Even at the dawn of the computer era, the global alignment of forces in the market of desktop operating systems was established, which has survived to this day. We live in a bipolar world where Microsoft and Apple rule the roost. Two American corporations have divided spheres of influence, and it seems that the current balance of power suits everyone. Microsoft has Windows, which is still the number one operating system, so that the "haters" do not scream from year to year about the imminent "Vindekapets". For a company from Redmond, each Windows device sold is not only a profit for the sold license for its OS, but also a chance to impose additional services on the user. Office 365, OneDrive, Xbox Music and other services of the company - this is what allows Microsoft to look to the future with confidence, no matter how squeaky the announcements of new versions of Windows and Windows Phone are.

Apple is in a different situation. The share of "poppies" relative to global market computers have always hung in the region of statistical error, but the Cupertino company has its own loyal audience that is willing to pay for the simplicity and convenience of OS X computers. This allows Apple to show off the high margins of its products and earn more money than any of the competitors.

Yes, of course, we should not forget about Linux distributions, but finding computers with this OS in the free market is not a trivial task. Alas, “Linux” (in the broadest sense of the word), as it was a narrow-profile system for IT specialists and scientists, has remained so. No amount of community effort has helped in any way push the position of Microsoft or Apple.

Therefore, the market has long been waiting for the emergence of a third force that could bring fresh ideas and offer consumers at least some alternative to Windows and OS X. This force was the operating system from Google, called Chrome OS. It is based on the Linux kernel and, already familiar to many, the Chrome browser, which over the 6 years of its existence has become the most popular browser in the world, leaving behind Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and other veterans of the Internet. Statistics from our site says that every third person who is currently reading this article does it through the Google Chrome browser - agree that these are impressive numbers.

Building an operating system around a browser and cloud services that requires a constant Internet connection to function properly is a crazy idea that doesn't bode well. This is what analysts thought at the time of the announcement of Google Chrome OS in 2009. But today, when a regular smartphone can receive data at speeds exceeding 100 Mbps on fourth-generation mobile networks, Chrome OS is no longer perceived as something outlandish. The Internet has become more accessible, computer components are cheaper, and the capabilities of the Chrome browser have become much wider than ordinary Internet browsing. All this allowed Chrome OS to make a significant breakthrough and become a full-fledged player in the market.

System concept

In laying the foundation for Chrome OS, Google was betting on Web applications and cloud computing. Therefore, computers running this operating system do not have impressive performance. Why a large SSD drive when all data can be stored in the cloud? Why powerful processor and a discrete video card, if the game can be run on a remote server, and only the image can be transferred to the player? This is the ideology of Chrome OS, which allows you to significantly reduce the price of a computer that acts more like a terminal to the cloud and company services than an independent unit. But do not think that "Chromebooks" without the Internet are not capable of anything - this is far from the case.

Introduction to the system

If any Android device can be used without entering your Google account, then such a number will not work with Chrome OS. The system will not let you past the start screen if you log in to an existing account or create a new one. In addition to banal things, like automatic synchronization of all your bookmarks, extensions and applications in the Google Chrome browser, this step also brings nice bonuses. Every Chromebook comes with 100Gb free for 2 years of Google Drive cloud storage, a monthly subscription to music service Google Play Music and several other nice "goodies" that are tied to your account.

The system supports the work of several users on one device. It is possible to fully administer accounts, differentiate access rights, etc. If necessary, you can enable the "guest" mode. In it, only the Google Chrome browser is available to the user, and all data is deleted after the session ends.

Let's take a closer look workspace ChromeOS.

Most of the screen is occupied by the desktop, which is the most useless desktop of all existing operating systems. Can't be brought here required files, you cannot create a folder or a shortcut to applications on it. It is only needed to show beautiful wallpapers. By the way, you can choose them yourself or trust the taste of Google by turning on the “Surprise me” function. In this mode, wallpapers change automatically every day, loading pictures from special thematic sites from the Google catalog.

The second element of the main screen is the taskbar. It can be on the left, bottom, or right.

In the lower left (or upper) corner on it is a menu of all installed applications. It is made in a miniature style and resembles a miniature Launchpad from OS X. This includes all applications and extensions for the Google Chrome browser that can work independently, if necessary, they can be grouped into folders. Let's talk about the applications themselves below.

In the same menu there is a quick search box that allows you to find the desired application, bookmark in the browser or quickly send search query via Google.com. There is a possibility of voice search, and for "Chromebooks" in the US it is already being tested automatic start according to the already familiar “Ok, Google”.

