Google is taking a huge aim at Microsoft with the announcement that it wil introduce a new Operating System, Google Chrome OS, which will effectively compete with Microsoft Windows Operating Systems.
Today’s operating systems evolved in the pre-web era and Google believes that there is a huge opportunity to create an operating system that is centred around the web. Nine months ago, Google introduced a new Web Browser, Google Chrome. This is now available in 50 languages and has been downloaded on millions of computers. It is a fresh, simple way to browse the web. (Download it here).
Google Chrome OS is a natural extension of Google Chrome. According to Google “It’s our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.” Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. It is scheduled to be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. The key aspects will be speed, simplicity and security. This is music to my ears, as I am sure that I, like many Windows users, waste a lot of time with an OS that is meant to operate in the background, yet often grinds down your computer to a halt, and seems to have an insatiable appetite for lengthy security and other updates.
This is a serious challenge to Microsoft, which is scheduled to introduce Windows 7 to the mass market on October 22, 2009. Although Google Chrome OS is initially intended for netbooks, there is no reason that Google will not aim for the general PC/laptop market.
With this announcement, Google continues to flex its muscles and is clearly aiming to become the Number One Technology Company in the world. Google’s share price jumped $5 in initial trading following this announcement, whereas Microsoft fell 50c.
