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"The software architecture is simple — Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. For application developers, the web is the platform," the company continued. "All web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite web technologies. And of course, these apps will run not only on Google Chrome OS, but on any standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux thereby giving developers the largest user base of any platform."
The greatest momentum behind these types of OSes are the fact that they mean cheaper devices. The OS has a very small footprint, and putting all of your files and applications online equals to huge reductions in the need for local storage space (ie hard drives or ssds). Also, the processing power used in these applications will not be local, so these devices will need less powerful CPUs. The OS is also cheaper since it's basically just a browser.
These types of OSes are great for portable devices, and not so much for desktops. In fact, it would be pointless to use this type of OS on a desktop. For one, economics. A desktop has a powerful array of expensive hardware that this OS doesn't need. Also, you're basically saying goodbye to every application that Google or MS doesn't make a web version of.
The great thing about the bulky OSes used on desktops is that they can do anything. Try writing a Nintendo emulator in javascript or flash. Sure, Google could make an online app that emulated the 8bit Nintendo, but with all of the legal issues do you think they would? Well, it is Google so maybe they would, but I doubt it. Maybe you could care less about playing a game on the old Nintendo system, but it's just an example.
There's also the security aspects. EVERYTHING you do on this type of OS is sent over the net. Every keystroke, every click. All of your files reside on their computer, not yours. You infact don't own those files anymore, but are granted access to them based on an agreement. The files are stored on hardware that belongs to Google or MS, not you. They have the legal right to do whatever they wish with them.
The Google OS is great news for any type of portable computer, but the desktop and the bulky OS isn't going away anytime soon.
Google Chrome OS could be a disaster
This upcoming release of Google's Chrome OS could be a real mistake for the giant. They have a history of putting out half hearted attempts at apps that seem to be perpetually plagued with "beta" type issues.
While that may be fine for gadgets and novelties, it simply will not fly when it comes to operating systems. Operated systems have to be rock solid. If they aren't, users get real unhappy very fast. If this operating system is a failure, Google will get a first hand look at the pain that Microsoft endured with Vista and ME.
If this operating system is a poorly designed, rushed to market product not ready for prime time, it could just well be a failure that sticks. And, if they are expecting the geek community to embrace it warts and all with the fervor garnered by Ubuntu, they have miscalculated. This think needs to work out of the box.
So, I wait with interest to see how well thought out the new OS will be. I too believe that cloud computing is the future of the computer user. The only question is will Google be first to provide a real working solution.