Google Plans a PC Operating System
(NYTimes)

I guess you could say it is about time.

Google is planning to release a PC Operating System.

Although it is a bit confusing to call the OS “Chrome”, I suspect there is a very good reason for doing so. Namely, Chrome is already available for Microsoft systems. So it does offer the opportunity for consumers to gain familiarity with the Chrome name and product without actually buying a new system. Interesting, if a bit confusing. But, of course, since the idea is Internet centric anyway, what does it matter?

Another interesting observation is the differencing approach being taken by Microsoft and Google. Microsoft has announced that it does not plan to develop a version of its OS for the ARM chip (hoping that market goes away) while Google seeks out both the x86 and ARM markets.

And then you have the third interesting observation.

Google is truly combining the browser and OS. Well sort of anyway. Rather it is simply saying that the OS is less significant between the two for those customers that are reliant upon the Internet anyway. And naturally, Linux is readily available to satisfy that need.

This development could be much more significant that first meets the eye.

Of course, Google is saying that the Chrome OS will work fine, or perhaps better, than a separate OS and browser. But, I assume that the Chrome OS will also support normal Linux applications. And this could be important.

The problem with Linux has been the chicken or the egg dilemma. What about all those applications that have been written primarily for the Microsoft systems? It has been difficult to convince ISV to write for the Linux platform. Understandably so. But, what if the Chrome OS does well on netbooks, nettops and PCs in general? All of a sudden, demand exists for these other applications.

Of course, Google already has its own suite of Internet centric applications (which conveniently just came out of beta), right?

Microsoft can not be pleased with this move. They have already admitted that dropping the price of XP so that it could compete with Linux on netbooks has cut into their revenue picture. And that affect is about to heat up a bit more.

Simply put, Google does not need to sell the Chrome OS at a “competitive price” in order to justify this move. Google wants consumers to gain access to a better Internet or at least better Internet centric applications. And there is no doubt that the Chrome OS is intended to do that. At first, it was the browser. And now we see the plan also includes the OS.

This is a very interesting illustration of the significance of Linux and open source in general. There is no question that Microsoft attempts to use its proprietary code to control and manipulate other markets (I.e. Netbooks and chips) hoping they do not develop any benefits for consumers. And here comes Linux and open source being used to open up significant markets. Simply put, anyone can take open source code and put it to use. Microsoft restricts.

Google has the potential to unravel Microsoft.