Chrome OS Will Hurt Apple More Than Microsoft

Posted by Stropp on July 16, 2009 Okay, this is not really a game related posts, but still, it has some ramifications for gamers. You might remember that the other day I posted about Google's announcement that it was working on the Chrome OS and how it was positioning to be a competitor to Microsoft. The problem I had with that announcement was that Google seemed to be focussing more on "The Cloud" functionality, and less on the applications that you and I really appreciate: Games. And, since games have been one of the major factors for the adoption of PC technology by personal users over the last 20+ years, Google will have serious problems beating the Windows stranglehold on the operating system market unless it does a lot more than just play lip-service to games and gamers. As I was thinking about this, it occured to me that the Chrome Operating System is actually being targeted (maybe deliberately, maybe not) at the space that Apple currently dominates. The non-Windows, productivity application, boutique market. Both OSes have similarities. They're both based off a 'nix. Chrome OS will be based off a version of Linux, and Apple OSX is based on a port of Darwin (a version of BSD.) Neither focus on games (despite Apple promising occassionally to support game developers) but are more focussed on productivity applications: Apple works well with the artistic types, writing, video production, and graphic design; while Google is already heading into the office productivity (Google Apps) space which is dominated by Microsoft in business. But where Apple really dominates is in the boutique, non-Microsoft space. Microsoft is a lot like meat and three vegies. It's the staple diet for most computer users, both corporate and personal, and does what it does reasonable effectively (fanboism aside.) Apple is like a night out at a four star restaurant. They provide well presented computers, a quite decent operating system, and a much smaller menu of applications to choose from. Apple also has the cost factor associated with fine dining. Google OS will be more like a night out at AppleBees (iirc, it's been a few years.) It will (eventually) provide a better selection than OSX and for a much better price, but it won't be the staple diet that MS Windows offers. Not unless it supports the vast majority of users who want to do more than browse the web and download... and provides excellent support for games and supports an excellent interface for game developers to work with. Otherwise, Google OS just becomes an alternative to Apple OSX.