When I first heard about Google Chrome OS, I initially thought it would be a basic operating system which supported just an Internet browser — where the Internet browser is within the OS. From what I have heard, however, it seems that “the” operating system could just aswell run within the browser.

Of course, there will be an OS to run the Internet browser; but, will there be another “OS” within that?

It is entirely feasible to create an operating system within an Internet browser, using basic HTML, CSS and Javascript. In fact, I had a go myself, last year. “22OS” was my attempt at creating a so-called “WebOS”. Although never completed, it appeared to be entirely possible to build a feature-rich “operating system” that is platform independent. Google already has a project to run x86 machine code in the browser called nativeclient — maybe this is indicative?

Digging up some old code, I managed to get a few screenshots of my old WebOS:

22OS loading in Google Chrome

Google Chrome is extremely fast in loading 22OS, due to its unique Javascript technology.

The 22OS Command Line Interface

22OS default desktop, with Windows Vista theme (for demonstration)

Multiple windows opened in 22OS

If Google Chrome OS turns out to be a WebOS, it would mean the ultimate in software portability. Any software developed for the OS could be run on any browser supporting Javascript, CSS and HTML (providing Google would allow this).

The vision of Google Chrome OS as an operating system running a web browser could be misleading. It is entirely feasible that everything related to user interaction could be off-loaded onto Google’s servers, and Google would have good reason to do it.

Of course, all this is just speculation, but there is argument that the traditional idea of what an operating system is could be different from this case, especially with Google an’all. We’ll just have to wait and see…