Chromebooks are, to a certain extent, the successors of netbooks. Portability, attractive price, low power consumption are the main reasons for their demand. At the same time, the main problems of a typical netbook were low hardware performance and an unsuitable OS. It turns out that what was needed was the “right” software framework that could satisfy the basic needs of the user.

This means sufficient speed, Internet access, work with office software, and multimedia capabilities. But at the same time, the system should be light in terms of load on the hardware, simple and easy to use. Windows OS was too cumbersome for these purposes, Linux was “unfriendly” for an inexperienced user, Android without a windowed interface was generally unsuitable for everyday use.

As a result, the concept of netbooks was rethought. A team of developers from Google created operating system oriented towards interaction with cloud services, which became the basis for Chromebooks. The purpose of this material is to shed light on the main features and capabilities of Chrome OS, consider use cases and get acquainted with interesting new products among these devices in 2017.

Understanding Chrome OS

Chrome OS is built on the Linux kernel and consists of full browser Google Chrome with extensions, built into a specially designed multi-window system (graphical shell). The operating system is developing intensively - in parallel with the release of new builds of the Chrome browser.

Simplicity, minimalism and nothing superfluous

Part GUI Chrome OS includes a login screen, desktop with wallpaper and taskbar. The panel contains the application menu with search bar(analogous to the Start button on Windows), pinned shortcuts and icons of running programs.

There is also a system tray with a notification center, information about network connections, time and charge level.

Initially, the OS is built-in with a minimum of local applications that do not require an Internet connection to operate. These include a calculator, webcam software, and file manager, which integrates Google Drive content. The file manager has a built-in simple archiver and graphic editor. There is also a player for playing audio/video.

The bulk of the work is in the cloud

To access all OS functions, you will need an Internet connection and Google account. Without completed authorization, the system will not allow you to go beyond the start screen (with the exception of guest mode with disabilities). After logging into your account, the system is synchronized with Google servers, and the user will have access to personal bookmarks, passwords and settings. They will not be lost even after all data is deleted from the Chromebook, or if the device breaks down.

A key feature of Chrome OS is the use of cloud technology resources to reduce the load on the device’s hardware.

In other words, user data and most applications are stored on servers without taking up local storage space. During the execution of running web applications, part of the load is placed on the server hardware, which uses its own computing power. Chromebook only receives and displays the finished result. This solution has a positive effect on the speed of the system, reduces production costs and makes products more affordable.

Browser and app add-ons

Using add-ons from the Chrome Web Store (and now Google Play), you can significantly expand the standard capabilities of your web browser.

Extensions. Launch and work in Chrome browser tabs. For example, using the Checker Plus for Gmail extension, you can receive visual and audio notifications about incoming email. And the Save to Pocket extension will save with one click interesting material"for later".

Web applications (web services). These are a kind of analogues of desktop applications that open in the same way as any website. Unlike extensions, they can be launched outside the browser window, using shortcuts. Google for " quick start» offers a solid set of useful web applications of its own design.

Here are just a few of them: cloud storage for personal data, a photo storage service, tools for working with text documents and spreadsheets, notes and lists, an online printing service. The list is far from complete; moreover, the user is free to use third-party web services.

Offline applications. The same as web services, only with the ability to work without network access. For example, Gmail Offline allows you to read and delete emails when there is no active connection. As soon as access to the network appears, all changes made will immediately be synchronized with the cloud. The number of offline applications is gradually increasing.

Android applications. In 2016, support appeared on the latest stable OS builds Android applications with the ability to download from Google Play (not relevant for all models). Beginning starting in 2017, all new Chromebooks released will be compatible with Android programs out of the box.

Who and why can Chrome OS be useful?

PC users accustomed to “standard” operating systems have formed a biased attitude towards Chromebooks and Chrome OS in general. Not everyone is ready to give their hard-earned money for a product whose practical benefits are not at all certain.

To highlight fundamental features and capabilities of the system, simple and clear examples of the use of Chromebooks by different categories of people will be presented below.

For the inexperienced

A regular OS may seem overly complicated to master for older people, as well as users who are more comfortable with computers. The developers tried to correct the situation by providing a convenient and easy-to-learn working tool.

A compelling list of 7 reasons why a Chromebook is great for the less experienced user:

1. Quick start. The system is ready for use immediately after startup.
2. Laconic, intuitive interface.
3. There is no need for fine tuning and optimization. Only at the first launch you will be required to enter your Google credentials and Wi-Fi password.
4. The device does not require periodic cleaning or system reinstallation.
5. Thanks to the features of the Linux kernel and the efforts of the developers, the user does not have to worry about viruses and methods to combat them.

1. The software is kept up-to-date through automatic updates that do not require user intervention or attention.
2. A Chromebook cannot be “damaged” programmatically. Due to the non-rewritable recovery firmware and EEPROM containing 2 copies of the firmware, you can always return to the initial state of the OS.

For children and students

In the USA and Europe, budget Chromebook models are in great demand among educational institutions. And for good reason, given the close integration with Google services and the absence of distractions (including gaming performance).

For an active Internet user

Meet Olya. Not a day goes by without the Internet: he Googles information on any issue of interest, follows the news, and spends a lot of time on social networks.

Being a manicurist, Olya promotes her services with the help of a group in social network. There he also accepts orders and discusses conditions with clients. She almost constantly listens to music through VK, where she has collected a decent collection of tracks. And he stores photos in Google Photos: by setting up auto-upload of pictures from a smartphone, he can access them from any device.

With particular enthusiasm, he begins online shopping in the vastness of Chinese online stores. He studies English through the web version of the Duolingo service, and does not miss classes due to daily reminders in the browser.

He follows updates on YouTube channels of interest, and in the evenings he watches TV series. When the computer or Chromebook is turned on, 99.9% of all time is spent in the browser. And only occasionally launches the calculator built into the OS.

For work

Alexander is an experienced blogger and SEO specialist who provides consulting services in the field of SEO on a remote basis.

To conduct an expert audit of the target resource, the Chrome browser is sufficient for him. In the process of generating a report on the audit results, it uses cloud versions of the office from Google and Microsoft (sheets and documents).

