Is Google Chrome an Operating System, Chrome OS Wiki *: When we’re discussing the origin of Chrome OS, we will be discussing Chrome web browser and most of the time the discussion leads us to Chromium topic. Why is that? Because they all are inseparable yet different. But, we won’t be discussing histories now, since we already did that in our previous article.
We can find Chrome OS officially in Chromebook, Chromebase, Chromebox, and Chromebit.
Yea yea, so, what are they? Can you make it simple?
This will be the simplest way to explain them all:
- Chromium is a Linux cornerstone project that gave birth to both Chromium OS and Chrome OS.
- Chrome web browser is a web browser made by the people involved in Chrome after Chrome has been bought by Google and separated it from Chromium. Hence, there are Chromium OS and Chrome OS.
- Chromium OS is an open source operating system developed by the people in Chromium which allow “Chrome OS” to be installed on most computer hardware.
- Chrome OS is Chrome web browser revamped as an OS and distributed in Chrome’s hardware mentioned below…
- Chromebook is a Linux laptop comes with Chrome OS pre-installed.
- Chromebase is Linux all-in-one comes with Chrome OS pre-installed.
- Chromebox is Linux desktop comes with Chrome OS pre-installed.
- Chromebit is Linux portable all-in-one comes with Chrome OS pre-installed.
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So, Is Chromium a Neglected Project?
Well, not really. Its development is still growing. The only thing you won’t find in Chromium OS is the auto-update.
If you missed it, please also read Chromium for Mac 64bit.
The History in A Glance
Chrome OS is designed by Google, using Chromium web browser as the main interface. This allows (and limit) Chrome OS to use web application. Unlike other OS, Chrome OS resides the user application and data mostly on the cloud. This allows products coming with Chrome OS to be shipped with a very minimum storage capacity. Hence, the low price.
On its first days, Chrome can be used as a web browser on Windows, among Firefox and ie. It later became the fastest browser available. With the full support by Google, Chrome web browser then turned into an operating system comes embedded with many most used applications. Such as the application to handle email, documents and of course for TAB web browsing.
It was such a big deal in those days since TAB web browser was not available. All new web page will be opened on different windows. And so did email.
*Note: This is not an official Wikipedia. No shit, Sherlock!
So, answering my own question… Yes, Google Chrome is an operating system. But we’re calling it Chrome OS instead.