Google is planning a Chrome OS preview at its Mountain View headquarters on Thursday. While the OS won't launch until next year, the event will give Google the opportunity to give technical background as well as demos. Rumors, which last week said that Chrome OS was coming this week, turned to be true.
Google announced it was building its own Linux-based operating system, based on the Chrome browser, earlier this year. At the time, it said it would release the open-source code at the end of this year. It has also said the Chrome OS will be designed initially for netbooks, with the first devices hitting the market in the second half of 2010.
Google's biggest challenge with the Chrome OS will be driver support. Despite criticism over Windows, Microsoft's ability to make its OS work with a myriad of different hardware is a feat indeed.
Thus, if Google were to release a Google OS preview for developers this week, it would probably be restricted to a few select pieces of hardware.
For the average end user, this week's event will mean nothing. What will probably be released is source code that those handy with a compiler will be able to use. For the rest of us, there's probably little to be seen, except demos.
However, the key point is, if Google makes the same progress with its Chrome OS as it has with Android, its smartphone OS, in such a short period of time, it could make some major progress on a netbook OS by next year.
Just remember, however, how basic Android 1.0 was. Expect the same from the Chrome OS next year.
Written by Michael Santo
For HULIQ.com
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