The result of its work and other important data is stored in the cloud (Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive). If necessary, takes screenshots that are automatically saved in local folder"Downloads". To crop images, use a simple graphic editor, built into the standard conductor.

By sending a digital copy of the report, Alexander conducts an oral consultation via Skype (which is downloaded from Google Play).

Given the specifics of his activity, Sasha has to plan his schedule. Services like Wunderlist help him with this (a simple task list + reminders in the browser and by e-mail). For creating simple notes, he prefers Google Keep, and for organizing and structuring plans, ideas and working sketches, he prefers OneNote or Evernote. To quickly save the content of a web page or individual fragments in Evernote/OneNote, you use browser extensions.

Alexander independently runs a blog, the subject of which requires high-quality unique photographs. Uploads photos to the site only after processing in one of the third-party graphic editors.

1. Photoshop Express is an online version of the editor from Adobe, running in a browser.
2. Lightroom is another tool produced by Adobe, but in the form of an Android application. It has rich functionality and is suitable for working with RAW format.

Having found free time, Alexander reads e-books, which is found in the corresponding section of Google Play. Since the stock player does not support all video formats, I found a worthy replacement (VLC, version for Android). To maintain the work mood, he likes to play good music via Spotify.

For geeks, coders and web developers

In the course of his activities, Kostya has to deal with most of the previously mentioned services. However, its main goal is to adapt Chromebooks for developing your own web project.

To begin with, I tried several online code editors, settling on the Cloud9 integrated development environment, with a full-fledged Ubuntu workspace in the cloud.

I liked it due to the ability to connect via FTP, as well as support for virtual testing of the project functionality in different browsers and on different devices. Kostya also tried his hand at developing extensions for the Chrome browser, using Chrome Dev Editor (the official editor from Google).

In an effort to get the most out of the device, I delved into studying ways to bypass the OS limitation to activate full-fledged bash. Having achieved the desired result, he went even further. Using Developer Mode and a set of Crouton scripts, Kostya made sure that a compatible Linux distribution(V in this example– Ubuntu distribution).

Now he takes advantage of two systems: the simplicity and convenience of Chrome OS for everyday work and the advanced coding capabilities of Linux. If there is a need to quickly switch between operating systems, use a special key combination.

Advantages and disadvantages of Chrome OS

Main positive features:

• excellent performance even on weak hardware;
• convenience and ease of use;
• low level of energy consumption;
• there is no connection to the equipment, which reduces the risk of data loss (provided that it is stored in the cloud).

There are also weaknesses:

• Specific programs and resource-intensive desktop games are not supported;
• strong dependence of the OS on the availability of the Internet.

All new products were announced at the beginning of 2017, as part of the international electronics exhibition CES 2017.

Acer Chromebook 11 N7. It features a durable body that meets the MIL-STD 810G protection standard and an affordable price. Positioned as a device for the educational sector. The device is able to “survive” a fall from a height of 1.22 meters and withstand pressure on the top panel of up to 60 kg. The keyboard is wear-resistant and protected from moisture on internal electronic components.

The price is very attractive: from 230 USD for the C731 model.

Samsung Chromebook Plus. The body is made of metal, in a minimalist design. Display 12.3”, touchscreen, conveys high-quality, sharp image with a resolution of 2400×1600. It rotates 360°, due to which the gadget can be used in several modes. The aspect ratio is non-standard (3:2).

Supports pressure-sensitive S-Pen input. Therefore, Chromebook Plus is great for drawing, taking handwritten notes. The necessary software to unlock the potential of the stylus is present. The downside is that the keyboard layout is quite cramped, and the keys themselves are not backlit.

The hardware is based on a 6-core OP1 chipset, made specifically for Chromebooks. RAM – 4 GB, built-in – 32 GB + slot for MicroSD storage. Chromebook got 2 ports USB Type-C, 2 speakers of 1.5 W and high-speed Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2×2). HD webcam available. The built-in battery ensures autonomous operation for 8 hours.

Minimum price is 450 USD.

Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA The new product is housed in an elegant aluminum body. High-quality touch screen (12.5”, Full HD) covered with Gorilla Glass. The display can be rotated 360°. The keyboard is full-size, comfortable, with backlit keys. The touchpad is large, with protection against accidental operation.

The younger version is equipped with a processor Intel Core m3 6Y30, 4 GB RAM and internal storage capacity of 32 or 64 GB. The older version has a more powerful chip (Intel Core m7 6Y75) and more memory (8 GB RAM, 128 ROM).

The graphics are provided by the Intel HD Graphics 515 adapter. Fast dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11ac) is supported. The set of connectors consists of two USB Type-C 3.1 and a microSD slot. Loud (up to 87 dB) stereo speakers are located on the side edges. There is also a webcam. The battery is designed for 10 hours of operation.

Cost: from 500 USD for the junior version.

Conclusion

Chrome OS is a rather specific system, so devices running it are not suitable for everyone. In addition, some of those interested may be “scared” of the shortcomings associated with the lack of software and attachment to the Internet. However, thanks to the introduction of support for Android applications, the shortcomings become less pronounced. The OS does not stand still, it is constantly evolving and shows promise as a promising project.

What do you think are the chances of Chrome OS to significantly advance Windows' position in the compact laptop market? And is it possible for a scenario in which Google implements the ability to install Chrome OS on any desktop as the main system?

Google Chrome OS is an operating system from Google that is based on Google browser Chrome and Gentoo Linux. It was first presented to the public in 2009, and the first devices with it began to appear in 2011 and were named .

Officially, Google does not distribute the operating system for free download, but there are many ways download Chrome OS and try it in action. Here we talk about the most in a simple way– use Chromium OS in an assembly from Neverware absolutely free for home use.

Appearance of Chromium OS

To install, you will need a USB flash drive or SD card of 8 GB or more, as well as any PC or Mac. The entire installation takes about 10 minutes and is very easy!

Attention! You perform all actions at your own peril and risk, and we are not responsible for the results and possible malfunctions of your device.

