https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Technology Solutions Brokerages
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2022 NextGen 101 Rankings
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Channel Futures TV
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Advertise
    • 2023 Editorial Calendar
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501
    • Channel Influencers
    • Circle of Excellence
    • DE&I 101
    • Technology Advisor 101 (TA 101)
  • Events
    • Back
    • 2023 Call for Speakers
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • MSP Summit
    • Channel Partners Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • About Us
  • DE&I
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Technology Solutions Brokerages
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2022 NextGen 101 Rankings
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Channel Futures TV
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Advertise
    • 2023 Editorial Calendar
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501
    • Channel Influencers
    • Circle of Excellence
    • DE&I 101
    • Technology Advisor 101 (TA 101)
  • Events
    • Back
    • 2023 Call for Speakers
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • MSP Summit
    • Channel Partners Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • About Us
  • DE&I
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Agents
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • Channel Partners Events
 Channel Futures

Open Source


Google Chrome OS: What’s In It for VARs?

  • Written by The VAR Guy 1
  • November 19, 2009
Google, as expected, pulled back the curtains on Chrome OS today. The effort includes a three-minute video that explains why Google is developing Chrome OS for netbooks and other slim devices. Here, The VAR Guy offers his two cents on Google's Chrome OS efforts -- and the implications for channel partners and rivals like Microsoft and Canonical. Take a look.

First, Google's overview of Chrome OS:

chromium-osGoogle, as expected, pulled back the curtains on Chrome OS today. The effort includes a three-minute video that explains why Google is developing Chrome OS for netbooks and other slim devices. Here, The VAR Guy offers his two cents on Google’s Chrome OS efforts — and the implications for channel partners and rivals like Microsoft and Canonical. Take a look.

First, Google’s overview of Chrome OS:

Sounds slick. Looks slick. But let’s keep Google’s marketing in perspective. Chrome OS won’t be ready for the masses for at least a year. In a blog post today, Google stated:

Today we are open-sourcing the project as Chromium OS. We are doing this early, a year before Google Chrome OS will be ready for users, because we are eager to engage with partners, the open source community and developers. As with the Google Chrome browser, development will be done in the open from this point on. This means the code is free, accessible to anyone and open for contributions. The Chromium OS project includes our current code base, user interface experiments and some initial designs for ongoing development. This is the initial sketch and we will color it in over the course of the next year.

Chrome OS for VARs?

At first glance Chrome OS looks like it targets mobile consumer devices — low-cost netbooks that mostly run Windows XP and Windows 7 today. But folks let’s not overlook the fact that netbooks are increasingly associated with service providers and recurring monthly revenue.

Over time, The VAR Guy suspects, MSPs will offer netbooks under hardware as a service (HaaS) contracts.

No doubt, Linux has had a hit-and-miss history on netbooks. Offerings like Canonical’s Ubuntu started out strong on netbooks in the US, but Microsoft swiftly fought back in early 2009 and more recently with both Windows XP and Windows 7 for netbooks … alas, Windows Vista was too bloated for netbooks. (As you may know, The VAR Guy’s sister site, WorksWithU, closely tracks the Ubuntu market.)

The Google Apps Connection

Even if Chrome OS isn’t perfect at launch, The VAR Guy thinks it will gain channel momentum. The reason: Google will surely connect the dots between Chrome OS and Google Apps.

Roughly 16 percent of MSPs already offer Google Apps to their customers, according to the third-annual MSPmentor 100 survey, which continues through Dec. 11. Google Chrome OS devices, The VAR Guy believes, will be a natural sales extension for Google Apps resellers.

Follow The VAR Guy via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter; and via his Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center. Plus, check out more channel voices at www.vartweet.com.

Tags: Agents Cloud Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Mobility & Wireless Open Source Videos

Most Recent


  • 5G edge computing
    Fixed Wireless the Star of Verizon Broadband in Q4 Earnings
    CEO Hans Vestberg said Verizon will take a more "prudent" approach to what types of wireline business it accepts.
  • Job Cuts
    Intel Job Cuts More than Doubling in California, Employees 'Walking on Eggshells'
    Intel's CEO said layoffs are necessary to optimize headcount.
  • cloaked hacker
    T-Mobile Hack: Response to Theft of 37 Million Customers' Data 'Not Good Enough'
    This is the latest of numerous T-Mobile data breaches.
  • money
    Spectrotel Acquired by Grain Management, Eyes Mobility Expansion
    Spectrotel will speed up the expansion of its mobile device management (MDM) services as a result of the deal.