Next on the taskbar are pinned and running applications. This list is free to choose. This is useful because after that, each pinned program can be launched using quick combination keys. If the application is running, it is highlighted with a white bar at the bottom.

In the lower right corner is system information, a notification center and quick access to settings.

From the same side appear running system applications. For example, music player widget, Hangouts chats, etc.

Applications

As the name Chrome OS suggests, its center is the Google Chrome browser. dwell on it basic capabilities I won’t, but it’s worth talking about applications for it separately. So, what can be installed from the Chrome Store and how does it integrate with Chrome OS:

– Web applications. If you're using the Feedly or Gmail web interfaces, then these are the ones. In Chrome OS, they are integrated as quick shortcuts that open the corresponding tab in a new browser window. For such applications, there is also an "open in a separate window" setting. This mode disables all normal chrome elements and only a clean interface remains.

– Offline applications. These are full-fledged applications, of which there are not so many for Chrome OS yet. For example, there is an offline client for Gmail, google notes Keep, Pocket afterreading service, etc.

Visually, working with Web applications is no different from working with offline applications. A few screenshots as an example.

Google Calendar web application:

Offline application Pocket:

Working with data

Chrome OS has a built-in file manager that is immediately integrated with Google Drive. The Downloads tab displays all locally stored data. Screenshots of the system, all downloads from the browser, etc. are saved to the root directory by default. If necessary, you can create folders for any of your needs.

Chrome OS is able to work with external drives, which, if connected, will be displayed in the side menu. The manager has a built-in archiver that supports most popular formats.

Connecting devices in PTP mode launches the Google+ Photos app, which is similar to Image Capture from Mac OS, except that photos are uploaded directly to the cloud (internet connection required). Clarification for the paranoid - photos are uploaded to a private album, accessible only to you.

It's funny that Chrome OS does not support the MTP protocol, which makes it impossible to transfer media files to Android devices when connected via micro-USB. However, MTP support should appear in the next system updates.

System updates

Chrome OS has the clearest and most transparent update model of any desktop OS. There are three builds of the system: Stable, Beta, Unstable.

stable - for ordinary users who are not looking for extra adventures. It is this version of the system that will be on any Chromebook bought in the store.

Unstable is a system build that includes all of Google's new developments for Chrome OS. But you need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay for the love of novelty with the unstable behavior of the computer.

Switching between three assemblies of Chrome OS occurs in one click in the corresponding menu. It is, of course, hidden deep in the system settings, but it was done on purpose. All three variants of Chrome OS are updated regularly, but this happens in the background. No constant reboots, long downloads of updates, etc. You just turn on the computer, and it has already been updated. It's comfortable.

Chrome OS without network

Most people are sure that without an internet connection, Chrome OS won't even start. This is a common myth that I would like to destroy. The system has a built-in photo editor, music player, video player, support for working with offline documents, mail, calendar and much more. Chromebooks can easily handle basic computer tasks without a network.

Naturally, if we are talking about working with media files, then the capabilities of most Chromebooks are limited by the size of the built-in SSD drive. When you have only 30Gb, you don't want to fill them with music and movies. Chrome OS supports most modern codecs, so you can open almost any file if you need to. But all this does not negate the fact that a universal media combine like VLC is vital for the system. For example, a standard video player does not support subtitles, which will be critical for many.

Without an Internet connection, you can safely continue to work with documents in Google Drive, view and reply to mail in Gmail, create new events in the calendar, etc. As soon as Chrome OS gains access to the network, everything will immediately sync in the background without your participation. If these features are not enough for you, then there is a special section in the Chrome Store with applications that support working in Offline mode. There you can find clients for Pocket, Wunderlist, Evernote, Google Keep, games and more.

Keyboard

An important part of Chrome OS is such an inconspicuous thing at first glance as the keyboard. Google's approach is reminiscent of what Apple did in OS X, namely, a huge number of keyboard shortcuts that greatly simplify the work with the system. Plus, every Chromebook has an extra row of keys designed specifically for Google Chrome. This allows you to surf the Internet at a qualitatively different level. Listing all the "shortcuts" would take a lot of space, you can see them, but special thanks to Google for the ability to take a screenshot of an area, and not the entire screen. Windows still doesn't know how to do this.

