The Google Chrome OS is, as I predicted, essentially a Linux kernel running a web browser and just enough hardware support to run netbook-style hardware, with a bare-minimum of onboard storage (enough to hold the kernel and run Chrome + Gears, basically) and wireless networking.
Basically, it’s your own little portable Google. It is about as idiot-proof as it’s possible to make, with provisions for automatically downloading and reinstalling the OS to vanquish any sort of glitch or malware. Factor in the notion that Google can sell these things for the cost of hardware alone, less a small subsidy/discount for pushing people to the advertising, and it becomes clear: they’re going to sell a MILLION of these things.
There’s no chance this costs over $200 at point of purchase – in fact, very possibly less. I don’t see it needing more than 1 GB of RAM if it’s just running, in essence, a bunch of browser windows. And storage? Hell, 4 GB of flash drive memory would do, and you can get that free in your cereal box these days. Probably no Ethernet hardware either, maybe a USB port but not much more, no video out most likely…it’s being pitched as a second computer, a la a MacBook Air for an order of magnitude less money.
This ain’t hay, folks. This is a very different vision of how computing works. This is the cloud in its purest form, pushed by a company with the resources to do it and the spare cash to make it as cheap as possible for you.
Come on, practice saying it with me: “I for one welcome our new Google overlords, and would like to remind them that as a trusted blogger, I can be helpful in rounding up others to work in the pastry mines…”