Google to challenge Microsoft with web-oriented operating system

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Google is developing a computer operating system specifically designed for internet users, to challenge MicrosoftÔÇÖs market leading Windows system.   Google Chrome OS is to be aimed initially at small, low-cost netbooks, but is intended eventually to be rolled out for use in personal computers.   Google said netbooks with Chrome OS could be on sale by the middle of 2010.   The operating system will run on an open source license, and will be a "natural extension" of GoogleÔÇÖs Chrome browser, the company said.   "Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS," the firm added in its official blog.   "We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds," said vice president of product management Sundar Pichai and Google's engineering director Linus Upson in their blog post.   ÔÇ£The operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web," they said, whereas Chrome OS is "our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be".   With Microsoft currently dominating the market with a 90 percent share, a new web-oriented operating system from Google could fundamentally change the market for operating systems.   MicrosoftÔÇÖs next version of its operating system, Windows 7, is due for release later this year.     *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *