Chrome OS! Joy! In a Box! Or a multi-coloured ball!

So, after that big release a couple of months back, we were all getting excited for November 19, 2009, Google's next big release on Chrome OS. While not very explosive, we're still all very happy because while Chrome OS is not yet available for free download and will be offered only on strict hardware configurations, it's open-source brother Chromium OS has been released to the public.

While Chrome itself also went through this Chromium stage before Google decided to dominate the browser market, there are some big differences. For one, I can download Chrome right now, Chrome OS will only be appearing pre-loaded on certain netbooks. That is, unless you buy a brand-new x86-based netbook from a list of manufacturers and are willing to stump up the cash for SSD's, there won't be any Chrome OS joy for you.

Okay, that's lame and very bad news. Better news? The Chromium project, effectively Google's open-source spawnchild has released Chromium OS, an open-source brother to Chrome OS. This means that with a bit of virtualizing joy, you can boot a working copy of something very, very similar to Chrome OS, right now.

And there are so many reasons to love Chrome OS. Okay, apart from being the same bunch of die-hard nerds who created all the fantastic things that make us love Google, they have created a fantastic OS. So, it's not real heavyweight, but it's not meant to be. Here's a couple of the reasons I love it:

1. Boot time:
Chrome boots in seconds, not minutes. Apparently, at the news releases, Chrome booted in 7 seconds and were trying to improve that! I've had enough waiting around for Windows to take it's time booting, then crash, have another go, then try and boot off some 3 day old standby information before deciding it can't do that, then stop, crash, boot, run Check Disk, then restart and boot again. Chrome just...works

2.Hardware:
To paraphrase another similarly minded blogger: "Windows 7 works better on netbooks than Windows Vista. No, Windows 7 works on netbooks. Period." Windows Vista was a massive hardware hoarder. It needed such weapons-grade hardware just to work at an adequate pace that half the planet is still running XP because that's all they could until now. Now, Windows 7 and promises to run better on low-power platforms. Unfortunately for the Redmond boys, Chrome has now arrived and running off a lightweight Linux kernel based around online usage, and is promising to demolish everything we know about low-hardware usage implementations. Running lightweight web-based OS's off an aging, under-powered netbooks? Not a problem. According to some of the reports, I could probably run it on my tired old geriatrics department that some would call a computer, currently gathering dust downstairs. Chrome OS test run on a computer running a low-spec version of the original Intel Celeron in an extremely aged budget motherboard with pretty much nothing else, anyone?

3. Chrome
The technical term for the screen real estate used up by an interface and google has a distinct hatred for it. The whole reason their last two projects have been called Chrome is because of a distinct lack of said chrome. Chrome OS appears to be a version of the Chrome browser running in fullscreen. However, each tab is capable of not just individual web pages, but one can also open a tab for certain web apps or apps in general, all on the one tab strip. The interface, to this extent at least is similar to the Lotus Symphony interface of integrating every function into one chrome. Also, there has been talk of a 'dock' of some sort at the bottom of the screen to hold function that you would want separate, but subtle. Things like music players (which Google is reportedly developing) and chat functions. Similar, I think, to a chunky version of a system tray. All in all, it looks very naturally intuitive and very, very easy to use without sacrificing the good-looking quality that comes naturally to Apple's OS systems.

4. Google
Kind of goes without saying, but Chrome OS is made by Google, which means it will work first time, every time, almost perfectly without undue risks, threats, explosions or unexplained errors. It will integrate with everything flawlessly and it will all be free. We salute you, Google.

Overall, I am now simply sitting around and waiting until someone comes out with a Chrome OS boot for USB disks before I Chromify everything I lay my eyes, hands, and anything else on.