Step 1. Download the latest version of Chromium OS from Neverware.com

Step 2. Install on a USB flash drive, see instructions on our website

Step 3. Restart your computer by selecting BIOS loading from USB/SD.

Congratulations, you are now using the most advanced operating system! 😀

Step 4. You can continue to fully use the system with USB, but if desired you can install the assembly on HDD. IN this moment the system does not support installation in addition to Windows or any other operating system, so CloudReady will warn you before installation that All hard data the disk will be erased. A link to instructions for installing to your hard drive is in Step 2.

While typing these lines on a laptop, I can spill tea on it, throw it off the table, or simply throw it out the window. But if we ignore purely material losses, my information will not be lost. She simply isn't here. It is located in the cloud and is not tied to any device. Today, all modern operating systems are somehow connected to data clouds, in which users can easily save their files. But Chrome OS has this built into its very foundation, and not acquired through long evolution. This is why Google OS raises so many questions, because we are accustomed to one model of using computers, and then suddenly a completely different one appears. And also how it appears. If you look at the market, then for Last year the number of Chromebooks is increasing, new models have been shown by Acer and HP, preparing Samsung update, and LG and ASUS are ready to support competitors. Previously, we asked ourselves whether there will be a Chrome OS or not, and if there is, then why is it needed? Today we can already say exactly what will happen, but why it is needed, I will try to answer below in this usage experience, in which I used the Chromebook Pixel, Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 for almost three weeks.

Not just Google

After the first turn on, Chrome OS asks you to enter your username and password for your account. Google posts, where the initial setup stage ends. If you previously used a Chromebook, the system will pull up all the applications you installed; if not, then only the browser settings. Big brother is watching. But this can be said about any modern operating system, each of them tries to save user information. You can only accuse Chrome OS of being Google-centric, but that’s the company’s business model: if it makes an operating system, its services should be there.

There are plenty of apps, or more accurately Google sites, in Chrome OS right out of the box. A person who actively uses the company’s products will be pleased to find icons for Gmail, Google Drive, “ Google Calendar” and other services. But all of them can be safely removed, opting for other, even competing solutions.

And although they, in some cases, will not be so well tailored to work with Chrome OS, there is an alternative. Even the built-in search system, the holy of holies of Google, can be changed to something else. The only thing Google can't concede in its OS is the browser. Chrome is essentially the core of the Chrome OS interface, so it can't be replaced by Firefox or Opera. As a result, at the first launching Chrome The OS is pure Google, but the user is free to decide which services suit him best.

Chrome in every line of code

The Chrome OS interface largely consists of Chrome browser windows, but unlike the first versions, today it looks almost like a full-fledged OS.

It has its own “Start” button, which contains installed applications, as well as a search string.

For the latter, there is a separate key on the keyboard, and it searches not only on the Internet, but also files and programs on the computer itself, as well as in the application store.

There is also a kind of “Taskbar” on which you can pin icons of frequently used applications. They all launch in Chrome, but the user can choose opening options, for example, in a separate tab or in separate window. In the latter case, the open site most closely resembles a real program.

Windows of open applications can be managed; for this, there is a special set of functions that allows you to expand the window to the full screen, place it on the right or left, and also minimize it to the “Taskbar”.

To view all open windows you must press the key on the keyboard intended for this.

The only program that does not run in the browser in Chrome OS is the file manager, which has only two folders: “Downloads” and “ Google Drive”.

Actually, all files downloaded from the Internet are saved in “Downloads”, after which they can be dragged into “Google Drive”. You cannot create new top-level folders, only add them to existing ones. In addition, in the file manager you can open a variety of files, such as photos, music and videos, I will talk about this in more detail below.

It is worth noting that downloaded documents in Chrome OS are not opened in Google Docs, but locally, on the computer itself in the beta version of the Quickoffice application, which also allows you to edit them and save them to Google Drive.

It is quite possible that Quickoffice may soon become the standard office suite in Chrome OS, according to at least, it does a better job with Microsoft Office formatting.

More than just a browser

People who claim that Chrome OS is just a browser are actually lying. After its launch, the OS really looked more like an exotic version of Chrome, but today it is almost a self-sufficient system, with offline programs and other features.

Despite its image as a cloud OS that must always be connected to the Internet, Chrome OS is gradually transforming into something more than just a browser. With the Internet, there are certainly more possibilities with any operating system than without it. And with Chrome OS offline today you can do almost the same thing as with a regular computer. You can watch movies, listen to music, edit photos and documents, and read email. You can't really play games. But in general, the number of offline programs for Chrome is increasing all the time, in Google store there was even a separate section for them. Therefore, there is progress and it is obvious. Chrome OS is no longer just a browser.

Settings

There aren't very many options in Chrome OS, and they are mixed in with the system settings itself, in addition, they are all quite basic. User can customize wireless connection, touchpad, touchpad and mouse, set date and time, input languages, and Google Cloud Print.

Separately, it is worth noting the “Accessibility” options, which allow you to increase the size of the cursor, use high contrast, voice prompts, zoom in different areas of the screen, drag with a touch, and also automatically click the cursor when it stops.

Overall that's it important settings. What else can be noted is that it is possible to change the desktop wallpaper.

Localization

Despite the fact that Chromebooks are not officially supplied to Ukraine, the system already has Ukrainian and Russian localizations.

Documentation

To work with documents, Chrome OS comes pre-installed with Google Docs applications that allow you to create text documents, tables and presentations.

Separately, in the application store, you can download programs for creating drawings and shapes in Google Docs.

For undemanding users this will be more than enough. Problems can only arise when opening complex documents Office, as well as in the case when such documents need to be created. On Chrome OS this is still, in principle, an unsolvable problem, so users with high demands on the office suite, unfortunately, have nothing to do on Chrome OS. But for the rest, Google Docs should be enough, which can be supplemented Microsoft package Office Web Apps, or by installing the Zoho office suite.

To check whether these applications are right for you or not, you can open Google Docs, Office Web Apps and Zoho Docs in your browser right now. It is worth noting that a pleasant difference office packages Google and Zoho is the ability to work offline in Chrome OS. Thus, documents can be opened and edited without an Internet connection.

