Yesterday Google announced plans for a Chrome OS designed primarily for netbooks, a low cost less powerful notebook for the budget conscious shopper.

The OS is based on a Linux kernel runnning on both x86 and ARM chips and hence will be open source.

Plans include a fast boot, get online quickly design with the web being the platform. The cloud computing technology means applications will be written using web technologies and all existing web based applications will work. The idea is to build a computer that doesn't slow down as they age the way Windows based computers do.

The OS will be released during the second half of 2010. Typical users, meaning non-techie, lower power users, will love the concept of not being concerned about losing data, backups, and things of that nature. Those with privacy concerns will have no interest at all, while still others that are concerned about Google's monitoring, probing, and ownership of data will spout conspiracy theories. This simply means being aware of what cloud computing really is and what it is appropriate for.

These plans should be welcomed by everyone since competition is the catalyst for technological innovation and a better, read cheaper, marketplace for everyone.

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