Toward the fourth quarter of 2010, a new kind of computer and operating system will be unveiled to the tech-world. I believe it will have tremendous effect on everything from computers, future video game systems to mobile cell phones. It would extend its influence to the every day lives of the average person. There is a potentially dramatic paradigm shift in how people view their computers and web base applications. It may happen over night or it could take a couple years. But it will happen and we will be very aware of it sooner rather then later. What is this possible “before and after” scenario? You might initially scoff at the possibility that Google is going to bring to the market something that will change how its all done but as you continue reading this, you will see that you cannot discount its relevance.  The unveiling of Google OS might spell the beginning of the end of the hard disc drives. Google Chrome OS is to be released later this year. Forget 2.0, this is the beginning of the web 3.0.

Before we head off into examining the future Google OS, let us consider first what the reverberations will be on the world of video games.  What does this mean to the future of Sony? Nintendo? Microsoft? - Everything. Because understanding the trajectory of where the world’s mainstream PC technology is going, will give you a greater window of understanding about where our future video game systems may be heading as well. When you see the next rumor of PS4 scrapping the disc format, you will have a better picture of what they mean. You’ll have an idea of what potentially the next system might be like. Our next systems may be smaller then we imagine!

Now let’s get back to the matter at hand- Google OS. There are those of you readers who may be familiar with the Google Chrome web browser but don’t be mistaken; what you are using is a pre-embryonic application in relation to a unique operating system. The Chrome OS is based on the Linux kernel derived from Ubuntu; it will be only available initially on certain Chrome-based net-books. What makes this OS so different then any other operating system that has come out before? For one Google is going to take the WebOS mainstream. Throw some proverbial bells and whistles on it and make it a practical application for the laymen consumer. They are planning on building a minimalist OS in which all programs and functions will be web based, even being as bold as declaring an “end to the computer virus”. It would toss all functions of an old computer and make the Internet it’s focal point.

This is not the first time the concept of a web-based operating system was presented or applied. What makes this Chrome OS and the hype surrounding it so alluring is the fact that the term “WebOS” never reflected the reality of a true web operating system. This Chrome is being proposed as a true WebOS where its hardware would be focused just for the Internet. All the applications would run within the net. The desktop itself will be on the Internet. When you turn on your computer waiting through boot up would be a thing of the past because instead of waiting for the operating system to boot kernels, or applications, all of your stuff would be waiting online in a centralized home site. Your home computer would be a 100% internet-based device. Google is trying to make your future computers just that.

The Chrome OS looks to represent the first in a vanguard future mainstream “cloud” based operating systems. What does the term cloud mean? To try and put it simply, it would be a centralization of all applications (email, documents, games, movies, music) to be stored and accessed over the Internet on typically a third party infrastructure/server. Pretty much you’d be outsourcing everything your computer has. This third party infrastructure would be developed to specifically provide the client the storage capacity, speed and security needed to the customer. Depending on the level of usage there would be levels of service quality a client can select. For example, if you loose your computer or it gets stolen, you wont have to worry about your files, because it would all be stored on the internet and held by a centralized server miles away. That person that finds your computer would have to type in your name and password to access all of your stuff. To sum it up, the consumer would be using primarily the Internet to access anything they need (music, games, photographs, e-mails, MS office documents etc). Cloud services are already being provided to companies like Amazon, IBM, and even average consumers like you and I. IBM issued a big vote of confidence by investing $300 million upgrading 13 of their data centers with a cloud-computing infrastructure. According to PCWorld, Dell even attempted yet failed to patent the term 'cloud computer', presuming its role in the coming years. Difference with Chrome OS is that instead of you purchasing a cloud service to store all your important stuff, Chrome OS represents a cloud based operating system where your stuff is stored from the get go. Anything you interact with will be within the cloud. Everything will be stored and held by a third party. The resources used on your computer will be dropped by at least 80%.

The Chrome OS net-books will not come with the traditional hard disk drives that many are accustomed to; instead they’ll be supplied with “non-volatile flash memory” (not so different as the flash memory of many iPods) utilizing internet-based storage for saving all of your data. So the space needed to hold these hard drives would almost disappear. The devices will consequently become much lighter then any old laptops. There’s already betas/tests’ to run a Google OS from a flash drive. You can install or just run the OS on different computers. Making the operating system extremely mobile. If you consider the possible concept of carrying your computer in your pocket or wallet too far out, it’s not.

Another interesting feature of the Chrome OS, which is further down the road but worth noting is what they are referring to as “cloud printing”.  If you have .Mac accounts or Windows home and business networking, you'd understand how the all of your devices are linked and can communicate. Your computers would share devices like printers or drag and drop files on each other’s computers easily. Well not to far in the future the benefits of cloud computing will be much more efficient. If two people have a Chrome OS device you can print any application on any level wherever another Chrome OS device is. Acer is amongst the many companies looking to manufacture cloud-aware printers as well as Samsung, Asus and Lenovo. Carl Howe, a Yankee Group Analyst, told Techworld "It's just another example of how the new world of 'anywhere' computing is rapidly jettisoning our PC-conceived notions of how to do things." Home of Office networks may soon turn into a national or international network. It would function very similarly, but on a bigger stage. The things we thought we could only share and communicate freely in our home from computer to computer or computer to mobile phone, or mp3 player etc can now be done just as fast with persons through out the country.

The pricing of a net-book with Google OS would run you about the same price as a net-book would today which runs about $300-$400. It's also possible that these devices would be bundled with a phone company for a Wi-Fi plan similar to how the Apple has its deal with AT&T. Google has not issued any specific comments on plans in that regard yet. The operating system itself is free. The price of these net-books that carry Chrome will be minimally affected by the drives that run OS because the drives are very small. Only Google and their partners know how the pricing will all play out. What we do know is that the Google OS will be accessible to consumers on all economic levels of the computer marketplace, so if it catches on it will catch on fast.

Ultimately, I believe whether Chrome OS becomes a smash hit or not is irrelevant. It is the beginning of a mass convergence toward a totally different relationship we would all have with our computers or tech based devices. The tide is turning regardless of the success of Chrome OS. There is already lots of talk about the privacy issues with the Google OS. Since that's the case, I personally don’t think hard drives would disappear overnight especially for those who would like to keep certain private files securely in their possessions. Surely though, when you have a computer that has no limit in storage space, is smaller, faster and lighter, and syncs with more and more devices seamlessly, its going to be pretty tempting not to want to get your hands on it. Chrome OS is something to keep an eye out for. In the future when we’re in the thick of a web 3.0 world we can look back at Chrome OS being the first ambitious mainstream attempt when hard drive discs once dominated.

What do you think are the possibilities that the Chrome OS brings? Are you excited or skeptical? Do you think society will enthusiastically leap into this kind of operating system anytime soon? What effects would this have on the already troubled job market in itself since most of the data centers and backup data centers will be obsolete and be outsourced to a collective server/ cloud based infrastructure? What kind of security/privacy would we have when all of our info is being put in the hands of a third party? Is this all going to have immediate effects on our Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft systems? Does Chrome represent the future of gaming in itself? Maybe this means the term online games will end cause we will always be on the net regardless? This is just the beginning of many tremendous questions that indeed wait to be answered. What are your thoughts?

Source:CNN