and now all the mobile/internet vendors saying "program" everything in javascript and serve your "applications" through the web? The pendulum will continue to swing back and forth, thick then thin then thick then thin. I think time will show Chrome OS as the thin client extreme that starts us back towards the thick client.

still talking..

NutMotion - December 9, 2009 @ 5:25pm

@RAM 3:51

alright thanks:) I thought maybe it was some kind of blogging shortcut

didn't know lxf mag. Just gave it a quick look. however, judging only by the titles on the cover, I believe there are more "professional" linux mag:p

anyway, good that there are some widespread linux mags.

Yea why not.

Denzel (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 6:01pm

i believe that this would lead to awareness of linux and increase the shares of the os being used. There is another reason too, Google designed the os to be a bike(netbook) that would run along the the car(pc). But i must agree it needs alot of fine tuneing as offline support is needed and the network manager needs to be more simple to connect to the internet but the only thing I can falt is it needs more documentation on how to connect to the internet, otherwise a very polished interface and browser.

Definition of a "netbook"

Remixer96 (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 7:00pm

Maybe I'm alone, but it seems to me that Chrome OS falls perfectly in line of what I think of as a "netbook". If you're trying to store data locally on a machine Chrome OS is intended for, then I think you're confused about what kind of machine you bought.

+1 for Chrome OS

No. No. No. No. Is that

Michelangelo (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 10:32pm

No. No. No. No. Is that enough....

Yes

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - December 9, 2009 @ 11:45pm

It'd be a great idea for dual-booting... If all I need is the Chrome browser, that's what I'll boot into.

Damn I keep missing these ballots

baldrick-prime - December 10, 2009 @ 2:39pm

..sigh...

think people!

Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - December 11, 2009 @ 4:37am

google never claimed that chrome os is going to replace your other computer... so save all of that "i need it to do more" buisness. what chrome os is going to do is make using a a NETbook more rewarding. that are mandating that the devices shipping must have all day battery capacity, larger screens, and full size keyboards, as well as SSD's. saying chrome is minimalist is ignorant. sure theres nothing to the operating system except the internet... i guess you'd say there isnt much on there too huh? what google is doing is encouraging developers to create even more dynamic web content and chrome os will simply be that fastest and smoothest way to access it. because chrome os has the full resources of the system at its disposal. whatever you can do in your browser on any computer is what chome os will do only it will do it better despite being on a more than likely lower end(performance wise) and less expensive computer. think...

No

JackV (not verified) - December 19, 2009 @ 3:22am

Not everyone in the world has sufficient internet speed to access online for the application(cloud). I think Linux main target should be people in development country so that the new users could be increased. Therefore, I think Chrome OS is not suitable for people outside the developed countries.

My Lord

Dawg (not verified) - January 4, 2010 @ 9:56am

I don't like the idea of Linux and Google progams competing instead of uniting against the Common Enemy but both Chrome and Linux have their place. Linux fans should be careful not to fall into the trap of emulating the Evil Giant which decides on the included functionality of its products not by looking at what benefits users but by looking at its own (evil) marketing strategy. (A case in point is the Evil One's failure to support open source file or even recognise Linux partitions.)

No, someday. Yes, until it's open.

demian0 (not verified) - January 18, 2010 @ 3:47pm

No, I need more than just a browser.

But that's me, I'm not the one that Google is making this product for. In near future, low cost netbooks seem to me like a potentially big sellers if wireless standards improve, lower it's price and cover most of the countries in development. Then this dedicated OS can have it's best shot.

Yes, I think floating Chrome OS will be good for the growing Linux netbook market.

You have the biggest giant in computer industry overall, company that has proven it's standards and constantly improving every single essential thing that end-users need and even more. As long Google keeps it open, it can still be changed, modified and used in the way you love it. Users have done excellent job in improving Linux, they are pushing the limit constantly. And now Google just want to push Linux to it's own capacity, improve it furthermore. Why is this a treat to the open-society? I don't know.

Google (in simple words) is just creating a Linux distribution. Because they will cut off features, rapidly improve others and implement new ones, creating it's own Graphical Interface (or browsing interface) it came up to be Chrome OS, not a Linux distro. It's still based on Linux kernel and that is what matters. I think that if Google came to announce that they are making Linux Distribution the whole climate would be now more positive.

The bright side:
1. Constantly improving until it's fully workable. Something that open-source sometimes fails to achieve because of it's unpaid nature (don't get me wrong, i love open-source). Good ideas float in the community all the time, but not every time they are being released in fully functional stable version.

2. Official and companies released open-source drivers. Google said it will push companies to make open-source drivers. What's better then this? Instead of improving user provided generic drivers to work on specific hardware, now official companies released drivers can be improved. Also I will like to note that I'm not expecting to see something similar to ATI open-source drivers. I expect to see FULLY WORKING open-source drivers.

3. Many times mentioned, the kernel patches. Maybe not all users are intrigued by this, but one thing is clear: the more people work on kernel, the better it gets. What's so wrong letting Google adopt Linux kernel for it's personal use and provide patches, bug-fixes and improvements for the open-source generosity?

has anyone tried just running ChromeOS under KVM

bmullan (not verified) - May 19, 2010 @ 2:12am

when they release it ...

I would think you could just install it under KVM etc and still have your normal OS but the fullblown ChromeOS running in a resizeable window ? ?

Or does ChromeOS also use KVM which would prevent it being run itself as a VM