Google's Extreme Focus on the Cloud Could Be Chrome OS' Achilles Heel

by Sam Dean - Nov. 11, 2010Comments (2)

When Google announced Chrome OS last year, it got an overwhelming level of hype, especialy because the open source operating system is a follow-up to Google's ultra-successful Android mobile OS. After quite a long wait, though, Chrome OS-based netbooks still haven't arrived. The wait has been so long, in fact, that netbook sales are in decline--especially as they are perceived to compete more and more closely with tablets like Apple's iPad. When Google announced Chrome OS, netbooks were selling like wildfire. But the real problem that Chrome OS may have has to do with Google's huge bet on cloud computing. Has Google guessed wrong?

Whenever you consider the question of whether Google has guessed wrong, you have to look at the many skeleton projects in the company's closet. Google Wave was hyped about as heavily as Chrome OS, but has been dumped by the company. Google's attempts at social networking tools have fizzled as well. The company has delivered many projects that went nowhere, and due to nearly universal Google-ish feel-good sentiment, people often don't foresee how the company will drop the ball on any given project.

A huge part of Google's bet with Chrome OS is that users will transition heavily toward cloud-based applications. These apps are already on the rise, but many observers question whether people are confident enough to rely entirely on cloud-based applications, and cloud storage. Make no mistake, Chrome OS is structured to force you to use data and apps that reside in the cloud.

But part of the reason desktop apps are still dominant is because people are familiar with them and how to keep their data secure with them. Application usage doesn't shift entirely overnight. People have favorite utilities that they don't want to give up, and that reside locally.

Chrome OS has other radical leanings, too. Its security model works such that the operating system can completely wipe itself and go through reimaging whenever a hint of malware is detected. I'm not sure users are ready for that kind of radical reset.

One thing Google has in its favor is that Chrome OS truly is open source. The Register just did a good story exploring this fact. Its true open source nature means that it could metamorphosize into something nobody ever expected--like a killer cloud-centric tablet OS where Google might, say, subsidize the cost of Chrome OS tablets.

I have to agree with The Register when it concludes with the central question about Chrome OS, though: "The question is how many people really want a machine that runs nothing but web apps." That is the question.

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by Paul on Nov. 11, 2010

I've been waiting for Chrome OS for quite a while, I have been trying an early version by 'hexxeh', it's fast - your in and out realy quick, not waiting an eternity for Windows to ponder the universe before you get to click on Firefox - and wait a bit more.

For those on the move, jumping between computers, (holiday makers, students without a laptop etc) keeping you files on the cloud is fine, but not sure about soing 'serious' work on the web.

I see Chrome OS as a 'TV' version of the web, flick it on, check the news etc, flick it off - NOT for heavy duty serious 'office' work.

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by Cougar Abogado on Nov. 12, 2010

At this point, I'm unable to definitively answer "how many people really want a machine that runs nothing but web apps."

On the other hand, I surely count myself as one of them. I'd also venture a guess that Commander Turtleneck (sorry, Steve Jobs) is a Web app lover in blossom. Let me count the ways: iOS, Lion App Store, iTunes Online, Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, and, I believe most importantly, the new Macbook Air. If I remember correctly, Jobs said Apple envisions the new Air line as _the_ future of Apple notebooks. Yes, they still have hard drives, yet could they be any more geared for the cloud, if we take that away? As goes Mr. Jobs, so goes the Apple universe. (BTW, I briefly tested one in my university bookstore, today, and was pretty impressed, so kudos to Apple.)

Heck, let's even look at Microsoft: Azure, Office Online, Office 365. Yes, I'll agree that MS is, at this point, hedging its bets on the cloud (especially per Steve Ballmer), yet would you argue it will keep it's PC-centric model forever? Have you had a look at IE9, yet? Any idea where MS got most of it's inspiration?

Speaking of MS, the only reasons I even have Office anymore (pared down to Word) is for an assignment requiring track changes (which Google Docs does in the background anyway) and because the Ohio State Supreme Court requires Word for certain applications to become licensed as an attorney . . .

Now to your comments about Google's flops.

1) Do you seriously believe "Wave was hyped about as heavily as Chrome OS"? I used Wave a couple of times and was, frankly, pretty underwhelmed. Moreover, do you feel Wave had the same kind of beta-tester enthusiasm Chrome OS has? 2) Google buzz. Yes, I confess I have mine turned off. Then again, I also avoid Facebook like the black death.

Did I count wrong or did you explicitly list only two flops as proof of Google's "many projects that went nowhere?" What about Nexus One (though, I believe many would argue a lot of good came out of it)? What about Knowl? What about Orkut? Also, I'm confident if you look in the labs section for Google, you will find a mountain of unused or at least rarely used programs. (BTW, speaking of flops, how about Vista, Kin, or Windows ME? Would you therefore argue that anything MS hypes is destined to fail because it's face-planted a number of times?)

How about the Google successes? Let's name a few. Google. Gmail. Google Maps. Google Docs. Android. And, oh yeah, Chrome. Remember the browser that came out of obscurity to overtake Apple Safari (released 2003) for third place in world browser usage share in less than two years?

To address the concern of people switching to the cloud, how quickly did people start using banks, credit cards, cell phones, CDs, TVs, or even electricity, for that matter? I'm confident Google is deploying Chrome OS to lead the pack, rather than conquer the global computing world in one fell swoop. Historically, I believe the iron curtain came down a year or two _after_ the Berlin Wall fell (who knew it would take time!).

Finally, two last thoughts to close my bedtime, comment-post.

Security. Yes, as I understand it, Chrome OS fixes itself. My understanding is that basically all Chrome OS user data resides in the cloud and that the machine is basically a portal, so why would I cry over the OS fixing itself and preventing system decay or attack? (Note that literally _while_ writing this comment, Windows 7 randomly crashed on me (and it looks like the OS is now failing to recognize my battery, oh wait, it fixed itself!)). . . Thank goodness Chrome or your domain saved this novel!

Openness. Ironically, I think I might disagree with you, here. If I remember correctly, I've read a number of articles stating that while the Android code is open initially, _the_ actual Android code is closed. I believe the _Google_ version of Chrome is the same way, so, I presume Chrome OS will be too.

In the end, I can see where you're coming from and am confident Google sees Chrome OS as a leading-edge technology. I personally am ready to hop on board and look forward to the days where I can rely on an OS that will avoid crashing while I write a ten page comment. Thanks for allowing me to soap box. Cheers.

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