Google's new operating system to take on Microsoft
SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Google Inc. is working on a new operating system for inexpensive computers in a daring attempt to wrest away Microsoft Corp.'s long-running control over people's computing experience.
The new operating system, announced late Tuesday night on Google's Web site, will be based on the company's nine-month-old Web browser, Chrome. Google intends to rely on help from the community of open-source programmers to develop the Chrome operating system, which is expected to begin running computers in the second half of 2010.
The Mountain View, Calif.-based company disclosed its plans for the operating system shortly after an online technology news service, Ars Technica, and The New York Times telegraphed the news on their Web sites.
Shares of Google jumped $3.21 to $399.84 in premarket trading Wednesday, while Microsoft fell 18 cents to $22.35.
Google is designing the operating system primarily for "netbooks," a lower-cost, less powerful breed of laptop computers that is becoming increasingly popular among budget-conscious consumers primarily interested in surfing the Web.
The operating system represents Google's boldest challenge yet to its biggest nemesis — Microsoft.
A high-stakes duel between the two technology powerhouses has been steadily escalating in recent years as Google's dominance of the Internet's lucrative search market has given it the means to threaten Microsoft in ways that few other companies can.
Google already has rankled Microsoft by luring away some of its top employees and developing an online suite of computer programs that provide an alternative to Microsoft's top-selling word processing, spreadsheet and calendar applications.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has been trying to thwart Google by investing billions of dollars to improve its own Internet search and advertising systems — to little avail so far. In the past month or so, though, Microsoft has been winning positive reviews and picking up more users with the latest upgrade to its search engine, now called "Bing." Microsoft is hailing the makeover with a $100 million marketing campaign.
Now Google is aiming for Microsoft's financial jugular with Chrome its operating system.
Microsoft has drawn much of its power — and profits — from the Windows operating system that has steered most personal computers for the past two decades.
Google's chief executive, Eric Schmidt, and its co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, have made little attempt to conceal their disdain for Windows in recent years.
Recent comments
It must be better than Windows. Only Microsoft gets to sell a product...
Anonymous | July 8, 2009 at 9:26 a.m.
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies 4:19 a.m.
- College football: Big-5 glance 12:34 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:14 a.m.
- Missions teach players perseverance 12:08 a.m.
- Scout answer to church's prayers 12:08 a.m.
- Project helps Guatemalan kids 12:07 a.m.
- No expiration date on gratitude 12:07 a.m.
- Nursery Rhymes' gratitude 12:07 a.m.
- Temple Square to use LEDs 12:06 a.m.
- Mormon mom helps hungry children 12:05 a.m.
- Cave rescuers committed to free man
- Howard made the rivalry a rivalry
- Donny and Kym dance to victory
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Twitterati to BCS: 'We hate you.'
- Cougars cruise past Southern
- Loyal to Cougarettes, Crimson Line
- Y. focused on 10-win season
- BYU has slim shot at BCS
- Thunder rolls by Jazz
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
259 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
227 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
209 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
139 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
129 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
110 - Boys basketball rankings
110 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
103
We're flooded with wise shopping tips this year, including these from...
Fourtuneately you are wrong on every point. Senators voted last week to...
Atheists helps people with with food and shelter. Salvation Army helps people...
Wouldn't this be a good way to get rid of the carp in Utah Lake? Provide some...
Unlike its general membership, the church is known worldwide for their love...
to two fine women with outstanding husbands and coaches. GO UTES!
This may be true but it only works when grocery shopping. By Black Friday...
I hope some of our Utah state legislators are reading this report and maybe...
What a waste. I'm an American living and working with the rural poor in...
Next three years Syracuse girls state champs! Young and very talented!!!!!...
I'm sorry for the loss this man's family will experience. What was to be an...

