Google Launching OS, Firing Torpedo Into Microsoft [Silicon Alley Insider]
Are you a Windows user? How about Linux or Mac OS? Starting in the second half of next year, search giant Google plans to add an additional operating system choice for computer users. Yesterday, via the company's blog, Google announced an undertaking to develop its own netbook OS that will combine Google's Chrome browser and a Linux kernel. And even though some netbook manufacturers are installing Google's Android mobile OS onto slimmed-down portable computers, this new project is set to be a completely new OS, separate and apart from Android.
Technology pundits are already portraying this move as pitting Google directly against Microsoft's Windows 7 OS, which is set for a formal release this year. Though details are still sparse, many expect that Google will release the OS for free, just as it has for many products including Chrome and Android. A free OS might be a draw for users of lower-end, less expensive netbooks, since it will be one less feature that they have to pay for.
But, developing an operating system is not an easy task. Developing hardware drivers for the thousands of different computer peripherals that users might want to connect to their Google OS netbook will be a challenge, and many popular software titles are not yet available in a Linux version.
With Microsoft challenging Google's hegemony in the search business with its newly released Bing search engine, it appears Google has decided to go after Microsoft's core business as well, its Windows operating system.
These two high-tech behemoths appear to be intent to go after each other's business for every product they offer. Should be interesting to watch. I'd bet that neither will really, truly take serious market share from the other in their core competencies.
Let the sumo wrestling begin!
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