Conclusion

Despite all the problems and general skepticism that has surrounded Chrome OS since its inception, Google has managed to become a full-fledged player in the market for "adult" operating systems. And even though the share of Chromebooks is still small, it shows steady growth from quarter to quarter, unlike Macs and Windows computers. Against the background of the stagnation of the personal computer market and the transition to the "post-PC era", Chrome OS is a real sip fresh air for OEMs. Cheap and reliable. With these words, I would describe most computers running this operating system. Yes, they still lack functionality, but already now they can perform most of the ordinary tasks that will satisfy the needs of most users, and they do it well.

P.S: If you have questions about Chrome OS that are not covered in the text, then I will be happy to answer them in the comments.

Chromebooks are, to a certain extent, successors to netbooks. Portability, attractive price, low power consumption are the main reasons for their demand. At the same time, the main problems of a typical netbook were low hardware performance and an inappropriate OS. It turns out that what was needed was the “right” software framework that could satisfy the basic needs of the user.

This refers to sufficient speed, Internet access, work with office software, multimedia capabilities. But at the same time, the system should be light in terms of the load on the hardware, simple and easy to use. Windows was too heavy for these purposes, Linux was “unfriendly” to an inexperienced user, Android without a windowed interface was generally unsuitable for everyday use.

As a result, the concept of netbooks was rethought. A team of developers from Google created an operating system focused on interacting with cloud services, which became the basis for Chromebooks. The purpose of this material is to shed light on the main features, Chrome features OS, consider use cases and get acquainted with interesting novelties among these devices in 2017.

Overview of Chrome OS

Chrome OS is built on the Linux kernel and consists of full-fledged Google Chrome browser with extensions, built into a specially designed multi-window system (graphical shell). The operating system is developing intensively - in parallel with the release of new assemblies of the Chrome browser.

Simplicity, minimalism and nothing more

Part GUI Chrome OS included login screen, desktop wallpaper and taskbar. The panel contains an application menu with a search bar (similar to the Start button on Windows), pinned shortcuts and icons of running programs.

There is also a system tray with a notification center, information about network connections, time and charge level.

Initially, the OS has a minimum of local applications built in, which do not require an Internet connection. These include a calculator, webcam software, and a file manager that integrates Google Drive content. The file manager has a built-in simple archiver and graphics editor. There is also an audio/video player.

Most of the work is done in the cloud

To access all the functions of the OS, you will need an Internet connection and a Google account. Without passed authorization, the system will not let you go beyond the start screen (with the exception of the guest mode with limited features). After entering into account the system is synchronized with Google servers, and the user will have access to personal bookmarks, passwords, and settings. They will not be lost even after deleting all data from the Chromebook, or if the device breaks down.

A key feature of Chrome OS is the use of cloud technology resources in order to reduce the load on the device's hardware.

In other words, user data and most applications are stored on servers without taking up space on the local drive. During the execution of running web applications, part of the load is assigned to the server hardware, which uses its own computing power. Chromebook only receives and displays the finished result. This solution has a positive effect on system performance, reduces production costs and makes products more affordable.

Browser and app add-ons

With add-ons from the Chrome Web Store (and now Google Play), you can greatly expand standard features web browser.

Extensions. Run and work in the tabs of the Chrome browser. For example, using the extension Checker Plus for Gmail, you can receive visual and audio notifications for incoming email. And the Save to Pocket extension saves interesting material for later with just one click.

Web applications (web services). These are some kind of analogues of desktop applications that open in the same way as any site. Unlike extensions, they can be launched outside the browser window using shortcuts. Google for " quick start"offers a solid set of useful in-house web applications.

Here are just a few of them: cloud storage for personal data, photo storage service, tools for working with text documents and spreadsheets, notes and lists, online printing service. The list is far from complete, moreover, the user is free to use third-party web services.

Offline applications. The same as web services, only with the ability to work without access to the network. For example, Gmail Offline allows you to read and delete emails when there is no active connection. As soon as access to the network appears, all the changes made will be immediately synchronized with the cloud. The number of offline applications is gradually increasing.

Android Applications. In 2016, on the latest stable builds of the OS, support appeared android apps with the ability to download from Google Play (not relevant for all models). Beginning Starting in 2017, all new Chromebooks released will be compatible with Android apps out of the box.

Who and what can use Chrome OS

PC users accustomed to "standard" operating systems have formed a bias towards Chromebooks and Chrome OS in general. Not everyone is ready to give their hard-earned money for a product, in the practical benefits of which there is no certainty.

To highlight fundamental features and capabilities of the system, below will be presented simple and illustrative examples of the use of Chromebooks different categories of people.

