That realization kind of negates Google’s story about browser making operating systems irrelevant.

Nobody really knows… LOL

Interesting take. I’d like to add a few points if I may:

Fundamental shortcomings in Google’s approach are mindshare and conditioning. Fact is, the VAST majority of computer users care not at all about their operating system because that’s the only one they’ve ever known (which is likely Windows). Fact is, they just want to get their work done in Word and move on. Re-learning how to use a computer is rarely on anyone’s business agenda (operative word: rarely).

Enterprise ventures will not invest in it as infrastructure and support is non-existent.

That leaves, what, the techies? Folks like us that will likely check it out because it’s a concept that essentially ditches the “desktop” paradigm? (Well, hopefully, anyway.)

From my vantage point, which I will freely admit is myopic at best – Microsoft is its own worst enemy, bloated with middle management and a stock price that hasn’t moved since E.T. tried to phone home. It has all the tell-tale signs of a middle-aged company. And the market?

Well, that’s Microsoft’s to lose.

I would agree to some extent that, yes, it is too early to tell if this is a legitimate threat to the Windows empire. However, Google and Microsoft both have track records. Google, time and time again, have proven themselves to be head and shoulders above the competition, setting standards, raising the bar, and making tools that make our lives easier. Microsoft, on the other hand, has had a history of pissing people off, ignoring usability, and underestimating the competition.

It has been time after time after time that Microsoft has had something in place and Google comes along with their new toy and blows it out of the water. Google search Vs. MSN search, Gmail Vs. Hotmail, Google Earch Vs. Microsoft Earth. Google’s Chrome browser is faster, sleeker, and a big thing, abides by standards. Microsoft’s IE browser is bloated, crash-heavy, and gets a whopping 12 on the Acid3 test. I could go on a lot more.

Now this is not to say that Microsoft does not have some innovative and amazing ideas. Windows 7 is a great OS. I, like many others, had to pick my jaw up off the floor after seeing the massive pile of s**t that is Windows Vista. It was much like Windows ME in that Microsoft wishes they could cover it up. However, I have used Windows 7 since late January and I must say that it is a DRASTIC improvement and really takes in a lot of user feedback.

Other great stuff from Microsoft include: Zune (software, not the player), the Windows Live package, Office 2010, and Visual Studio. So they do have some facets of the market that they excel in.

If nothing else, it will be an amazing competition between the two. And in response to your comment about Apple not being in any comparisons, well, Apple is really doing their own thing. They have their own hardware and software and people will continue to use them whether or not a better operating system comes along simply because of Steve Jobs. So it’s not really even worth bringing them into the equation.

So yes, you’re right, it’s too early to judge which will end up as the king of the hill so to speak. But I wouldn’t go so far to say that Google is in anyway provoking Microsoft to make a response. If nothing else, they are making competition for them that is really long over due. The only reason that Microsoft has survived this long with not having to improve their OS is lack of that competition. So having this competition is great for us as consumers because now we get to sit back and watch them battle it out through features, usability, reliability, and speed. Should be one hell of a show.

I’m sure Google will bring some great new ideas to the table. But at the end of 2010 when we’re looking at a finished product and comparing it to the developments of the next 16 months we’ll see that it’s just another alternative and not the epoch changing browser people thought when first announced.

the google OS will no threat MAC os since MACs are a closed box where Google can dream on entering

but it will be a mistake from microsoft to not take it seriouslly, since google search engine they been trying to poke MS in everyfield and fails.. I think MS needs to pay attention and really succeed with Win7.

As for Apple, not only do they not own a substantial market share, they draw a huge percentage of their business from people who have picked up on one or more esoteric design signatures found in their hardware or software, or both. It’s been proven their capture and hold rates are much higher than anyones due in large part to these signatures, be it something as simple as looks to something more specific like how Apple Mail handles messages or iPhoto empowers armchair photographers. Apple detractors often miss this and even tend to lash out at those who’ve bought in, when all they’ve done is communicate it’s something they just don’t get, which is fine up to the criticism. There are several other products drawing similar hold characteristics, it’s just that Apple appears to have more of these characteristics, much to their advantage going forward.

Summary: it seems Google has a real chance of hitting Microsoft between the eyes. They have a sizable following of ABMers (Anything But Microsofters) that might not even care about product esoterics, the price is quite right, they are an established brand that people trust excessively and see as a savior (just like Microsoft was seen in the IBM era), their products are infinitely easy to find online, use (and install if needed), they consistently release after exercising due diligence in feature testing, and they’re entering during another highly disruptive moment in the hardware space that’s punctuated by a transitioning economy. So why again do I need to buy Windows?