Photo

There are already quite a lot of applications for working with photos on Chrome OS, but they are also more suitable for an undemanding user and cannot replace either Photoshop or Lightroom. What can you do with photos on Chrome OS? Firstly, the system has a built-in Google+ Photos application, which allows you to import, catalog and store images in the Google cloud.

At the same time, the user can also edit the photo and apply different filters to it. If in Google app+ installed on your Android smartphone automatic download photos on Google+, all of which will also appear on Chrome OS. Other apps that can be used to edit photos on Google's operating system include Autodesk's Pixlr Touch Up.

It has a fairly simple set of features, but it allows you to work with images without an Internet connection. For more serious editing, Pixlr Editor is better suited.

This is an online service, but it is most similar to Photoshop, although it does not have its capabilities. However, Pixlr Editor is great for not very complex tasks.

Music

You can listen to music on Chrome OS without an Internet connection; the system can easily play mp3 files.

However, the built-in player is very basic and doesn't fit well with a large media library. As an alternative, you can use the Google Music service; it can accommodate 25 thousand tracks for free, which in most cases will be enough.

But unfortunately, you cannot upload music to Google Music servers from Chrome OS; the company has not yet released the corresponding application, which has long been available for Windows and Mac. As a result, it turns out that you can transfer your media library to the cloud only with third party computer, which somewhat undermines the independence of Chrome OS. However, the developers soon promise to release a Google Music manager for Chrome OS, which will solve the problem.

Alternative ways to listen to music on the Google operating system can be: online services, of which there are now a large number.

These could be projects like Yandex.Music, which allow you to listen to entire albums and create playlists, or online radio stations like Earbits, in which the ability to switch tracks is limited.

Video

Another myth that haunts Chrome OS is the information that the system is not designed for watching videos, except perhaps from YouTube. In fact, this is not the case; at the moment, Google's operating system can play popular video formats, including .avi and .mkv. In the latter case, however, not all sound containers are supported.

However, watching movies on a Chromebook is quite possible, and there is no need to be online all the time. By the way, there are no problems with YouTube either, the only pity is that this service does not have an offline mode.

Games

There shouldn't seem to be games on Chrome OS either, but they do exist.

There are both online and offline versions. Unfortunately, the browser cannot handle complex graphics yet, so games for the Google operating system are most often casual.

It wouldn't be possible without Angry Bird either.

However, there are also more complex projects, such as Bastion.

Considering that all games run in the browser, this is a great achievement. So far, Google is not even close to considering the possibility of making Chrome OS a competitive gaming platform. The browser is not suitable for this yet.

The biggest problem with Chrome OS is the lack of popular programs for it. As a result, you have to look for either existing third party applications, or look for substitutes. This is exactly the situation with Skype on Chrome OS. Microsoft has not officially made and is unlikely to make a program for the operating system Google system.

The IM+ program, which has support for the Skype protocol, can help out in this situation, but only within the framework of the transfer text messages, it does not support voice and video calls. In the latter case, a mobile phone can help out Skype application for Android, or completely switch to the Hangouts service from Google.

Chrome OS and Android

It would be an extreme manifestation of “Captain Obvious” to write that Chrome OS is ideal for use with Android, but you can’t erase the words from the song.

Systems that are built on the same services complement each other perfectly. The transition from a computer to a smartphone/tablet is very easy; all programs within the Google ecosystem are similar both in appearance and in terms of functionality. The company is trying to accustom users to the fact that there are no desktop programs or mobile applications, there is Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Music, Chrome and so on.

This is a very correct approach. While reading an article in the Chrome OS browser, you can easily switch to a smartphone with Chrome installed and finish reading it.

In the same way, you can edit documents, listen to music, plan your day, look for an address on a map and much more. Of course, in order to fully immerse yourself in the Google ecosystem, you don’t have to use Chrome OS, but you definitely need an Android smartphone for this. It is thanks to the mobile operating system that the company can popularize Chrome OS.

Chrome OS on every computer

Interestingly, today Google is on the offensive on all fronts, and Chrome OS appears not only on Chromebooks, but also on computers with Chrome installed. Essentially, the company is creating a single ecosystem around its browser, which is supported by the growing popularity of the mobile operating system. Android systems. As a result, to get yourself almost an analogue of Chrome OS, you just need to install Chrome on your computer.

Recently, Google added a launcher to its browser as Chrome OS, which allows you to open web applications in operating windows Windows systems and OS X, which allows them to take the form of separate programs. This approach is fully justified; Google is creating the operating system gradually, without huge investments, and by the time it is fully ready, if the popularity of Chrome continues to grow, a large number of users will already be ready for it.

Eventually

Today, Chrome OS may well become the main operating system for undemanding users who spend most of their time at the computer in the browser. Another question is, why buy a Chromebook if you can get the same and much more from a Windows laptop? The answer lies in the cost; Google sells Chromebooks in the US starting at $200, and for the same money you simply cannot buy a laptop with the same characteristics. And for not very advanced users or those who are just mastering the computer, Chrome OS will be a very good option. The system is safe and easy to use, it does not have a large number of settings and there is nothing that could be broken to such an extent that it would require the intervention of a specialist. At the same time, I was frankly amazed by the speed of its development; in three weeks the system was updated five times and each update brought some minor improvements. At the same time, unless Google changes the concept, it is unlikely that Chrome OS will be able to seriously compete with Windows. The inertia of this market is very high and even low price on Chromebooks will not help popularize Chrome OS. Users will prefer to pay extra, but be able to install complex programs that they do not even always need. However, Google is betting that the focus will gradually shift towards smartphones and tablets, and computers will fade into the background, competing for users' attention with TVs. If so, Chrome OS does have a chance, especially since it offers the same Google services experience as Android.