For the inexperienced

A conventional OS may seem overly difficult to master for older people, as well as users who are “on you” with computers. The developers have tried to remedy the situation by providing a convenient and easy-to-learn working tool.

A compelling list of 7 reasons why a Chromebook is great for the inexperienced user:

1. Quick turn on. The system is ready for operation immediately after startup.
2. Laconic, intuitive interface.
3. There is no need for fine tuning and optimization. Only at the first start you will need to enter your Google credentials and Wi-Fi password.
4. The device does not need periodic cleaning or reinstallation of the system.
5. Thanks to the features of the Linux kernel and the efforts of developers, the user does not have to worry about viruses and methods of dealing with them.

1. The relevance of the software is maintained by auto-updates that do not require user intervention or attention.
2. A Chromebook cannot be programmatically "spoiled". Due to the non-rewritable recovery firmware and EEPROM containing 2 copies of the firmware, you can always return to the initial state of the OS.

For children and students

In USA and Europe budget models Chromebooks are in great demand among educational institutions. And for good reason, given the tight integration with Google services and the absence of distractions (including gaming performance).

For an active Internet user

Meet Olya. Not a day goes by without the Internet: he “googles” information on any issue of interest, follows the news, and spends a lot of time on social networks.

As a manicurist, Olya promotes her services through a group on a social network. It also accepts orders and discusses terms with customers. Almost constantly listens to music through VK, where she has collected a decent collection of tracks. And the photos are stored in Google Photos: By setting the auto-upload of pictures from your smartphone, you can access them from any device.

With particular enthusiasm, he starts online shopping in the open spaces of Chinese online stores. He is engaged in learning English through the web version of the Duolingo service, he does not miss classes due to daily reminders in the browser.

Follows updates on YouTube channels of interest, and in the evenings he arranges watching TV shows. When the computer or Chromebook is on, 99.9% of the time is spent in the browser. And only occasionally launches the calculator built into the OS.

For work

Alexander is an experienced blogger and SEO specialist who provides remote SEO consulting services.

To conduct an expert audit of the target resource, the Chrome browser is enough for him. In the process of generating a report based on the results of the audit, he uses cloud versions of the office from Google and Microsoft (tables and documents).

The result of his work and other important data is stored in the cloud (Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive). If necessary, takes screenshots that are automatically saved to the local Downloads folder. To crop images, use a simple graphic editor, built into the regular conductor.

Sending a digital copy of the report, Alexander conducts an oral consultation via Skype (which is downloaded from Google Play).

Given the specifics of his work, Sasha has to plan his schedule. Services like Wunderlist help him with this (a simple list of tasks + reminders in the browser and by e-mail). For simple notes, he prefers Google Keep, and for organizing and structuring plans, ideas, and working outlines, he prefers OneNote or Evernote. To quickly save the contents of a web page or individual fragments in Evernote / OneNote uses browser extensions.

Alexander independently maintains a blog, the subject of which implies the presence of high-quality unique images. Uploads photos to the site only after processing in one of the third-party graphic editors.

1. Photoshop Express is an online version of the editor from Adobe that runs in the browser.
2. Lightroom is another tool from Adobe, but now as an Android app. It has rich functionality, suitable for working with RAW format.

Having carved out free time, Alexander reads e-books, which he finds in the corresponding section of Google Play. Since the stock player does not support all video formats, I found a worthy replacement for it (VLC, Android version). To keep her working mood, she likes to play good music through Spotify.

For geeks, coders and web developers

In the course of his work, Kostya has to deal with most of the previously mentioned services. However, his the main objective- adapt your Chromebook to develop your own web project.

I tried several online code editors to get started, settling on the Cloud9 IDE with a full Ubuntu workspace in the cloud.

I fell in love with it due to the ability to connect via FTP, as well as support for virtual testing of the project's functionality in different browsers and on different devices. Kostya also tried his hand at developing extensions for the Chrome browser using the Chrome Dev Editor (the official editor from Google).

In an effort to "squeeze" the maximum out of the device, I delved into the study of ways to bypass the OS limitation to activate full-fledged bash. Having achieved the desired result, he went even further. Using Developer Mode and a set of Crouton scripts, Kostya made sure that a compatible Linux distribution (in this example, the Ubuntu distribution) runs in parallel with Chrome OS.

Now he enjoys the benefits of two systems: the simplicity and convenience of Chrome OS for everyday work and advanced coding capabilities using Linux. If the need arises fast switching between OSes, uses a special key combination.

