Op-Ed: Google Chrome OS ready for launch, says industry buzz

The somewhat-hyped, but interesting, Chrome OS is said to be ready for launch in the fall. This is a lightweight computer operating system, not a PC-style system, the same sort of monster as a Windows OS.

The system is believed to be essentially based on supported devices at this stage. Creating hardware drivers is considered the main issue. Techcrunch reports that Google has been working with Adobe, Acer, Hewlett-Packard and other industry majors on the project. However, it may also eventually be able to do the basic computer jobs without the fuss. It’s sometimes forgotten that many fundamental uses of computers include dressed-up versions of basic computer operations with a few additions. You'd think that word processing was some sort of miracle, if you didn't know it relates directly to the "read" and "list" functions. The most ancient 80s computers could do most of that. Even the term “operating system” has become a synonym for a Byzantium of dubious, expensive, processes. Previously, functionality was the working philosophy. Win 95 and 98 were comparatively simple, but highly functional. The average computer user does not need, and never has needed, large amounts of the materials on the new operating systems. They should be optional. Most people don’t even necessarily know those operations exist, after using operating systems for years. That fact is a measure of the irrelevance of some of the mythological powers of OS in the market. The definition of an operating system is “a manager of applications”. Big deal. It’s a fancy, preset switching operation. One of the reasons OS become obsolete is that they progressively lose the ability to do that work efficiently as new apps develop. Those apps didn’t exist when they were created. The design lag does the rest. They don’t, however, become entirely dysfunctional, so: If you look at current OS, you’ll note that while there may be a million apps on a computer or other device, the commonly required apps are comparatively low level things: 1. Word processing 2. Email 3. Browsers 4. Spreadsheets 5. The odd graphics program 6. Media A relatively simple OS could easily handle these things. Media, with its high demands, may be an issue, but hardly an insoluble issue with modern multicores. For browsers, speed and access are the only real issues. If Google’s Chrome OS sticks to basics, and runs everything or nearly everything properly, that’s most of the market covered. A basic OS can operate on a needs basis: The “Haven’t got this app/driver/software etc, want to install it?” or “Run this?” approach would do. Why load huge amounts of stuff that will sit there and do nothing? The Chrome OS, with a bit of luck for computer users, may eventually encourage a move away from huge, unwieldy, patch-addicted systems. Security could improve considerably, because the relative lack of complexity would create fewer weak spots. Many of the weaknesses have been related to obscure points in tiered software on apps. You could even build in a simple “what the hell is this?” function for getting rid of malware and unnecessary crap from the net. Just a basic “trespassers will be deleted” function would do. Something as simple as Scan Disk could do that, let alone an OS. Another option for Google is to stick the actual apps operations online. The hardware on older computers is always way out of whack with most new apps. Chrome could simply access the apps in that environment, rather than running everything through the vague possibilities of someone’s computer’s or other device’s capabilities. If you view operating systems as limitations, rather than as the sort of holy grail they’ve become, the perspective changes. If you had to perform major engineering tasks and bureaucratic processes every time you wanted to make a phone call, how many phone calls could you make? If you had to buy an elephant to go shopping, how’s your budget? Chrome could bring the mindset of development back to functionality, and away from this phone booth packing approach we’ve been seeing. 1. Computers should be able to do anything. 2. An OS should be able to provide services on demand. 3. Consumers do not benefit from complexity. 4. The market doesn’t benefit from things that involve complexity. 5. The user's mindset isn't based on tech issues, but on getting things done. 6. Anything that doesn't involve "click and go there" is generally loathed. It’ll be interesting to see what Google comes up with in terms of basic OS functions. They’ve seen what not to do in some detail, now let’s see if they can find a way around the mess. One thing's for sure: create an open source operating system, and there'll be a stampede to check it out. Chrome, with some decent marketing, could become a category killer.