Google OS is exciting, but web apps need improvement

Google just dropped a bomb on the technology world. Google will release a Google Chrome operating system. According to the Google blog post, it will be based on Linux and released next year. It will be focused on web applications and will be open sourced. Overall, it is very exciting news and I look forward to seeing what Google eventually releases. One year is a long time in the tech world and alot can change in that time. For now, the Google OS is vaporware, as is Google Voice (for me) and Google Wave.

The immediate impact of the announcement will be minimal after one gets over the initial shock. At least until Google's web applications improve. Despite losing their beta tag, Google Apps needs improvement before it can supplant desktop applications. Until that happens, a web based operating system means little because it is only as good as the applications it can run.