Chrome OS is a new “cloud” operating system being developed by Google for use on relatively low-power laptops and tablets. “Cloud” - precisely in the sense that all work will be carried out by the user on the Internet and his data will mainly be stored there. Some local functionality will also be present, but will play a clearly auxiliary role, say, in case there is no Internet connection. This revives the original idea behind netbooks, which, although they ran conventional operating systems general purpose, should have become a kind of Internet set-top boxes (as even the name, which comes from the word network, suggests), but they didn’t.

By the way, it is useful to think about the reasons for this precisely in the context of Chrome OS - what prevented netbooks from forming a separate class of devices: was it just the lack of a suitable specialized platform or the unwillingness of users to abandon familiar programs and the accumulated experience of working with them in favor of web applications and the web? -storages? I believe that the second factor played, if not a determining, then at least a significant role - here you have issues with the reliability of network resources, and far from universal (convenient and cheap) access to the Internet, and, so far, a huge discrepancy functionality. Accordingly, I want to end this short introduction with an answer to another question that our readers quite often ask when discussing articles: why do we need this? Indeed, today it is unlikely that you will be able to get much benefit from Chrome OS - by installing it on your existing computer you will not get any new features. Moreover, the full benefits of its specific architecture can only be realized on specially designed devices, so despite being open source, it is designed for use by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), not end users. Accordingly, it’s worth reading this article and trying Chrome OS for yourself, rather, out of healthy curiosity and the desire to keep up with progress - even if Chrome OS was somewhat ahead of its time, this does not mean that the situation will not change tomorrow, especially since we are well aware of Google’s ability “push” their technologies and solutions.

Background

We first heard about Chrome OS just a little over two years ago, and in November 2009, the code for the new operating system was open-sourced as part of the Chromium OS project. At the end of 2010, Google presented a model Cr-48 Chromebook to a narrow circle of developers and beta testers, and this summer the first commercial products from Samsung and Acer appeared. They have indeed already been dubbed “Chromebooks” (Chromebook, i.e. Chrome OS + netbook/notebook) and, undoubtedly, this name will stick.

Rice. 1. Visually, the Samsung Chromebook is no different from ordinary laptops, and its internal structure has only a few features

Many other OEMs have also announced their intention to release products on Chrome OS, including not only the laptop type. For example, xi3 ChromiumPC should rather be called “chrometop” (Chrome OS + nettop). But it is clearly noticeable that none of the OEM is in a particular hurry, and the point is not even the dampness of Chrome OS itself (which is certainly the case), but rather the concept behind it. In addition, the first Chromebooks (due to configuration features) are not so cheap - the recommended price for the older one Samsung model Chromebook Series 5 (Atom N570, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB SSD, 12.1″ LED display with a resolution of 1280×800, Wi-Fi, 3G modem) costs $500, for this money today it is quite possible to find a better-equipped general laptop appointments.

Rice. 2. xi3 ChromiumPC is a very compact computer, essentially an Internet set-top box that is supposed to be mounted on the back wall of the monitor

Architecture

Chrome OS's focus on working with web applications determined its specific architecture.

Rice. 3. The absence of the need to run locally any applications other than the browser made it possible to simplify the Chrome OS architecture as much as possible and provide it with several specific features

As you would expect, it is based on the kernel (version 2.6.32 from the Ubuntu project, to which the necessary corrections and improvements were then made) and system Linux environment. Since Chrome OS is designed to run one single application program in the classical sense - a browser - the latter was made compact and lightweight. X Window is also as stripped down as possible, although OpenGL support is retained (for the sake of WebGL), and the window manager is essentially combined with the browser. All other functionality, starting with OS configuration tools, is implemented by web applications that are created using HTML5 and Adobe Flash(it is likely that support for proprietary third-party technology is a temporary solution, a tribute to the current state of affairs on the Internet), accordingly, the system has no other windows other than browser tabs and “panels” similar to the one usually used for Google Talk.

There are three main goals pursued by this architecture: simplicity, speed, security. The first has been taken to the absolute extreme: the user does not need to know anything about such things as drivers, utilities, etc. The system partition is closed for write operations, user data is stored in a specially designated area (although, of course, it is mainly supposed to be stored in the cloud). Unlocking is only allowed for developers; it is not supported in commercial products. System updates are performed automatically, as is now the case with Chrome. All that is required from the user is to be able to work with the browser; he will comprehend the necessary details as he gets acquainted with the web applications he needs.

With speed, everything is not so clear: in this context, they are mainly talking about the speed of initialization of a Chromebook - if Google's OEM requirements for device design are met (using EFI instead of BIOS, SSD instead of HDD, etc.), this figure should be no more than 8 seconds. Reviews from happy owners of Chromebooks indicate that this is absolutely possible and, in addition, the initialization speed does not drop over time, since the user, no matter how much he or she wants, cannot “litter” the OS, as often happens, say, with Windows. The performance situation for web applications is less clear. Although commercial Chromebooks are relatively powerful devices (dual-core Atom, 2 GB of memory, SSD), a large number of tabs rich in active content can completely load their computing resources. Google requires the use of a video system that supports hardware graphics acceleration; the “delights” of working without it can easily be experienced in a virtual machine, where Chromium OS, under certain conditions, simply eats up all available resources and falls into a stupor. But even on the right Chromebooks, there are complaints about performance, in particular, about video playback, which, apparently, is due to hardware limitations. In addition, a radical reduction in system services and background processes has a beneficial effect on the operating time of Chromebooks. Of course, it depends on the capacity of the battery installed in a particular model and the nature of use, but, for example, the specification of the above-mentioned Samsung Chromebook Series 5 promises about 8.5 hours of continuous operation (according to a special test from Google itself) and according to the first reviews this is not far from truth.

Finally, security, the importance of which is difficult to overestimate in the Internet era. Chrome OS is designed in such a way that it is virtually impossible for foreign code to enter the system, regardless of its purpose. Additionally, all system components and updates, which, as mentioned above, are installed automatically, are signed digital certificates. Attacks directed at the browser and third-party modules connected to it are isolated within the processes of individual tabs, thanks to Chrome's built-in sandbox mechanism, which has proven effective even in much less restricted environments. Windows environment. In the worst case scenario, a reboot should return the system to its original “clean” state, but the developers still accept the possibility of an intrusion and provide checks for this case system integrity during the initialization of the Chromebook. For EFI firmware, system kernel and important components hashes are verified and stored in a securely protected location (this can be an EFI encrypted area or a TPM chip, the second option is preferable). If mismatches are detected, the recovery process is initiated.

