What competition? Google is doing this simply because it can not because it should... Windows, in it's many incarnations, is going to be "it" for a long time.

If Chrome is even half as good as Windows Me I think ol' MS will have something to worry about. I love Windows Me bu competition is good nonetheless.

Google is becoming Microsoft of the 90's...believing it's unbeatable in any market.

One day, they'll wake up and realize people dislike them as much as they dislike(d) Microsoft...it's inevitable.

The Google Chrome OS is exactly as they put it: another iteration of Linux. While making the argument that Windows is something "different" is hard to do because it is everywhere, still, you don't see other OSs that similar to Windows, probably because it is closed source.

Google Chrome browser just another Firefox browser only without Adblock

windows me? wtf?

As everybody says, competition is great, but this is a dressed up version of Linux.

As long as developers do not (by and large) support the OS, Windows will be king.

Chrome OS can only compete with Windows in netbook segment. There is no potential threat for Windows on corporate, enthusiast or gamer desktops.

I don't think Microsoft worries about losing some share in a low profit margin market.

I don't care if it's "just another dressed up Linux OS." I just want to have something that works and I think that there are probably a lot of other people out there that share my opinion. The fact that it will be free gives people more incentive to at least try it out and that is what MS has to worry about.

Google is looking to the future for their OS. It won't make much of a dent in the short term, but they see it as a quick ticket into their cloud of applications going forward, and pushing most things into the browser. Besides, everything Ballmer predicts failure for tends to do really well.

I'm hoping for a Moblin for the rest of us. Heck I don't have time for all the bells and whistles... I need the bare basics on my laptop. I have a desktop for the rest.

Chrome will definitely HURT Microsoft! We have to keep in mind that Microsoft is in a position where it can only go one way -- and that is DOWN!

Microsoft only has to face the reality of the 'average' consumer experiencing and, God forbid, becoming accustomed to a "different" operating system. If the Chrome OS turns out to be cool and feature worthy, this will certainly be the case.

And Microsoft will have a LOT to lose because of it... Apple will as well, perhaps!

And it would be about time!

I think the people that should be worried the most is Apple.

If they would base their OS on Linux wine, that would make a difference!
A windows based Linux!
But as far as Google OS, or anything else that's linux based, I think I'd prefer Ubuntu.
Besides,where are you going to find programs and drivers fully compatible with that os?

It costs hundreds of volunteers working for years to get a database of drivers, and programs working.
It's not something Google will be able to mimmic unless they base their Linux on Slax, Debian, Redhat, or some other form of Linux; in which case it'd make more sense to go with an OS that already has earned a reputation and fame.

The only thing that Google OS could do to 'impress' people next to what I mentioned above is create a Linux OS that looks and feels like Windows.
But I'm sure they would get sued if they did so.

I don't think ChromeOS will "knock out" Windows, especially with Windows 7 coming out but I do think it will be good for Linux as a whole. It will get a lot more people interested in Linux than before since almost everyone knows knows about Google but not everybody has heard of Ubuntu,SuSe, Red Hat/Fedora, Debian, etc... See what I mean? It would be like if Microsoft marketed Linux, all the sudden people would be like "Wow look at this brand new Microsoft OS it's awesome!" when Linux has actually been around for about 15 years. All in All it's about getting the word of it out, about 80-90% of computer users probably have no idea what Linux is since it's not marketed and shoved in our faces at every turn like everything else in this world is.

I wish I was Bill Gates. Hats off to the man that unified personal computers and made the great games we have today possible.

I love idiots that think each distribution is a different OS. There aren't multiple linux operating systems there is one and then there are specialized distribution. Saying Google is making an operating system is misleading because they aren't, they are using the linux kernel and are building upon it to make a distribution.

"Linux Chrome" ...that pretty much sums up the whole thing IMO.

cough gimmick cough

Nintendo has been doing it for years.... (brushing off competition) and they seem to be doing just fine.

Do you think they're right to brush off competition so flippantly?

no, I think they are nervous so they attack. If they were smart they would keep their traps shut. They have no idea.

chrome may be a linux dress up. the interesting thing here is to have a marketing giant like google pushing a linux OS

MS has nothing to worry about. Not for a LONG time anyway.

Chrome OS will have it's position in the PC market, but it will not be a Windows Replacement. I see it as being very similar to the Linux OS's that are installed on Netbooks. Very dependent on the web and Google services. The only difference here is that it is being backed by a very big and wealthy company. I don't think Microsoft has anything to worry about at least in the near future. If the OS takes off and developers jump on board and make a library of programs and that can replace all of the programs on a Windows machine then Microsoft might have to worry.

I don' think they care much. Neither do I. I will never use Chrome. Google is just gathering data on everyone. If the EULA contains the same lingo as the browser then HELL NO will I EVER use it. My IP's are mine! (for those who dont know: the EULA in ther browser states taht Google gets a copy of, and rights to, anything posted thru their browser. Go read it.