Five Reasons Google Chrome OS Will Fail

PC World: "As smart and popular as Google may be, the success of Chrome OS is not a fait accompli. Sometimes the smartest and most popular kid at school simply falls on his face. Google Chrome OS could very well turn out to be that kid.

Will Chrome OS be the promising upstart that fails to thrive in the real world? It's much too early to tell, but here are five reasons that Chrome OS could fail."

[mrv321]

EVERYTHING WILL FAIL

BLU-RAY
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS
OS
PS3
SONY
SONY'S Next game
PSPgo
PSP 3000
Natal
Motion Plus
Sony Motion controller

Why can't anyone be positive anymore, like Natal looks really futuristic, Blu-ray offers good quality. With all doom and gloom no wonder why the economy failed, YEAH that's right it's fanboys fault that millions are unemployed, THANK YOU!

[locos85]

It's funny. If it's not made by Microsoft it will fail. lol

Still waiting on my "Why Windows 7 will fail" article

[STK026]

you forgot the Wii, and from a purely financial point of view, we all know how it ended for Nintendo.

[Voozi]

http://www.google.com/searc...

There you go :P

[mrv321]

I simply cannot believe Windows 7 will fail because nothing can be worse than Vista!

I know one reason this OS will fail it's because according to these people EVERYTHING WILL!

If these people could learn to talk to girls and not read Nintendo Power right now they'd be writting how life is pointless and that your heart will fail on some emo blog as they cut themself to sleep.

[Kushan]

And if it IS made by Microsoft, it will be overpriced and faulty. Seriously, there's no winning in this business.

[Darkeyes]

They said the same thing about Apple OSes and look how much market they are covering every month. It's not easy to shake off M$es grip on the OS sector, but only massive companies like Apple and Google can do it.

If there is one company I am willing to bet my money on, it is google. Apple might be giving a competition to M$ in the notebook department, but the netbook department is still up for the grabs. Windows XP has to retire sometime and Windows 7 still doesn't have a light version for netbooks and the beta runs like an elephant on my netbook... A fast zippy new OS is the thing required and Google might have the answer.

I agree with the first post... All these doom articles should be put to rest.At least give the OS a chance. People haven't even seen the thing in operation and are predicting it's downfall... Journalism these days can be even done by a fifth grader posting flashy headlines.. I mean, people are not ready to accept a change yet? I will be willing to move on to the google OS if it's better and I do hope it's better than Windows.... Change is a part of life u know.

[Greywulf]

-_-

[Marcelles25]

microsoft cant do everything google can do because google has WAY more money

[Carl1412]

Since when did PCWorld know anything about computers?

[Millah]

Whoever wrote the article is a complete clown. Almost everything he wrote in that article was a joke, seriously.

[Kushan]

Greywulf, those comments belong in the OpenZone.

[Traveler]

I absolutely love the Google Chrome browser so I have high hopes for the Google Chrome operating system. I think it will certainly put a sizable dent in Microsoft's control of the operating system market.

[Sitdown]

"They said the same thing about Apple OSes and look how much market they are covering every month. It's not easy to shake off M$es grip on the OS sector, but only massive companies like Apple and Google can do it"

But didn't apple already have a hardware division....so they could just push their product on their own hardware? I would believe that google is in a different place......will it really matter that much for the traditional consumer to move beyond the familiarity of Microsoft......while at the same time offering something different than apple. Then how long would it be for google to have running programs for standard games or applications such as word and powerpoint? This is really out of my area of expertise, so I am really asking questions to inquire how google would be able to break into the market.

[Darkeyes]

Valid points there, but just read the recent N4G article to see that nearly all the big companies are willing to support Chrome. Everything has a start. I feel that Chrome even has a better chance mainly cause unlike Apple it doesn't have to stick to only 1 company. The more the merrier.

The thing is primarily being built for Netbooks which now are on are the best selling computers.I don't see people gaming on a netbook. Yes, Google doesn't have a powerpoint killer or a Word equivalent, but well so didn't Apple... Yet it came out with things like Numbers and Pages which do the same thing and the UI looks much much better than W or PP... Hell Apple even has it's own M$ Word and PP for people who can't live without it.. So the same thing is possible for Chrome.

Google is taking one step at a time. One can basically see that they don't intend to capture PC market as of now cause frankly, no one will buy them without it proving it's worth. So the netbooks will be the place to play for building reputation and then if it succeeds, it can move on to the PC market... Again, it being Google is the only reason why I am intrigued. If it were some small companies shot to earn big, then I would have ruled it out, but Google is as big as M$ and Apple and so can give Win a good fight.

