Off-Topic > Off-Topic - Tiny Tux's Corner
Google OS
samedirection:
It's true that if the new windowing system replaces X (as opposed to just acting as a Window Manager on top of X, which is how the speculation on Slashdot (1) seemed to be leaning), it will take some time before anyone ports x-based apps to it. If it's got X, it should be much easier.
And you're also right that if only skilled users can break out, it will be effectively lock-in. But my money is still on the proposition that there'll be pretty easy ways to 'upgrade' the official Google OS to modified versions of it that will do everything it does, plus run my desktop apps. Google will rely on it's name to hold those who just don't need that kind of functionality to the original version. And hopefully they can work synergistically with those who want to extend and hack on their new baby. They certainly seem to have done so reasonably well so far.
An open source Google OS just sounds to me like the next big hacking project. If it's really all open source, it's hard to see how end users will be limited to just what Google delivers. Which anyway might be a more complete OS than we think. Of course, we'll just have to wait and see. I suppose all one can say at this point is, 'it could be good.'
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(1)http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/07/08/0953238/Google-Announces-Chrome-OS-For-Release-Mid-2010
samedirection:
The Register reports this today:
"In a departure from Google's initial Android project, the company says it will open source the Google Chrome Operating System later this year, well before hardware systems ship. According to Google, consumers won't have access to devices until the second half of 2010."
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/09/google_chrome_os/
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