Re:Google Plans to Introduce a PC Operating System (for netb...
by swolchok on Wednesday July 08, 2009 @02:41AM
(#693447)
Netbook acceptability checklist:
1) Runs a web browser
2) Has k hours of battery life
3) Has "big enough" screen and keyboard
These things don't compete on features, they compete on binary "good enough" and price. They're practically commodities, which is why the industry doesn't like them -- ECON 101 rules about efficiency apply.
Of course, you can still decorate the case to differentiate on fashion.
Re:Google Plans to Introduce a PC Operating System (for netb...
by pasbesoin on Wednesday July 08, 2009 @11:23AM
(#694031)
Add on:
+ I don't have to maintain it. (Anti-malware, etc.)
+ Comes with the applications I want. (Wherever they are hosted -- local or on the net.)
Chrome might make the netbook into an (true) appliance. A lot of people would like that.
I think the killer feature for Google may be manipulable audio-visual. The ability to insert and control advertising in A/V media. There's a reason they continue to pour money into YouTube.
But over time, the specs drifted up. Consumers preferred XP. They were willing to pay for it. I don't know what the median price is, but I'm guessing around $400-$500. In other words, the market has moved towards Windows. Windows has also moved towards netbooks.
Google OS could have been the default choice for netbook manufacturers at the time when there were petitions going to keep XP alive. When this launches (2010?), Windows 7 netbooks will be the default choice.
That doesn't mean this won't work. maybe people will prefer Chrome OS to Windows 7 for netbooks. Maybe it will enable $200 netbooks, almost a distinct class. If that's the case, they still need to go through the market test. Do a lot of people really want a $200 netbook?