There’s a Chrome operating system in your future

You may not run Google’s Chrome operating system, when it comes out next year, but it’s going to be a major force in the industry. Already is, for that matter.

A few hours ago, Googlies Sundar Pichai and Linus Upson officially announced that a new operating system is in the cards. Initially targeted at netbooks, it’s going to be small and secure and fast and (as befits Google) open source.

Chrome the browser has drawn the respect of many in the security community because Google managed to re-think the way browsers work, significantly reducing Chrome’s security exposure. I expect the Chrome OS will do likewise.

Imagine. A PC operating system that doesn’t require a dozen security patches every month. One that runs quickly and reliably, even if it doesn’t run everything. Wotta concept.

Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks… Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don’t have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.

Sounds awfully good to me. Remains to be seen if Google can pull it off.