All of a sudden...
...ChromeOS became exceptionally useful. I had applied for a ChromeOS netbook, but was really kind of 'meh' on getting one. All of a sudden, I am quite a bit more eager.
Come on, Google! Pick my name out of the hat!
Google has confirmed that it will offer remote access software with Chrome OS, the browser-based operating system now due for official release in the middle of next year. Code for this service – currently dubbed "Chromoting" – is already part of the company's open source Chromium OS project, and speaking with The Reg on …
I've speculated before that a good use for Chrome OS, given the existance of Android already in toyphones and tablets, could be as a smart terminal for business users. You've no worries about data loss if a fondlable device goes missing, and if Google are smart they'll include options for remote wiping anything that is cached locally.
Plus having your home computer on a netbook on the train sounds like fun.
Useful? No matter how they try to spin it "Chromoting" is not doing anything that isn't already available out there for free.
Remote access? How many different ways do you need?
Playing music that's on another computer? Anything from a file share upwards will let you do this.
I really can't see how this is anything special at all. It seems they've just taken any number of pre-existing networking techniques and bundled them all under one name.
There's always somebody who'll fall for it though.
so, you say "I really can't see how this is anything special at all. It seems they've just taken any number of pre-existing networking techniques and bundled them all under one name."
did you see the release announcement at all? Did you notice how many times it was mentioned that it was going to be getting automatic updates? And FYI, the fact that these things are part of the system and not add-ons means that people who get these will not have to go out and find and install these bits and pieces. My mom would and could not install Skype and too many of the IT departments I've run into would rather they get things pre-installed or else someone has to work really hard getting approval for the feature-software.
Since when did windows users need to go out and find, for example file sharing or RDP? And I think you'll find that most other OS come with similar things as standard too.
And as for IT departments I don't think you'll find many corporates installing Chrome OS and most IT departments will switch off all the features they don't like in any OS they don't like.
but since that only supports forwarding X it'll be useless for remote Windows or native MacOS stuff. Even for X it has some holes they'll need to fix before it meets people's expectations, like sound and storage. NoMachine manage that with their server, and FreeNX can be bludgeoned into doing it, so it is at least possible.
You might try asking ASUS how long it took Microsoft to approach them with the offer they could not refuse. That is about how long it takes to get a product out when you start talking with existing OEMs. Remember that the Taiwanese Manufacturing Association head said they fear Microsoft and then went on to explain how they are not so fearful when the devices are not much like a Windows desktop or Windows laptop.
Just as many PC manufacturer( rebranding ) would talk with AMD only to get better pricing from Intel, the same goes for most of the hardware manufacturers these days. Did you notice that the demo laptop is 100% no-name? None of the vendors wanted to be part of this publicly although Acer and Samsung did stand up. I see Acer backing off but I don't see Samsung doing the same. They are betting big on Android and I get that they'll want to be part of ChromeOS too. They've got lots to gain and little to lose..
"Remember that every few weeks, you'll get a new version," he said. "As and when a new feature is ready, you'll get it."
And every time there's a new bug you'll get that too. And every new tracking feature Google want to include? You'll get that too. Will users have any control over this at all? Doubt it, all the features you don't want will no doubt be included with the critical updates that you do.
Yes, if you're a complete geek.
Now how about remote administration for normal people?
If El Goog get it done right it could be useful. For normal people. And about any data mining, if indeed it's built into the OS (as opposed to in whatever web app stack Google give you)? It's open source. So rip that functionality out if it exists, no?
If Apple had made this announcement, it'd be full of fawning praise and you know it. Don't you dare think that Apple and Microsoft aren't profiling their customers too, and you pay heftily per OS license for that privilege with them!
This whole thing makes me actually excited about providing Google Netbooks that I can control (like Android phones phones and btw I can admin Google Apps from my phone) from the google Apps interface!
I cant wait for the amount of time saved applying policies and the stability and low effort function of administering and supporting the Google ecosystem of, Google Apps, Android and now Chrome OS in my company. My job is seriously going to to get better.