Google Chrome Operating Sytem

Google’s Chrome operating system (OS), which is Linux-based and optimised for web applications, is still a good eight to nine months away from being released.

However, in a media preview of the OS at Google’s local office, I was surprised to learn that the open-source Chrome OS will not be available as a free download. Instead, Google will release the OS with the latest netbooks from major computer (netbook, to be exact) manufacturers, like Dell, HP, Acer or Asus.

Google claims this allows them to give users the best computing experience with the most optimised hardware. In other words, Chrome OS is only free to computer manufacturers but not to consumers.

With the free OS, it gives Google plenty of leverage when dealing with computer manufacturers in dictating the hardware requirements it deems fit for the OS. Manufacturers can further lower the prices of netbooks without having to pay licensing fees for the OS. This, in turn, benefits the consumers. So, what am I complaining about?

Furthermore, given Chrome’s open-source nature, a full working version should be readily available for download by the open-source community once it is launched. But, I don’t think Google is going to bear any responsibility if the downloadable Chrome OS fails on your “unofficial” netbook. And no one will know if such a version will be able to auto-update itself like the official Chrome OS would.