[shocky16]

Where do these articles come from?!

Everytime something is announced - for example the PSP Go!

the next day we get an article saying - 100000 reasons why the PSP Go! will fail..

tsk tsk..

[Voozi]

Eh it's just to contrast their "Five Reasons Google Chrome OS Will Succeed" article. I mean he even says, "There's little doubt in my mind that Google will not fail with Chrome OS." lol

http://n4g.com/industrynews...

[Major_Tom]

Mmm, tremble Microsoft, TREMBLE!

[cherrypie]

The market has already chosen Windows over GNU/Linux on Netbooks. Google branding a gnu/linux distro isnt going to magically vanquish MS. Google's going to have to pump *a lot* of cash into new advertising for such an effort.

Further, do you *really* want an ad-supported OS? Fcuk that. Linux is already free.

[Major_Tom]

Cherrypie, no one has chosen, Microsoft chose it for us and usually buy competitors. Have you not seen Microsoft attack various Linux groups and try to a) buy them b) if a fails destroy them but now they've just given up because there are too many to go after. Google can pump alot of money because they MAKE more than Microsoft starting late last June, they definitely don't need ads for it either I can see them making a legitimate jump.

I expect to see some serious competition happening if they choose to have their OS in the higher echelons of computing, like desktops. It might even become the de facto just on brand name alone.

People like Google way more than they like Microsoft, Microsoft probably knows this already and that's probably Windows 7 saving grace. It's an actually GOOD and decent OS as soon as you start it albeit hefty even with 4GB's of ram. Granted it still has slow indexing and bad spooler services it's not half bad but I really think that's because they know competitors are coming on the playing field. Even open-source linux groups have made great headway in the last 5 years alone and with the amount of programmers now adays it's going to really take off.

Windows is a great OS known for its ease of use, but it breaks down, often and that doesn't make it easy to use.

[Vip3r]

Given how popular and successful Chrome is, I have high hopes for Google's OS.

Should keep Microsoft on their toes too.

[DevastationEve]

I don't like the Google Chrome browser, to me the best out there is a tie between Opera and Internet Explorer 8. Firefox is what I end up using the most though, since none of my friends have even heard of Opera and only use Firefox.

As far as an OS is concerned, I don't think they'll make it very far with a Chrome OS. It has to adhere to PC standards, which means that it has to be x86 or x64 compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux just so that it can support already existing apps and hardware. So basically it has to do what those OS's already do just to be comparable.

It can be something new altogether, but then it runs the risk of being too foreign. That wouldn't stop the avid PC enthusiast from trying it out, but people who don't even know how to launch their defrag utilities won't be as inclined to give Chrome OS a try.

I liked Ubuntu being on a live CD, since most systems have at least 2GB of memory today anyway. It actually makes Ubuntu a handy OS just to keep on hand so that you can get through a corrupted OS install and get online to download patches fixes or whatever or go through forums to look for answers.

[Traveler]

No way, Chrome is the best browser in my opinion. Opera and Firefox are also really good and for people that love to use a lot of extensions and add-ons Firefox can't be beat, but I think that most people would find that Chrome's speed and streamlined functionality make it better than the other offerings.

[Major_Tom]

Internet explorer...... Yeah no.

[heroicjanitor]

"There is strong evidence--Linux on netbooks, for example--that Microsoft can still successfully charge for what other's give away."

True. Xbox live versus psn. Windows versus linux. Office versus openorg or google apps. Amazing how they can do that without just being seen as money grabbers who make billions from doing this.

[Kushan]

The thing is, with all of the things you listed there, Microsoft's versions are genuinely the better ones. Sure, when you throw the cost into it, you might argue that "Free" offers more bang for buck, but side-by-side, Microsoft's software tends to have an extra feature or two that the free versions don't.

[DevastationEve]

Just because they want to make money off their own product doesn't make them money grubbing. I mean they have a whole staff to pay wages for, so are those employees greedy too?

You guys forget that Microsoft is just the Corporate Entity, there are real people and programmers who have their obligations and responsibilities to their lifestyle and family. See if THEY don't mind working for free!

I like the concept of free and open source software but you can't eat on free.

edit:

Also, Xbox Live is free to Silver members, and Windows Live Essentials is free as well. In Windows 7 they've finally upgraded to the old Paint and Wordpad apps to better compare with their premium software as well.

[heroicjanitor]

But that doesn't mean it has to cost more. For example windows is more user friendly than linux, but is it 400 dollars better? Live is better than psn but that doesn't mean you should pay for it, they should just put it down as an advantage. Microsoft are not the worst offender though I hate apple's prices too.

