Why Chrome OS?

Right, so Google's been making some noise about this Chrome OS thing they're working on, and I've got to say - it's properly mad, but in a way that might actually be brilliant. They're basically saying "what if your whole computer was just a browser?" And you know what? They might be onto something.

What's All This About Then?

So here's the deal - Google reckons most of us spend practically all our time in a web browser anyway. Gmail, Google Docs, YouTube, Facebook... see where they're going with this? Instead of having a full operating system with loads of programs installed, they're building something that boots straight into Chrome browser. That's it. Mental, right?

Why This Could Actually Work

Look, I know it sounds a bit bonkers, but think about it:

Netbooks are everywhere right now (and they're a bit rubbish at running Windows)
More stuff is moving to "the cloud" (yeah, that buzzword everyone keeps banging on about)
Web apps are getting properly good (have you tried the new Google Docs?)
Most people just need email and Facebook anyway

The Promised Benefits

Google's making some pretty big claims about what Chrome OS will do:

Boot up in seconds (instead of the ages Windows takes)
Never need antivirus software
Updates happen automatically
Everything saves online, so you cant lose your stuff
Batteries might last longer cause it's doing less

But Hold On a Minute...

Right, lets be honest about the problems:

What happens when you're not connected to the internet?
Where do you store your files?
What about proper software like Photoshop?
Can't install MSN Messenger or Skype (bit of a dealbreaker for some)
Printers? Who knows how that'll work

Who's This Actually For?

From what Google's saying, Chrome OS is aimed at netbooks first. Makes sense really:

People buying netbooks usually want something simple
They're mainly used for web browsing anyway
Current netbooks are a bit rubbish at running proper Windows
Battery life is important for these things

The Web Apps Situation

This is where it gets interesting. Google reckons web apps are the future, and they're not totally wrong:

Gmail works brilliant in a browser
Google Docs is getting better (though its no Microsoft Office yet)
Facebook does what it needs to
YouTube obviously works
But loads of websites still need Flash (and that eats battery)

What About Offline?

This is the big question, innit? Google's talking about something called "HTML5" that'll let web apps work offline, but:

It's still proper early days for that
Not many websites support it yet
No one really knows how well it'll work

The Price Thing

Google says Chrome OS will be free, which sounds good. But you'll still have to buy the computer, obviously. They're saying netbooks with Chrome OS should be cheaper because:

They don't need massive hard drives
They can use simpler processors
No Windows license to pay for

Is This Actually The Future?

Honestly? It's hard to say. The idea of everything being online is interesting, but:

Internet isn't fast enough everywhere yet
People still like having proper programs
Windows isn't going anywhere soon
Apple's got their iPad thing now which is different but similar
Lots of people still don't trust "the cloud"

Should You Be Excited?

If you:

Mainly use Facebook and email
Don't need proper software
Always have internet
Want something dead simple
Are happy with everything being Google

Then yeah, maybe keep an eye on it. But if you need real software or don't trust Google with everything, probably wait and see.