Could Chrome OS be the new Windows?

In this day and age, everything is connected to the digital world. Users are walking with the database of knowledge in their palms. Immense number of data bytes are transferred around the globe, every second. Google, YouTube, Facebook, Uber, Netflix, Twitch, WhatsApp, and Dropbox are just some of the many tools available to users to stay connected to the world, one way or another. In 2015, the number of devices connected to the internet was 15.41 billion, and it is estimated that the number will reach 75.44 billion in 2025.

These devices are powered by a variety of operating systems like the MacOS, Android, Windows, iOS etc.. with Windows being the most popular of them all. But, Google is onto something which might soon change the landscape of Operating Systems in the market forever.

Image Source: 9to5google

Imagine switching on a laptop which is super-fast, secure, has a negligible start-up time, enabled with device syncing capacity; and instead of Windows or Mac OS, or Linux, it is Google Chrome that opens up.

Yes, Google is coming up with a Google OS for users. The difference between Google Chrome and Chrome OS is that right now you are probably reading this article on a Chrome browser on a Windows or a Mac device, but in a device installed with Chrome OS (called Chromebook) the first thing that starts when you start the system is ‘Chrome’.

In the age of the internet and WWW, the web is where one spends most of his time. To enhance such a person’s computing experience and to make it faster, easier and more seamless, Google conceptualized the Chrome Operating System in 2009, conceiving it as an OS which stores all data in the cloud, and primarily runs web applications. Chrome OS is based on the Linux Kernel and uses the standard Google Chrome browser as its principle UI. The first Chromebook arrived in May 2011 and the first shipments came from Samsung and Acer, later in the year.

Image Source: thenextrex

Being within the browser at all times, through the Chrome OS, has three main advantages.

1. There’ll be no need to install, update or delete applications, since all of them would be running on the Internet.
2. Your applications would be secure from any kind of malware or virus attack. The OS doesn’t even trust itself, let alone any application, and hence with every restart of the device and the OS checks the code’s integrity.
3. Speed. All the unnecessary processes have been removed giving the overall speed a boost.

Chromebook devices are designed to boot in seconds and they can be shared amongst multiple users. For a personalized experience, you can log in to your personal account. Your friends and family can also share the Chrome OS experience through their accounts created on the same Chromebook and lastly, for a quick browse, there is a ‘Guest Account’ option available too. Once logged in, you are ready to explore a space customized according to your suitability, enabling you to choose from a number of different background images, easily connect to a Wi-Fi network, surf the web from almost anywhere (in cellular models), along with many more features.

The device has numerous apps to choose from and most of them are free. Playing games, listening to music, and working has never been easier. The Chromebook comes with a built-in webcam assisting you to video chat with up to 9 people at a time. For those who want peace and some time off the internet can get their work done on offline apps as well. The Chrome OS equivalent of the taskbar is the launcher, where you can pin your favorite program for easy access.

Chromebook also allows multitasking by enabling users to open and arrange multiple windows on the desktop, and work on them simultaneously. The ease of access is further enhanced by the file manager which can be used to browse internal data, USB files etc., on the device. Use the goodness of cloud storage to save edited photos or videos, or print using Google Cloud Print. If you were watching a video online on your phone but have to start working on the Chromebook instead, you can start where you left off. The tabs open on Android phones or tablets can be synced with the web browser. Moreover, these devices are technologically sustainable as they will keep updating automatically so you’ll always be in touch with the latest thing.

Currently, the market is brimming with Chromebook sellers like Samsung, Asus, Acer etc. and these can be picked up from Google store, Amazon or Walmart. Given that they only have Chrome browser as the major locally stored software, the need for high-end specifications is lower and so is the price. An average Chromebook comes with 8 GB to 16 GB internal memory. Just when you start to worry about the low storage capacity for photos and videos, enters google drive for your aid. It gives you up to 25 Gigs of cloud storage and you can buy more as per usability. All in all, it is a network where Google OS, google chrome, the chrome web store, and all the chrome apps are revolving around each other to provide a work-platform that is way ahead of its time.

Chrome OS got the latest update, version 64, on 1st Feb’18 and the changes look quite amazing. The new split screen and screenshot feature have pushed it towards becoming a hybrid OS choice for all types of Google-powered devices. With these advancements in the Chrome OS, it is becoming clear that the long-sighted vision that Google has is to unify tablets, computers, Chromebook and 2-in-1 s in the same category, run by Chrome OS.