2 comments

  1. Avatar Lawrence D'Oliveiro November 21, 2009 @ 1:50 am
    Reply

    Linux seems to be more hit than miss with netbooks lately, clawing back 30% market share as Windows declines.

    http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/ABI-netbook-study-with-Jeffrey-Orr-interview/

  2. Avatar The VAR Guy November 23, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
    Reply

    Lawrence: That article is intriguing. The VAR Guy wonders what percentage of US netbooks were Linux? Far lower than 30%, he suspects. It’s nearly impossible to find Linux netbooks in U.S. retail stores now…
    -TVG

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • modern applications
    Making Modern Applications More Secure
  • Virtual data center
    3 Disruptive Networking Technologies Coming to Your Data Center
  • Risk level
    Cloud Security Provider Says Policy Gap Puts AWS Security at Risk
  • HPE Ezmeral
    HPE Ezmeral Updates Drive ‘Data-Driven Digital Transformation’

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

May 1, 2023 - May 4, 2023

Channel Partners Europe

June 13, 2023 - June 14, 2023

Channel Futures Leadership Summit

October 30, 2023 - November 2, 2023

Galleries

View all

Deal to Buy Unify from Atos Seals New Direction for Mitel, CEO Explains

January 26, 2023

Intelisys, Suppliers, Agents Take Aim at the Partner Marketing Gap

January 26, 2023

Ivanti: Everyone Should be Concerned About ChatGPT and Cybersecurity

January 25, 2023

Industry Perspectives

View all

Make the Most of the Gift of Time in 2023

January 25, 2023

Strong Partnerships Ease Challenging UPS Upgrade

January 24, 2023

The Advantages of Managed Networking and Security During Economic Uncertainty

January 5, 2023

Webinars

View all

Next-Generation MSP Platform: The Building Blocks for Your Business

February 15, 2023

Security Secrets of the MSP 501: How to Be a Cyber Leader in 2023

December 15, 2022
  • 1

Cybersecurity Certifications: Their Evolving Role in the Fight Against Increasing Attacks

December 13, 2022

White Papers

View all

Overcoming Your Endpoint Security Limitations with a Skeleton Crew

October 25, 2022

Embracing the Zero Trust Mindset For Endpoints

October 24, 2022

Endpoints are the Destination

October 24, 2022

Channel Futures TV

View all

Coffee with Craig and James Episode 117: Cato Networks, Video Killed the Podcast Stars

Retired Astronaut Capt. Scott Kelly Previews His CP Expo Keynote

December 21, 2022

Fusion Connect Eyes Future with Intrado UC, Managed Network Customers

September 23, 2022

RingCentral Focused on Hybrid Work, Microsoft Teams, Other Integrations

September 23, 2022

Twitter

ChannelFutures

The CEO of @Mitel discusses the likely outcomes of buying @Atos Unify. Note: @RingCentral will play a role post acq… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@msftsecurity surpasses $20 billion in annual revenue, analysts say it's a formidable #cybersecurity market conten… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

The adoption of cloud-based services ☁️ has spiked in the last few years and is among the top growth segments. See… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

[email protected], @NICECXone, @lumencpp, @CiscoPartners joined @IntelisysCorp and partners for a day of marketing worksho… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@IBM and @SAP announce #layoffs of thousands of employees dlvr.it/ShV2VY https://t.co/7QK1YqVpwa

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

#MSPs can boost #Channel business if they personalize the #DigitalExperience for partners, says @AvePoint.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

Consider mental health in the context of DE&I. Create safe spaces where employees can feel comfortable being who th… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@GoIvanti's CSO says #ChatGPT poses numerous cybersecurity concerns. dlvr.it/ShRmdt https://t.co/n22RZ4PZaO

January 25, 2023

MSP 501

The industry's largest and most comprehensive partner awards program.

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Galleries

Educational slide shows and images from live events.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Events
  • Telecoms.com
  • MSP 501
  • Black Hat
  • IoT World Today
  • Omdia

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X