Because Chromebooks allow multiple users as well as anonymous guest login, all locally stored data is automatically encrypted with keys generated for each account Google. Again, TPM is preferred for encryption and key storage, although software implementation is also possible. Apparently, the first OEMs adhere to this recommendation (which, among other things, leads to an increase in price), but if Chromebooks go into circulation, someone will probably want to reduce the price as much as possible, accordingly, when choosing a model, you should pay attention for this item.

Of course, we must understand that there is no absolute protection. Yes, recently last conference Black Hat security has already demonstrated a method for hacking Chrome OS (or rather, some web applications and Google services), providing attackers with access to contacts, cookies, accounts. This example clearly shows how the attack vector is changing - Chrome OS itself is not of much interest, but the browser and web applications are used as a backdoor to user information in the cloud. The flip side of the closed software core of Chrome OS is the impossibility of expansion - for example, you cannot add Java support to the system, not to mention Moonlight, as well as codecs, etc. As mentioned above, all user capabilities are limited to Flash and HTML5, web applications and extensions Chrome.

It's worth noting how big a role EFI plays in the architecture and support of Chrome OS, which is referred to as firmware in Google documentation. EFI, as you know, is a development of BIOS and has been used for a long time in Macs running Mac OS X, but almost never in “traditional” PCs, although its support is present in 64-bit Windows. The firmware code plays a fundamental role in speeding up boot time due to early initialization of devices, it may also contain basic drivers for additional equipment, and the security system and disaster recovery functions are significantly tied to it. Thus, although Chrome OS allows work with a regular BIOS, in general it does not make sense, so it is not by chance that Google is targeting the platform for OEM use, and not for self-installation, say, as a second OS - although last option Nobody, naturally, prohibits it.

Rice. 4. EFI firmware plays a vital role in the Chrome OS architecture, providing important features such as fast boot and system recovery

Chrome OS should run on x86 and ARM platforms. The latter most likely means use on tablets, but they already have Android, so why another OS? I think Google's main idea is to enable OEMs to leverage a wide variety of powerful, yet inexpensive x86 hardware, and to enable web applications to run on the widest possible range of devices at desktop quality - i.e. in full-fledged Chrome, with a predictable rendering engine, with a powerful JavaScript engine, with hardware acceleration of HTML5 and WebGL, etc.

We test it ourselves

As I said above, the Chrome OS code is developed as part of the open source Chromium OS project. This is a rather subtle point. Chromium OS can be downloaded and used by anyone, but Chrome OS is only available on real Chromebooks. The fact is that Chrome OS contains a number of closed components, in particular, a PDF reader and audio/video codecs, perhaps some others. In addition, Chrome OS blocks developer-oriented features, such as the terminal. Therefore, in the following sections I will refer specifically to Chromium OS, mentioning Chrome OS only when we are talking about the concept itself or actual Chromebooks.

The standard way to get acquainted with Chromius OS is to download source code and compiling it into Linux environment. But for most users this is a rather complicated and time-consuming procedure, and also completely unnecessary for the purposes of the first acquaintance. Many enthusiasts distribute already compiled assemblies; for example, on the website you can get the latest “nightly” assembly at any time. Many people refer to this resource and its creator seems to be known, but I still recommend that you specifically create a new account for experimental purposes. Gmail entry, which is required to log in.

Rice. 5. Builds are posted every day, it makes sense to take the latest one

This site offers images of a bootable USB flash drive (and a burning utility) and virtual disks for VMware Workstation/Player and Oracle VirtualBox. In theory, the option with a bootable flash drive is preferable, since you can work with it on real hardware - but only on the condition that it turns out to be compatible with Chromium OS. Unfortunately, the latter is not always done; most often the video system is not recognized (the OS is either not initialized at all, or hardware graphics acceleration is not enabled) and network adapter, especially wireless. My most successful experience is with Acer Aspire One on the new one AMD platform Brazos: Wi-Fi did not work, and although the graphics were picked up, the acceleration gave strange results and effects, so it was not even possible to get adequate test results. In a word, the USB option is worth trying for everyone, but for a guaranteed result, use virtual machines.

Oddly enough, for these purposes I recommend using Vmware solutions rather than VirtualBox. For me (perhaps it was due to some peculiarities of my computer), Chromium OS worked unstably in VirtualBox, with various strange effects, but in Vmware Player it was not only more stable, but also visually somewhat “faster”. In addition, Vmware Player is also free product, and it is even easier to adjust the configuration of the virtual machine.

So, first, register and download it yourself - about 100 MB. Installing the program does not require additional actions, you can safely agree with all the options offered, at the end you will need to reboot.

Rice. 6. The least problematic way to test Chromium OS is Vmware Player

The Chromium OS image (archive of about 250 MB) for Vmware will be distributed with a ready-made virtual machine, but I recommend that you configure it further before use. Unzip the downloaded file, launch Vmware Player and open the file with the .VMX extension (something like ChromeOS-Vanilla-0.14.805.2011_08_21_1656-r8ca0f243-VMWare.vmx). Then right-click on the Chromium OS machine that appears in the left pane and select Virtual Machine Settings. Although the preset parameters are quite sufficient for the functioning of a virtual machine running Chromium OS, depending on the host configuration they can be adjusted - for example, add random access memory or processor cores.

Rice. 7. Although Chrome OS is designed for the Internet, Flash and HTML5 are quite taxing on processing resources, so adding them to the virtual machine can't hurt

Next, select Hard Disk (IDE) from the list of virtual equipment and pay attention to the name of the image file in the right panel hard drive. It will look like ChromeOS-Vanilla-VMWare.vmdk, while the file name from the archive will include the date and other details - it needs to be edited accordingly.

Rice. 8. The file name needs to be corrected virtual disk so that it matches what is specified in the virtual machine settings

Now select Network Adapter and select the NAT connection type in the right pane.

