Is Chrome OS Just a Web Browser?
Posted on 08. Jun, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey in Features
It’s hard not to think that Chrome OS will be just a glorified web browser when it is released later on this year. The reason for this is because Google has been very adamant about their message that the web will be the platform of the future, and Chrome OS serves to be a way to serve up the web in a different manner than we have seen before. But when you hear this, it makes one start to wonder whether or not all we’re getting is a bootable version of the browsers we know of today.
The Chrome browser plays a part in the development in its counterpart operating system, as we’re starting to see with Chromium that Native Client is going to have to play a big part in the interface between the web and hardware. It’s being implemented in Chrome browser as well, so it will be interesting to see if we will see some cool Native Client stuff prior to the release of a Chrome OS gadget although an official device will be better optimized to do this because of the requirements that have been made by Google in the regard.
One thing that has been brought up in the Chromium discussion list (join here) is that a way to get around the issue of connectivity is that Chrome OS could use the browser interface as the way to run apps both online and locally. Local apps will still be based on web technologies, and all of the executables and information to need them will be securely stored on the hard drive. This will be the stopgap while emerging wireless internet available continuous to become more ubiquitous, one issue that is of great concern when you start considering a completely web-based computing solution.
So, without going much more into detail, no Chrome OS is not just a browser. It is a web-enabled solution paired with hardware that runs on an underlying Linux architecture to allow for processes that run just like any other operating system, but will be a tad more locked down in terms of applications for users.
I guess that would be kind of a mouthful to explain to someone, right?
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