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Google’s free OS could cost others dear

July 9, 2009 6:01am
by Chris Nuttall

Google has released a few more details on the Chrome operating system, including pricing, and yes, you guessed it - it’s free.

The news is completely expected but still refreshing, compared to the complicated tiered pricing and discounts detailed by Microsoft for Windows 7 last month.

Google also listed some of its partners for the Chrome OS:

“The Google Chrome OS team is currently working with a number of technology companies to design and build devices that deliver an extraordinary end-user experience,” it said.

“Among others, these companies include: Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments.”

So that means Acer, ASUS, HP and Lenovo are original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) likely to offer a Chrome option for their netbooks. Qualcomm, Freescale and TI can all provide ARM-based processors to work with Chrome on small netbook-like devices, while Adobe can optimise its Flash software to ensure speedier rendering of web pages and applications.

Google’s need for speed and better performance for its web applications seems to be driving Chrome’s development team.

“Google wants to drive the evolution of computers and operating systems faster in the same way it wanted to drive the evolution of browsers faster with the Chrome browser,” said a person familiar with the project.

He pointed out the desire for an end-to-end solution - while Google could speed up its web applications, it could not control other factors, such as how fast a computer booted up, unless it designed the operating system.

If Google does not plan to charge for the OS and is not just doing this to antagonise and weaken Microsoft, as some have argued, where is the business benefit?

“As people use more powerful computing devices centred around the web, web usage will go up and Google will benefit from that, its very similar to Android and Chrome['s business model],” said the source close to the project.

Meanwhile, spare a thought for small companies, like Phoenix and DeviceVM,  which have been building a business around fast start-up operating systems for netbooks, but now face an uncertain future with Google muscling in.

However, they were determinedly looking on the bright side on Wednesday.

“By the end of 2010,  Splashtop will be in the hands of more than 150m desktop, nettop, notebook, and netbook users,” said Mark Lee, DeviceVM’s co-founder and chief executive. “Google’s entry into the market should accelerate this trend, and help to make instant-on the de facto computing standard.”

Woody Hobbs, chief executive of Phoenix, which makes HyperSpace, said: “It is great that Google has validated our vision and is bringing an alternative to Microsoft’s operating system to netbooks and nettops.”

So will Google expand demand for instant-on or be a category killer? Answers in 2010.

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July 9, 2009 6:01am in Internet, Software | Comment

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