Rice. 9. NAT - the most universal and trouble-free mode of operation of a virtual network

In this case, Vmware Player does not allow you to configure the video system from the graphical interface, there is no such option in Chromium OS, therefore, if you do not take additional actions, the virtual machine will work in an unpredictable resolution - for example, for me it exceeded even physical resolution monitor. To fix this situation, you need to open the virtual machine file (.VMX) in Notepad and add the following three lines at the end:

svga.autodetect="FALSE"
svga.maxWidth="1024"
svga.maxHeight="768"

In this case, the working resolution will be 1024×768; specify other parameters if necessary. Finally, in the main menu of Vmware Player, select File and there - Player Preferences. Since you still cannot install the Vmware Tools component in Chromium OS, you can uncheck the Check for software components as needed option to disable constant reminders.

Rice. 10. Uncheck to avoid Vmware Tools reminders every time you start the virtual machine

Now you can turn on the virtual machine.

First meeting

After a really quick initialization, you'll see a welcome and initial setup screen. Many languages ​​are supported - let's choose Russian.

Rice. 11. Chrome OS supports many languages, although localization is not fully done

Next comes the Login screen, where you can specify your existing Gmail details, create a new account, or perform a guest login, during which it will be impossible to make and save any changes to the system.

Rice. 12. You can work in guest mode, but it is better to create a separate account

Final stage preset- select a picture for your account. It is not too wide, naturally, you won’t be able to take a photo of yourself in the virtual machine, but in the future you can upload any image.

Rice. 13. The last stage of pre-configuration of Chromium OS

Then, finally, you will be taken to the Chromium OS environment itself. Here you will immediately be asked to master simple gestures for working with touch panel"Chromebooks", which does not make sense in the case of a virtual machine, in addition, this page will not shine with speed, so you can safely close it right away. As a result, we will see the Chromium OS interface - the Chrome browser (or rather, also Chromium). All further work is carried out with it, so that users who have relevant experience with the desktop version will feel quite comfortable and confident. However, there are some features that everyone should get acquainted with.

Rice. 15. You can use some gestures on Chromebook touchpads, but they are useless in a virtual machine.

Rice. 16. If you have already used an account, all settings will be picked up: browser design, applications, extensions (to the right of the address bar). In the title bar are system indicators, below is a wrench to access settings

The Chromium OS interface differs from regular Chrome in the presence of several icons in the title bar. Initially, the rightmost one is the battery charge indicator (in a virtual machine, of course, it does not work); then - indicator network connection, visualizing the type of network (wired or wireless), clicking on it opens a menu where you can configure connection and VPN settings; Next comes the keyboard layout indicator, which can be switched either through the menu or using the Alt-Shift and Ctrl-Space combinations (return to the previous one); and finally, the clock. Although the Chromium OS window manager is as simplified as possible, the system can create not only new tabs, but also new browser windows (Ctrl-N), in which case they open on three-quarters of the screen, and another icon appears in the title bar for collapsing and expanding them (switching by Alt-Tab and Ctrl-).

It's easy to see that the minimalist design of Chromium OS encourages the use of keyboard commands, and to help with learning and remembering them, Google has built visual cues into the OS. It is called by Ctrl-Alt-/ (in fact, this is the only combination that you absolutely need to remember), then you can press various control keys and explore the available combinations.

Rice. 17. Visual help for keyboard commands is called by Ctrl-Alt-/. In this case, combinations with the Ctrl key are shown

Some control can also be carried out from the system menu, similar to that in Chrome, but in this case containing more commands and options. Chromium OS is not an operating system that needs configuration, and most likely the user will not need to look here. However, there are settings for time, touchpad, languages, accounts, and network.

Rice. 18. A button with a wrench provides access to a few system settings

Like Chrome, Chromium OS has hidden settings, usually governing features that are still in development and unstable - you can get to them by typing in address bar about:flags. Experimenting with them is not encouraged, although virtual machines encourage this, and even on real Chromebooks it is easy to roll back to the previous state of the system.

Rice. 19. You can access experimental options through a special page

For those who like to really delve into the details, another trick will come in handy: a special address chrome://chrome-urls - with its help you can get a list of all similar URLs for pages with secret knowledge. They, of course, will not provide much help, but they can provide some interesting information, like memory allocation or Flash plugin version.

Rice. 20. You can get a list of all system pages with settings and additional information at once

Chromium OS, intended mainly for developers, has a command shell called crosh (called Ctrl-Alt-T). It provides network utilities (ping, route, ssh), as well as a shell – essentially a standard terminal. *nix experts can take advantage of this opportunity to, for example, try to add some modules, codecs, plugins for Chrome to the system, although, as far as I know, no one has yet succeeded in connecting Java. The command shell is not available on Chrome OS

Usage

Most of the tools listed above are completely unnecessary, most likely they simply won’t be on real Chromebooks. As I already said, the general idea of ​​Chrome OS is for the user to work exclusively with the browser. This is why Google supports the web app store and Chrome extensions, where you can already find almost everything you need for everyday activities. Google itself offers many really useful services, the same Google Docs and Google Dictionary (the pop-up translation of which works, surprisingly, no worse than that of local dictionaries), and third-party developers are not lagging behind. Let's say one latest news- Kindle Online Reader from Amazon, which can download books locally and work without an Internet connection. As a result, the Chromebook can be used as an e-reader.

Rice. 21. The usability of Chrome OS depends entirely on the quality of the web applications you use. Fortunately, there are more and more of them, a wide variety of

Offline work is quite an important point. Although many people can no longer imagine life without the Internet, it happens that it is not available (on an airplane) or, for example, too expensive (in roaming). Of course, I wouldn’t want the Chromebook to simply turn into ballast in this case. Google naturally understands this and is working to provide some minimum of offline functionality. You can log in without an Internet connection for previously used accounts. In Chromium OS itself, there are currently only two local applications (except for Chrome, which should be considered as part of the OS): a file manager and a media player - both are quite primitive. The first one knows only a few formats, mostly multimedia; even some .doc will have to be uploaded to Google Docs yourself. The second one can’t even play mp3, but this only applies to Chromium OS: as I said above, Chrome OS has some codecs built into it. One way or another, the situation will gradually improve - thanks to HTML5, which allows you to simply and efficiently provide offline execution of web applications from a special cache.

