Everyone's getting excited about the new Google Chrome OS, and it is expected to be a crowd pleaser. But of course, it comes with its own set of naysayers so it is important to know this software inside and out.

First off, the basics. Google Chrome OS, also known as GCOS, is a very light cloud-based OS that is presented by Google for the very first time. It is different from Windows 7 because it operates on the internet only. This means you cannot add data or run the programs from the computer because everything is from the web. The main advantage of GCOS is that it can boot really fast, within mere seconds. It is as if you are turning on a TV and flipping through channels rather than using a computer.

Next, security also has a high advantage. Since there is no physical data storage, there is a significant reduction of viruses. Also, GCOS does not allow the applications itself to make changes to its OS and it just does it automatically. It also has a self-correcting module that fixes corrupted areas in read-only memory. You really do not get to save the data, only a very small amount like the system preferences. But encryption is high, so that is a good thing. You could lose the OS, but get it back (or get another one back) within mere seconds.

Working offline on GCOS is also so-so. It’s cloud based, remember – this means the applications are limited if you are not connected. But later on, there will definitely be other functionalities being developed. If you already use Chrome browser, then you already get a feel of GCOS user interface. Basically, the name of the game is tabs – everything you need will be tabbed right off the application menu in a very organized manner.

Any type of web application works with GCOS for as long as it is part of the standards-compliant browser. You can even run Office Live on a Chrome OS. The main browser is also Chrome, but later on if a certain developer like Mozilla will take notice of the open source code of Google then there might be a Firefox add-on in the future.

What cannot run here, are the Android apps for the sole reason that these require download in order to be in operation. The usual type of computers to run COS includes mobile tablets and netbooks, since these are scaled down systems that do not require a lot of fancy functionality apart from the usual USB and WiFi. You also have to know that GCOS will not replace your computer but instead act as a companion device. This is especially true if you need to run complex programs which cannot function on the cloud platform. This program will be available next year just in time for the 2010 holiday season. At the moment, you can try it out if you can find one but be warned that it does not run on any type of computer because a virtual machine is in order for it to work.

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