[KingKionic]

400 dollars?

Windows 7 is like 50 bucks to preorder.
http://www.microsoftstore.c...

get them before there gone.

[sunil]

upgrading from Vista is 50 for a short period of time

[heroicjanitor]

I'm ashamed now because I'm sorely tempted, I'll probably get it :P

[CyberCam]

"Microsoft's versions are genuinely the better ones."

Question for you: Have you ever use Linux, Unix, MacOS or OpenOffice suite extensively in a corporate environment at all?

There is no way that M$ products are genuinely better in a corporate environment, than the fore-mentioned products above, not in a million years. I have personally seen higher productivity levels come from those products, when measured up against M$ products! Also, when measuring the difference in corporate downtime between all software above and M$ products... M$ loses every time, and that's fact! I've done my own study over the 20+ years in the IT industry supporting hundreds of companies! They may have more features but in the end it's a bigger pain in the ass to deal with.

It's best for software to just K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid).

I'll give you that XBLive has more features than PSN but I find PSN just works and works well for my needs. XBLive better?... I would say that is matter of personal opinion.

[DevastationEve]

A penguin. I have nothing against Linux users, but they seem to have so much against Microsoft. We can agree to disagree, you can't change my opinion regardless. It's not that I don't like Linux, it's that I like Windows better.

If you disagree it won't mean much other than that you disagree, thanks but I've already bought my preorder of Windows 7.

[CyberCam]

I have nothing against Windows users either (I've been supporting them for years), I actually feel sorry for them when they come crying to me with their problems!

Unfortunately they don't know any better or don't want to know any better. I personally don't want to change anyone's mind in regards to your preference of OS, it's call personal choice and everyone has a right to one. I usually show & explain the differences between several options and let the customer decide, then give them what they asked for.

I can't speak for all linux/mac users but I've been dealing with M$'s BS for years and I'm just tire of them. I've spent way too much time on the phone with M$ tech support over the years on behalf of clients. I'm the one that gets the flack from clients on why M$ products are so expensive and why they charge so much for phone support on faulty software!

Just to note: I didn't hit the disagree or agree button! And I will have to purchase an OEM version of Windows 7 as well because I have to learn the new quirky issues and support it!

[Eiffel]

Header - "Five Reasons Google Chrome OS (Will Fail)"

Article - "Will Chrome OS be the promising upstart that fails to thrive in the real world? It's much too early to tell, but here are five reasons that Chrome OS (could fail.)"

o_0

[Eiffel]

4 disagrees really? What's up everyones ass today?

[Christopher]

1. Having a title that says the product will fail while having content that talks about five reasons why the product could fail.

2. Using opinion as fact.

[IzKyD1331]

Why so negative? Google just announces an OS, and PCworld writes a "Why it will fail" article within the same day. Google hasn't announced any details on it, so why can't everyone just wait to see how the operating system "operates" before judging it

[Serg]

It's not a question of what it offers or what it can do. It is a question whether or not people will move on from Windows. Linux is my preferred system. It is free, it has a giant load of software for every purpose, it is stable like a mountain and can run for YEARS and still perform like on day one (We have 5 Linux and Unix servers and 2 Windows servers at work, we are rebooting the Windows servers every weekend, while the Linux and Unix servers are still running since we set them up 9 years ago), you will never have to reformat it, screwed up? Boot up console and fix it, no viruses, customizable to death... I could go on and on.

There are 2 little things that keep me from getting rid of Windows though, Linux has crappy audio drivers, 1 soundcard per application, so TS or Skype + game doesn't work in most cases. The second reason being games. There is almost 0 support from PC game developers for Linux, Epic and id Software being the only developers I know who make Linux versions of their big games. WINE or Cedega are good, but not perfect. They still don't play most games flawlessly.

But back to Google vs. Windows. As I mentioned above Linux is free and comes with software suitable for everybodys needs. But people are used to MS Windows, MS Office etc. Companies would have to teach their employees in order to achieve the same level of productivity on a different OS using a different program that basicly does the same (OpenOffice), costs a lot of money and they lose time, and time is, again, money. The average customer isn't any different. Why going through the trouble of downloading, installing, learning a new OS if they get Windows pre installed on their PCs and it does what they need out of the box.

I really hope Google OS will be popular and actually gives MS some competition. From what I've heard it will be based on Linux so maybe we will see developers pumping out native Linux games. Then I can finally throw Windows into the trash can.

[CyberCam]

This is the second great post I've read from you!

Now I know why I like your posts... you're a level headed linux guru LOL!

Everything you mentioned is FACT, I'll back you up when it comes to the sound drivers & gaming, I speak from experience as well! It's the only reason why I still have Windows on my PC's (which I rarely use).

Cheers!

[sunil]

Quote: "Do not underestimate what can happen when Microsoft gets mad. The company's biggest enemy in recent years has been itself. A new external threat may help Ballmer & Co. sharpen their thinking and respond like an angry immune system to isolate and overwhelm a foreign organism, like Google."

Says loads doesnt it !

[DJ]

And if they make an OS that's as fast and simple to use as this browser, then i'm sold. The people at Google obviously know what they're doing.

[Traveler]

I know, Chrome is a slick browser. I absolutely love it.

[DevastationEve]

Chrome OS will need to have codec support for various media types, and most likely it won't have immediate support for proprietary players and DRM protected media formats (iTunes, Zune Player, etc) as well as their associated portable media devices (iPod, iPhone, Zune, etc).

There are lots of open source codec packages and alternatives (like OOG Vorbis, AC3 codecs, etc), but this is just an example of what lies ahead. It's fine if you don't mind starting with fresh new files and programs, but it's not going to be immediately or easily transferable from another OS.

[ngg12345]

It is the biggest rip off in the world, when linux is in most cases better. I am basically forced to pay 100-200 $ more for a laptop for college because MICROSOFT Vista costs that much to package with a pc. I would rather have Google Chrome OS because if it does everything microsoft does, and is free. It is cheaper.

[DevastationEve]

Um...did you enter a legally binding contract to support and patronize something you don't like? If so, how did it happen?

You could instead just state your OPINION, and stop trying to insult Windows or its users.

OEMs like Dell, Gateway, HP, Toshiba, and Sony all prefer Windows on their machines. A few offer linux alternatives (HP' Mini netbook runs its own linux based OS) and usually are lower priced than Windows machines...but only by around $50 :\

But I agree that IF Google Chrome offers everything that Windows XP, Vista, 7, Mac OS X, Ubuntu, and Linux already do then MAYBE I'll check it out.

[Theoneneo81]

how can something fail when its not even out yet or we dont even know all of the details to the product n4g fails

hmm wonder if i can find a article about that ;)

[Dawn_Of_Ashes]

they are paid by ms to say things like that

[Dead_Cell]

You're not classed as newsworthy on the internet anymore unless you've had your very own "five reasons why you fail" articles written about you.

[DevastationEve]

Or RRoD article. Yeah, I know it's sad. It'll end when everybody stops taking things so personal and get back to reporting news that's pertinent and worth reading.

[Shaka2K6]

The problem with microsoft is that they don't have a website like youtube to promote their products and all of them are way overpriced anyways, microsoft live has failed, vista is a Flop, and nobody is excited about windows 7 looks like more of the same.

now if Google plays their cars right they could kill microsoft out of the OS market and it's about damn time, microsoft has abuse their OS monolopy for too long.

[cmrbe]

to compare Google chrome os to Linux. Its google we are talking about here. They are a well respected brand with lost of cash and marketing ability that rivals Apple. Big difference.

[unicronic]

1. Netbooks aren't the world - Perhaps not but Apple with a far smaller marketshare in PC's still frequently upstage Microsoft in a number of areas. Even if Netbooks attained only a 10% Market share over time it would be worthy of Googles time. Then there are the dual booters on top of that.
2. Microsoft can shoot to kill - Absolutely not true. If it were MS would have shot Google way before they became the global search king. MS have strength and domination in the OS area but Google are no slouch.
3. Google Docs is the best they can do - Google Docs is very under valued as a service. I think PC World are adopting the attitude that "I if don't like it no-one else will". Let's not forget that Google own YouTube, Double-Click and a whole host of additional services. Whilst not all are "Cloud" full integration with an OS could be a big attraction.
4. Chrome isn't a real OS - This maybe true but how many people use 100% of a Windows OS. For sure alot of us at N4G may push Windows hard but what percentage are we of the whole Windows base 5%? Interesting to discuss this further.
5. Compatibility - This is a good area to look at. Windows 7 RC seems to have very intelligent compatibility across the board. It would be tough for Google to match this but if they could then they could have a serious competitor on their hands.

[Jhun]

Windows 7 - Microsoft, if they want to release good stuff you know its good. (unless of course, they're being greedy bastards and releasing crap like vista just because they know it will still sell)

Chrome OS - good potential, but needs a couple of gens to develop in the harsh open source world.

Linux - good for a free OS. What else can we say?

Mac - always sucked, always will.

PS. Google Andriod >>>> Iphone OS muahahahaha DIE APPLE!