Rice. 22. Built-in Chromium applications OS are primitive, but without them it would be completely sad

Another important aspect of Chrome OS is support for additional hardware. Chromebooks are initially equipped with everything necessary: ​​Wi-Fi adapters, 3G modems, SD card readers, web cameras, etc. But the list of compatible models is apparently quite scant. Enthusiasts try to make their own builds of Chromium OS with additional drivers, libraries, etc., but this violates the purity of the original idea. USB ports also allow you to connect only select categories of devices. Initially, these included keyboards and mice, now the Google website reports support for USB drives, although I could not get it to work in the current build. Work is underway to support Android smartphones.

On the other hand, the inability to connect printers is even presented as an advantage: “forget about cables and drivers!” But miracles, of course, do not happen, and the printer still must be connected somewhere - with a cable and driver, and printing in Chrome OS is carried out through the Google Cloud Print system. For it to work, you must have either a special printer that connects directly to the Internet and the corresponding Google service (for now this is only the HP ePrint line), or any other printer connected to a computer running Chrome. In the latter case, you need to go to the advanced settings section of the browser, connect locally available printers and, if a different Gmail account is used in Chromium OS, give the appropriate permissions.

Rice. 23. First on regular computer you need to connect available printers to Google Cloud Print

Rice. 24. Then - give the necessary permissions

In Chrome OS itself, all printers available for the current account will be automatically displayed in the Google Cloud Print window, which is also called up from the advanced settings. By launching the page printing function, you can select the one you need from the list and even configure its parameters, down to the hardware resolution. Preview appeared in latest versions Chrome, but does not work on Chromium OS due to the lack of PDF viewers built into the system. Recently, the Print to Google Docs function has also appeared, which involves converting to PDF.

Rice. 25. When printing via the cloud, you can even adjust basic printer settings. This opportunity available in any Chrome browser, but in Chrome OS it is the only one

Conclusion

Several years ago, Google introduced the Chrome OS operating system, which was essentially Chrome browser. Many perceived this as a failed experiment, since it was in no way suitable for a full-fledged OS. Without access to the Internet, Chrome OS was practically useless; the usual software was missing. Users had access only to Google services and numerous extensions familiar from the Chrome browser.

However, this also had its advantages: the system did not require powerful hardware, and the cost of the laptop did not exceed $300. It's cheaper than most Windows devices, not to mention a MacBook.

No longer just a browser

Charlie Brannan/flickr.com

Almost seven years have passed since then and a lot has changed. The system has become more functional, self-sufficient, and has acquired support for offline programs. Yes, it still can do more when connected to the Internet, but now this can be said about any operating system. Offline you can listen to music, watch movies, and work with documents. Such features will satisfy the requirements of most users.

Google's calculation was correct: people spend most of their time in the browser. Or more precisely - in . Its share is about 50%, making it the most popular in the world. “If so,” Google decided, “keep an accessible device that has your favorite browser with all kinds of extensions.” And that's it, nothing more unnecessary. The interface is simple and concise, even a child can master it.

By the way, about children: Chromebooks are most often purchased for education and the corporate segment. Thanks to this, in the first quarter of 2016 in the United States, laptops with Chrome OS outsold Apple laptops. Almost 2 million versus 1.76 million is a serious achievement for a browser OS.

But Google struck the main blow recently, in May 2016. What many have been waiting for has happened: in the near future, Chrome OS will receive native support for Android applications. Chromebook owners are incredibly lucky, because in the near future almost the entire Google Play range will be available to them! The issue of the number of applications and dependence on the Internet is immediately resolved. It is important that the applications are not emulated, but are native, that is, they have access to Wi-Fi, RAM, processor and other necessary components.

In fact, now we have another Android device, but with more advanced capabilities. Yes, but for the vast majority of users, the functionality of a Chromebook will be sufficient.

Pros of Chromebooks

Kohichi Aoki/flickr.com

1. Price

I'll start with the most important thing - the cost of Chromebooks. In the US, an inexpensive Windows laptop will cost $400–700. MacBook prices start at $899. At the same time, the price of most Chromebooks does not exceed $300. Great option for schoolchildren, students and simply people who need a laptop only to surf the Internet and work with documents.

2. Simplicity

Chromebooks are easy to use. They are fast, easy to set up, and absolutely everyone can master them: from children to the elderly. This is why Chromebooks are so popular in schools and the corporate sector.

3. Large selection

The range of Chromebooks is quite extensive. There are laptops with screen diagonals from 11 to 15 inches. Iron is also very diverse: from mobile processors, which are usually installed in smartphones, to Intel processors.

4. Ecosystem

If you own an Android smartphone, a Chromebook will be a worthy addition to your ecosystem. Thanks to Google services, all data is synchronized. You can work in the same way with third party software thanks to native support for Android applications.

Cons of Chrome OS

Oll Raqwe/flickr.com

1. Dependence on the Internet

Whatever one may say, the work of Chromebooks is tied to the Internet. Without the Internet, their opportunities tend to zero. Despite the fact that the Internet is now everywhere, for many it can become a serious problem.

2. Lack of “adult” software

Chromebooks are not suitable for serious work. It will not be possible to install Photoshop, AutoCAD and other software that works on Windows and OS X. Such devices are more suitable for those who spend most of their time in the browser, as well as for those who actively use Google services.

What's next?

Of course, Google has made huge strides in seven years, but experts say this is just the beginning. Once the system starts supporting Android applications, its popularity will increase significantly.

It will turn from a fun experiment into an expanded one. Android version for budget laptops. And in this case, the competitor will not be Apple, which is focused on the premium segment, but Microsoft. After all, it mainly makes money from selling software for the corporate segment and licenses for selling laptops. The sharp increase in the popularity of devices on Chrome OS can significantly spoil the life of Microsoft.