What is Google Chrome OS?

Google has open sourced its new Google OS project today.  The open source Chromium OS webpage shows some of the inital designs for the new operating system.

Today we are open-sourcing the project as Chromium OS. We are doing this early, a year before Google Chrome OS will be ready for users, because we are eager to engage with partners, the open source community and developers. As with the Google Chrome browser, development will be done in the open from this point on. Link

The Google Chrome OS, will be an, "open source operating system for people who spend most of their time on the web."  Google posted a great video explaining exactly what it is they want Google OS to be and how it will work:



From the screen shots on the project page (Link) I think the OS looks really nice. Although you still wont be able to play video games on the OS from what I understand right now (other than games that can run on a web page.) But other than that it does look like it would be able to do everything you want it to do. The video game issue is a common problem to all Linux type operating systems unless you are willing to do a lot of complicated hacking stuff to get the game to sorta run.

Google OS Interface Screenshot:

The security features of the new operating system also sound very innovative.

Unlike traditional operating systems, Chrome OS doesn't trust the applications you run. Each app is contained within a security sandbox making it harder for malware and viruses to infect your computer. Furthermore, Chrome OS barely trusts itself. Every time you restart your computer the operating system verifies the integrity of its code. If your system has been compromised, it is designed to fix itself with a reboot. While no computer can be made completely secure, we're going to make life much harder (and less profitable) for the bad guys.

This will be something all consumers should keep their eye on.  Although in discussions with co-blog contributer XL, he suggested that no other operating system will be able to thrive as long as Microsoft is around.  Although I can see a market for the Google OS on netbooks that serve as peoples mobile laptop.  In those situations you want something light and fast that stores all your information on the internet.  I bet Microsoft is concerned about that.

I have read that there is already at least one netbook scheduled to be manufactured with Google OS as its native operating system.  I would much prefer Google OS on my netbook rather than Windows 7 aka Vista re-packaged.  You want something small, lite, and fast when you are on the go, not a dead elephant.