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The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android

By | December 5, 2010, 8:15pm PST

Summary: Google will soon have two operating systems: Chrome OS and Android. What’s the difference?

On December 7th, Google is expected to announce the release of a laptop with the first version of the Chrome operating system. Concurrently, Google is going great guns with Android. Does Google really need two operating systems? So what’s going on here?

Here’s what Google is up to. Yes, both Android and Chrome OS are Linux-based operating systems. Neither, at the application level, uses the common Linux desktop application programming interfaces (API) that are used by the GNOME or KDE desktops and their applications.

They’re also similar in that both use a common set of techniques to make them more secure. The most important of these is process sand-boxing. What this means is that any Chrome or Android application has just enough access to the system to do its job.

Once you’re past this, the two look and act in very different ways. Here are their main points of difference:

1) Android is for Phones & Tablets; Chrome OS is for Netbooks

Google said at the start that “Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the Web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems.” Google hasn’t always been on message with this.

Google also took its time getting even a Chrome beta out the door. Now that Chrome OS is about to be unveiled, we know that it is going to be Google’s “desktop” operating system, while Android is for smart phones and tablets.

The Android interface is designed foremost for touch. Google Chrome OS looks and acts just like the Chrome Web browser.

2) Chrome OS won’t run Linux desktop or Android Apps

I use quotes around “desktop” with good reason. While Chrome OS will be used like a desktop operating system, it’s not a traditional fat-client desktop like Windows or even a Linux desktop such as Mint. Instead, all of its “applications” will be cloud-based. To see what I mean, just look at the Chrome browser and Google Apps. You’re looking at a sketch of the Google Chrome OS.

There will be just enough Linux in Chrome OS–thanks, in part, to Ubuntu– to support the browser and Web-based applications. You will also likely be able to run some traditional desktop applicationsusing a remote-client computing technology called “Chromoting.”

As for Android applications, where all the applications are Java-based and depend on Dalvik, I don’t see any way that those applications will run on Chrome OS.

3) Chrome OS Constantly Updated

Like the Chrome browser, you can expect Chrome OS to be patched and improved constantly. This instead of being patched to fix problems or having features added in service packs, Chrome OS, for better or worse, will continually evolve. With Chrome OS, there won’t be any wait for different versions a la Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Still having trouble visualizing it? Well, don’t worry too much. Within the next few days, we’ll have the opportunity to see Chrome OS and see how it differs from Android and other desktop operating systems.

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Topics

Google Inc., Operating System, Google Chrome, Android, Linux, Desktops, Operating Systems, Open Source, Software, Hardware, Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, aka sjvn, has been writing about technology and the business of technology since CP/M-80 was the cutting edge, PC operating system

Disclosure

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.

Biography

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, aka sjvn, has been writing about technology and the business of technology since CP/M-80 was the cutting edge, PC operating system; 300bps was a fast Internet connection; WordStar was the state of the art word processor; and we liked it!

His work has been published in everything from highly technical publications (IEEE Computer, ACM NetWorker, Byte) to business publications (eWEEK, InformationWeek, ZDNet) to popular technology (Computer Shopper, PC Magazine, PC World) to the mainstream press (Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, BusinessWeek).

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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
THUFIR.HAWAT 19th Dec 2010
@CobraA1 how curious that an interpreted language, JavaScript, can have Just in Time Compiling. Praytell, at what stage is the code compiled?
View in thread
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
mybunkaccount@... 5th Dec 2010
Hmmm... I having trouble understanding how anyone could have trouble understanding. No disrespect - but haven't we known about all of these aspects for almost two years ?
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That was ...
Economister 6th Dec 2010
@mybunkaccount@...

my reaction too.

Except I do not see why Android on a smart book might not be a great solution instead of a netbook with Chrome OS, unless you really want to use Google Apps and the cloud.
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Welcome to SJVN
sunworks Updated - 6th Dec 2010
@Economister
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Welcome to having SJVN on the scene. I subscribed to this feed b4 he snuck over here too, cause I was sick of his repetitive and deadline-based writing where meeting word count and time deadline is far more important than content.

This type of writing means just pulling out an old article, brushing the dust off and re-submitting it rather than researching something new or of use. Now this blog is literally running the same content and same titles as his other ones. Same re-treaded material rolled out again and again.

The world of SJVN.
It sucks, but maybe it's because he's using his " old" standby... what is that machine, Steven? a 6 month old what?
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Well, maybe true, but, as ChromeOS is about to be released to Google
DonnieBoy 6th Dec 2010
employees, this is a good time to discuss the differences and clarify things, and give people a chance to comment.
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Contributr
RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
sjvn@... 6th Dec 2010
@mybunkaccount@... People who pay close attention to tech. know what's what, but over the weekend I was asked by three different people who did have some clues about tech what was what here so I wrote this rather than repeat myself.

Give yourself credit for being more tech. savvy than a lot of folks! happy

Steven
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the real issue is
otaddy 7th Dec 2010
@mybunkaccount@...

Why do they have 2 OS's? Being that they started from scratch, you would expect them to have built one OS that serves both devices.

Now of course it is still possible that much of the codebase is shared and so there are still efficiencies but many people think it odd that Google would want to maintain 2 separate OS's.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
Titlow Updated - 5th Dec 2010
Keywords about Android and Chrome OS:
Android: touch, mobile phones, native applications...
Chrome OS: key-board based solution, netbooks, web-based software...
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
nicholas22 6th Dec 2010
@Titlow I like how you used a hyphen between key and board in keyboard, as if you're from the 1950's.
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I still think that Google should allow native applications that are signed
DonnieBoy 6th Dec 2010
and come from an app store. I could see two types of applications:

1) Davik based, but re-written for keyboard and mouse and larger screents.

2) Win32 applications that must be recompiled for WineLib and signed, then specially sandboxed. That would give vendors a quick route to make ChromeOS applications by converting old Win32 applications.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
bojanwojan 6th Dec 2010
@DonnieBoy

Chrome will include a RDP client that it will be able to run Windows apps remotely. This feature will be called Chromoting. You can use ThinServer to power up the remote apps

http://www.aikotech.com/thinserver.htm
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Fourth difference
guihombre 6th Dec 2010
Chrome OS will flop.
They started with a browser, and said 'lets make this into an OS'.
Android started from a need. Users want iPhone without nanny Apple ....
People buy stuff to fill their needs, they don't buy what companies offer because the company thinks it suits them.

Wave anyone?
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FThe ourth difference is key
hubivedder 6th Dec 2010
@guihombre

Wave goodbye to Chrome OS (the failures are stacking up). People are going to laugh Google right out of the enterprise on this one.

Engineers are jumping to FaceBook like rats off a sinking ship.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
nicholas22 6th Dec 2010
@hubivedder 2-3 engineers (no matter how talented) are hardly "like rats off a sinking ship" mate. How about the other 19,997 talented engineers that remained?
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Engineering?
lars626 6th Dec 2010
@hubivedder
Facebook is a horror to an engineer. Perhaps a better word would be *****, it's all about the money. A moving target, unpredictable, and with more holes than a swiss cheese factory. Anyone engineering for that environment is well paid and can hold their nose while working.
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ChromeOS is filling a vacuum. There are tons out there that only need a
DonnieBoy 6th Dec 2010
browser when on the run. The need to be able to check email, do facebook, browse, search, web applications, and NOTHING more.

And, given that web applications are becoming much more like desktop applications, ChromeOS is coming at just the right time.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
dave95. Updated - 6th Dec 2010
@DonnieBoy

"ChromeOS is filling a vacuum. There are tons out there that only need a...browser when on the run. The need to be able to check email, do facebook, browse, search, web applications, and NOTHING more."

That sounds an awful lot like what we do with our smart phones and iPads today. Sorry just don't see the need for such an OS on Netbooks. And with it being web based (web apps and services), you most likely will need a constant data connection anyway. So yet another device tied to carriers with contracts paying yet another data fee (my guess). I see consumers wanting an alternative to Apple getting excited for Android Tablets once they finally get off the ground (that is of course with Google's official support). Will take more than the usual snoozefest presentation tomorrow to get people excited on this Chrome OS for Netbooks.

I can't believe that I'm in agreement with Ballmer when he questioned the need for two OS's?
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Absolutely wrong.
frgough 6th Dec 2010
There are tons of people who need to be able to check email, do facebook, browse, search do web applications and USUALLY nothing more. It's that "usually" where Chrome OS dies.
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Wrong
Cylon Centurion Updated - 6th Dec 2010
@DonnieBoy

I think you underestimate what people actually do on PC's/Mac's nowadays.

And web apps are no replacements for desktop apps. Not yet, and won't be for some time.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
rengek 6th Dec 2010
@Cylon Centurion 0005
gonna have to disagree with you that web apps cannot replace desktop apps anytime soon. I've been doing this development thing for quite some time now. My last iteration of web app was to just have web app. Clearly, there is a distinction between desktop app and web app. I've been working hard to figure out all the "necessary" stuff that users want from a web app to make it feel identical to a desktop app. That bridge is here. As tools like jquery evolves more, there is very little difference between desktop and web apps now. In my next project, my goal is precisely to make people forget that they are using a web app. That means every right mouse click, menu drop down, messagebox popping functionality will be there and will be quick.
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Thats right Donnieboy!!
Ron Bergundy 6th Dec 2010
ChromeOS is comming at the PERFECT time, as we both understand that Google doesn't know the meaning of the word failure. Once again their timing is DEAD ON!!
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
Bookmark71 Updated - 6th Dec 2010
@guihombre
I think it will be viewed as a flop to start. I don't think businesses are ready to transition to the cloud so completely. This OS requires it. Eventually we'll get there but it's not going to take off like a rocket and will be viewed as a failure to start. Then as businesses get used to the idea of Google Apps and Office 365 it won't seem so extreme and start the transition at that point. Then, Chrome OS may take their modest install base and take off with the new market. I'm expecting a very slow start with a huge uptick in a year or two.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
kyleoster 6th Dec 2010
@Bookmark71
@tonymcs@...

I agree with both of you completely. A little thing called Hippa will keep insurance and financial companies out of "THE CLOUD" along with any other company that keeps personal information.

And yes, it is just another example of time sharing and thin clients and leased computing. Anybody remember 1997? We'd all have kitchen appliances connected to the cloud that would inform the supermarket when we were low on milk and mustard. Didn't happen.

On a personal note its nice to see the people who post comments here are much more intelligent and open minded than SJVN's previous site.

SJVN on the other hand is still a shill so disconnected from reality that he's still waiting for the massive influx of Linux tablets, Adobe suing Apple, and Linuxcare rising again (this one really made me laugh) and just doesn't get it.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
tonymcs@... 6th Dec 2010
@guihombre

It's the thin client scam again. Every 4-5 years it pops up again to suck the unwary into another lame approximation of real workstations.
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Another difference
Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate 6th Dec 2010
I seem to recall that chrome os will only support ssd, yes?
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It probably does not make sense to have a hard drive as capacities of SSDs
DonnieBoy 6th Dec 2010
are going up, and ChromeOS will not need so much local storage. But, not sure why they would want to preclude the use of a hard drive.
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Contributr
RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
sjvn@... 6th Dec 2010
@Dietrich T. Schmitz, Your Linux Advocate My understanding--I've haven't seen the demo laptop yet--is that it will be SSD, but there's no reason it would have to be.

Steven
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
Michael Kelly 6th Dec 2010
@Dietrich T. Schmitz, Your Linux Advocate

How would the OS know the difference? AFAIK all it really knows is that its a read-write SATA device, the firmware does the rest.
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ChromeOS is a joke.
Cylon Centurion 6th Dec 2010
I think 60% of businesses will laugh Google out of existence on that one.

Sure, let's trade our big and powerful desktop machines for cloud based netbooks with no local storage.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
nicholas22 6th Dec 2010
@Cylon Centurion 0005 It will probably find a niche, or a part even, but it will not replace local boxes. That kind of performance over the network is maybe 20-30 years away.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
yeshuawatso 6th Dec 2010
@Cylon Centurion 0005: I think you're missing the point here of a web based client. Enterprises are dumping local client based programs that need to be installed on every computer to browser based DBMS access. They can reduce the TCO of the DBMS by removing the special computers needed to run the client software while still maintaing access control over the data.

There will always be a need for fat workstations with full fledge OSs for things like graphic design and high precision computations for engineering; however, centralized data warehouses and access restrictions coupled with low powered clients with little overhead and maintenance cost and you've got yourself a friend of the corporate IT.

Now betting that Google will make inroads to the browser based enterprise before Microsoft is what may be laughable.

But who's to say that Chrome OS will be for the enterprise? With more and more people spending their day and nights on Facebook, playing flash games, and creating a few documents online, who needs a full blown OS that needs to be monitored and watched daily against malicious attacks? One of the reasons Android, and to a greater extent, iOS are so popular is because people wanted a simplistic device that could do a little more than text messaging and phone calls, but not all the other crap needed for a secure enterprise based ecosystem.
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But couldn't....
Economister 6th Dec 2010
@yeshuawatso

Google sell a Chrome back end for the enterprise to allow them to host their own Chrome based cloud, if that is the way some might prefer it?
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
Cylon Centurion 6th Dec 2010
@Economister

Isn't that what corporate Intranets do now? Why would companies pay Google for something they can do by themselves?
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Well.......
Economister 6th Dec 2010
@Cylon Centurion 0005

I do not think that was my point. These corporations did not custom program their entire intranets. They purchased solutions from Oracle, IBM, MS or whomever.

In the discussion of cloud based vs local storage, people often take very extreme positions. My point is simply that there are various forms of clouds already and Google may slowly be moving in a position to provide ANY kind of cloud solution, whether they host it or you host it on your own intranet.

Google may do it a lot cheaper than Oracle, IBM or MS. Should they worry?
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
mswift@... 6th Dec 2010
@yeshuawatso
Over the course of a couple of years the difference in production between local .1 to .25 second response versus networked .5 to 1 second is a whole lot more than the difference in cost between local and browser apps. You still have to have a local infrastructure and all the ROI comparisons I have seen neglect to account for that.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
halfstop 6th Dec 2010
@Cylon Centurion 0005 As a former sysadmin, people have been trying to dump fat clients for a long long time. Lots and lots of desktops in the workplace are overkill. Drop a thin client in front of them and avoid constantly updating and securing them and you just saved yourself a ton of money - if it works.

Frankly, I feel like a ChromeOS is about 4 years behind schedule, but if it works, there will be a market for it.
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True, but, I think that everything is lining up to make this the right time
DonnieBoy 6th Dec 2010
for an OS like ChromeOS. Web applications are getting much better, and a huge swath of people are switching over to the browser for all of their computing needs. Couple this with dirt cheap power sipping Arm processors, memory, SSDs, etc, and we have the stars aligned just right.
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Of cours sysadmins think fat clients are overkill
frgough 6th Dec 2010
it makes their job less important.
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Once again donnieboy a DEAD ON
Ron Bergundy 6th Dec 2010
assesment!! "and a huge swath of people are switching over to the browser for all of their computing needs."

I dont know anybody that uses a full blown computer anymore, they all use android tablets or the ipad.
Even the founding fathers of Google are on board 100% giving up their antique desktops for chromeOS netbooks!
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
mswift@... 6th Dec 2010
@halfstop
One of my clients used Exchange. They changed to Google and a couple of months into the contract started figuring out what they wanted to try next. Google cost them too much and was too slow. Now they are running the Live Office set, happier than with Google, not as happy as with Exchange.
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Logic?
Economister Updated - 6th Dec 2010
@Cylon Centurion 0005

Sure, but the 40% who only require a tiny fraction of the power and storage available, will switch and MS will freak out.

There is nothing like a "big and powerful desktop" when you just don't need a big and powerful desktop.

Where is the joke again?
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40%?
Cylon Centurion Updated - 6th Dec 2010
@Economister

Where did this number come from? Google will be lucky if 1% switches over. There are many, many, many considerations here than just killing off the "bloat".

How well can it be managed?
How well will it work with the network as a whole? What about the operating environment?
How well will it work with needed vertical applications?
Will it play nice with other operating systems?
How well will it network with other machines/servers?
Can I switch off the cloud storage?
Will I be able to remote into it?
How easy and cost effective will it be to use it? Will it be worth it to deploy along side needed Windows machines?
If something goes wrong, how easy will it be to replace that machine?
What is security like?
How much bandwidth will it be using? (Bandwidth is already a pain)
How much will it cost to train users? Will they accept the switch?

What about on the home front?
What will Chrome do that an iPhone, iPad, or other personal device along with a PC or Mac can't?

Last but not least, Do you trust Google enough with security or as a company as a whole? I sure as heck don't, and most other techies out there I know of don't either. ALL of my networking or electronics professors have said they want nothing to do with cloud computing and their personal files. Even my college's security chief wants nothing to do with it.

ChromeOS isn't a replacement by far. Google is kidding themselves if they think 60% will be switching.
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Cylon dude
Ron Bergundy 6th Dec 2010
they got the info from the same place they got their google doc numbers from.
It won't be long before chromeOS is at the same "60%" usgae that google apps are!
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Actually, you are the one being laughed. Windows computers have been a huge
DonnieBoy 6th Dec 2010
security problem for a very long time here. They are also a nightmare to administer and support. So, if you can move the masses to ChromeOS that would save a lot of money and make things a lot more secure.
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
boxieblue 6th Dec 2010
@Cylon Centurion 0005
on the contrary, Chrome OS is the future.
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Maybe for you
Cylon Centurion 6th Dec 2010
@boxieblue

I will having nothing to do with cloud computing. It's a disaster in the waiting.
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4th Difference: Instant On
DevJonny 6th Dec 2010
If Chrome OS is just a browser (and the Linux Kernel) and running of a SSD then it should be more or less "Instant On" which Android is not (although 2.2 is much quicker than 1.6 in my experience).
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Contributr
RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
sjvn@... 6th Dec 2010
@DevJonny Word is it will have, in the beta laptop, a 3-second boot time. Vroom!

I'll believe that when I see it though. From what I know of Chrome OS and instant-on systems I do think they might be able to get that kind of boot time.
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Yes, we will be telling our grand children about how we could have a cup of
DonnieBoy 6th Dec 2010
coffee while we waited for computers to start. They will NOT believe us.
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Indeed...although
DevJonny 6th Dec 2010
@DonnieBoy

...my new work machine is a Win7 box and it is quick to boot, it's on a par with my Ubuntu machines at home. Although Ubuntu still has the edge as they're all low spec laptops.

Neither are instant on, but they faster than any XP machine I've used (I've blanked Vista from my memory). So it'll be interesting to see if Chrome OS makes it a reality!
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Yes, but isn't that what the cup holder is for?...
Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate 6th Dec 2010
@DonnieBoy
It's very convenient--just push the button and out pops the cup holder. Great piece of engineering if you ask me. :/
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RE: The Three Differences between Chrome OS and Android
THUFIR.HAWAT 19th Dec 2010
@CobraA1 how curious that an interpreted language, JavaScript, can have Just in Time Compiling. Praytell, at what stage is the code compiled?

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