Google’s Chrome OS looks a lot like a familiar Linux: Bill Gates

As the cold war between the techno giants- Microsoft and Google continues the big shots are up with big comments. We caught up with Microsoft’s founder speculations and round-up on Google Chrome OS.  In an interview CNET,  Bill Gates went head-on stating Google’s Chrome OS looks a lot like a familiar foe: Linux. For the former Micosoft CEO, its not a big surprise, as he added

In some ways I am surprised people are acting like there’s something new. I mean, you’ve got Android running on Netbooks. It’s got a browser in it.

In a bid to bring Google down to earth he explained many forms of Linux operating systems out there packed and booted in different ways, Google’s Chrome OS was just one of those in the queue.

Gates cleared out that it was not the right time to talk much about the OS, since Google is yet to reveal how it will actually works.

There’s been a growing notion surrounding browsers needs to act more like an OS. Reacting to the idea Gates explained that its an extremely broad concept, especially with the plug-ins allowing almost any kind of application on the browser. He feels that the term browser not more sticks to its definition.

He says

What’s a browser? What’s not a browser? If you’re playing a movie, is that a browser or not a browser? If you’re doing annotations, is that a browser? If you’re editing text, is that a browser or not a browser? In large part, it’s more an abuse of terminology than a real change.

Arguing on the same issue, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that Windows was the right approach for OS and not the browser-centric OS. Ballmer pointed out that half of PC use today is spent doing work outside the browser.

Rather he preferred to hit it straight. We don’t need a new operating system, is what he said as part of his keynote at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans on Tuesday. He felt that they should continue to concentrate on evolving Windows, Windows Applications, IE (Internet Explorer), especially the way IE works with Windows, and improving applications like the Microsoft Office.

Both the Microsoft aces Ballmer and Gates laid stress on the fact that Google had two operating systems now Android and Chrome OS. Ballmer shared Microsoft’s experience over having two operating systems - separate Windows 95 for consumers and Windows NT for businesses, and noted that it’s not necessarily a positive thing.

Most interesting part of the story is that both Ballmer and Gates had no clue what the Chrome OS will look like.

Source: CNET