Google Chrome Operating System - Significance to Microsoft (and Apple)
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It is still too early to say definitively what sort of impact Google Chrome OS will have on Microsoft’s Windows or Apple’s Mac. Effects will be largely dependent upon the success of Chrome OS and the general public acceptance of it. While the theory behind the operating system is sound, poor development or bad timing could doom Chrome OS to failure.
On the other hand, if Chrome OS is developed and released successfully, it could mean the end of Microsoft’s dominance in the operating system market. If the trend toward cloud computing proves sustainable and Microsoft does not quickly and effectively respond to the threat of Chrome OS, then it stands a chance of falling behind in the rapidly developing industry of Internet technology.
Microsoft has proven remarkably aware of its competition in recent years and has shown that it is willing to do what it takes to maintain its sizable market share. Its reaction to Apple’s recent marketing campaign was swift and efficient. Its even more recent blitz on the search engine market with Bing and the takeover of Yahoo!’s search engine operations shows that it is aware of its previous failings in that realm.
It is still too early to tell how the battle is going to play out. Even after Chrome OS’s release, it will likely be a number of years before a true winner is declared. Even if Chrome OS is successful, it will likely only mean that Google can now compete with Microsoft in the operating system market. This one battle is only a small part of a potentially massive war to come.
Of course, Microsoft is not the only player in the operating system market. Apple also has a noteworthy share of the pie. Unfortunately for Apple, if Google’s operating system is successful, the damage to Mac will likely be far more significant than the damage to Windows.
Many Mac users are simply looking for an alternative to Windows and are only with Mac because it is the best they can get. If Google presents a viable alternative with Chrome OS, many Mac users may quickly jump ship. After all, while loyalty to the Apple brand is high, loyalty to the Google brand is much more so, as demonstrated by the number of people using Google search.
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