Will Google Chrome OS Succeed in the Netbook Market?
Google is entering a fierce market with the Chrome OS, as netbooks are firmly in the Windows camp. By any metric it is clear that Linux on netbooks has been bumped, since consumers firmly desire Windows on the little laptops. Google has to be careful how they approach this effort with the Chrome OS, in order to counter consumer hesitation with things non-Windows.
I had a chance to give some serious thought to the things Google can do to make the Chrome OS launch on netbooks a success. I also looked at the business opportunities that the Chrome OS can provide to Google and other companies that can ride the Google train. You can check out the entire article that looks at the Chrome business case on our research site, GigaOM Pro (subscription required).
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I don’t think the Chrome OS has any more chance of taking over (or even putting a dent in) the netbook market than any other linux-based OS currently on the market or in development. Consumers still want their netbooks to run the same programs that their home or work computers do, and the vast majority of those programs are Windows-based.
I agree with Phil. I love most Google products. Google hasn’t demonstrated that they can develop a successful product in-house besides search. Google bought Youtube, Google Docs and Google Voice.
I sure hope they do make it good – XP on my Dell Mini 10v is a real step backwards to someone who is using Win 7 on everything else. I have a Dell Dimension desktop, a Compaq R4100 lap/Dell 1318 lap and the netbook. I have 3 copies of Win 7 coming and I don’t know whether I will put the third on the Compaq or the Mini 10v. So Chrome would be a nice option for one of them.
I’m currently running the Windows 7 RC on both my Dell Mini 10 and Mini 10v, and it runs great. I would not hesitate to install the final version on either one.
I’d say they have better options here with Android OS, which is showing signs of going into consumer electronics.
They won’t need to even promote it for it to happen – just wait for the real fight that will surely come between smartphones and netbooks.
I see two different types of netbook buyers. One wants an ultra small, inexpensive laptop. These people want near full functionality and expect an OS that provides that. Today it is XP but MS wants to replace XP with 7. A lot will depend on what 7 costs the OEM. The other group wants an ultra small, inexpensive, easy to use device for email and web browsing. A free, small OS that would work well on a light, cheap SSD would be great. It would be quick to boot and require minimal care. Also in favor of the latter device is the intro of web based apps including MS Office 2010. I think there is room for the Google OS.