Advantages and disadvantages of Chrome OS

Main positive features:

• excellent performance even on weak hardware;
• convenience and ease of use;
• low level of energy consumption;
• there is no binding to the equipment, which reduces the risk of data loss (provided that they are stored in the cloud).

There are also weaknesses:

• specific programs and resource-intensive desktop games are not supported;
• strong dependence of the OS on the availability of the Internet.

All new items were announced at the beginning of 2017, as part of the international electronics exhibition CES 2017.

Acer Chromebook 11 N7. It features a rugged housing that meets the MIL-STD 810G protection standard and an affordable price. It is positioned as a device for the educational sphere. The device is able to "survive" a fall from a height of 1.22 meters and withstand pressure on the top panel up to 60 kg. The keyboard is wear-resistant, protected from moisture on internal electronic components.

The price is very attractive: from 230 USD for the C731 model.

Samsung Chromebook Plus. The case is made of metal, in a minimalist design. Display 12.3”, touch, transmits a high-quality, clear image with a resolution of 2400 × 1600. It rotates 360°, due to which the gadget can be used in several modes. The aspect ratio is non-standard (3:2).

Supports input with pressure-sensitive S-Pen. Hence, the Chromebook Plus is great for drawing, taking handwritten notes. Required software, revealing the potential of the stylus, is present. Of the minuses - the keyboard layout is quite cramped, and the keys themselves are devoid of backlighting.

The hardware is based on the 6-core OP1 chipset, made specifically for Chromebooks. RAM – 4 GB, built-in – 32 GB + microSD slot. The Chromebook received 2 USB Type-C ports, 2 speakers of 1.5 W each and high-speed Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2 × 2). Available HD webcam. Built-in battery provides battery life for 8 hours.

Minimum price is 450 USD.

Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA.The novelty is dressed in an elegant aluminum case. Qualitative touch screen(12.5”, Full HD) covered with Gorilla Glass. The display can be rotated 360°. The keyboard is full-size, comfortable, with backlit keys. The touchpad is large, with protection against accidental operation.

The younger version is equipped with an Intel Core m3 6Y30 processor, 4 GB RAM and internal storage with a capacity of 32 or 64 GB. The older version has a more productive chip (Intel Core m7 6Y75), and more memory (8 GB of RAM, 128 ROM).

Responsible for graphics adapter Intel HD Graphics 515. Fast dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11ac) is supported. The set of connectors consists of two USB Type-C 3.1 and microSD slot. Loud (up to 87 dB) stereo speakers are located on the side ribs. There is also a webcam. The battery is designed for 10 hours of operation.

Cost: from 500 USD for the junior version.

Output

Chrome OS is a rather specific system, so devices running it are not suitable for everyone. In addition, some of those interested may be "scared" of the shortcomings associated with the lack of software and attachment to the Internet. However, thanks to the introduction of support for Android applications, the shortcomings become less pronounced. The OS does not stand still, constantly evolving and promising a promising project.

What do you think are the chances of Chrome OS to significantly "move" the position of Windows in the compact laptop market? And is it possible that Google implements the ability to install Chrome OS on any desktop as the main system?

Getting Acquainted: Chrome OS

Chrome OS is a new "cloud" operating system developed by Google for use on relatively low-powered laptops and tablets. "Cloud" - in the sense that all work will be carried out by the user on the Internet and his data will be stored there. Some local functionality will also be present, but it will play a clearly auxiliary role, say, in case there is no Internet connection. This revives the original idea behind netbooks, which, although running conventional general-purpose operating systems, were supposed to become a kind of Internet set-top boxes (as even the name, which comes from the word network, network) - but did not.

By the way, it is useful to think about the reasons for this in the context of Chrome OS - what prevented netbooks from forming a separate class of devices: is it just the lack of a suitable specialized platform or is it still unwillingness of users to abandon their usual programs and the accumulated experience of working with them in favor of web applications and web -stores? I believe that the second factor played, if not decisive, then at least a significant role - here you have questions about the reliability of network resources, and far from ubiquitous (convenient and cheap) access to the Internet, and a huge discrepancy so far functionality. Accordingly, I want to finish this short introduction with an answer to another question that our readers quite often ask when discussing articles: why do we need this? Indeed, today it is unlikely that you will be able to get much benefit from Chrome OS - by installing it on an existing computer, you will not get any new features. Moreover, the full benefits of its specific architecture can only be revealed on specially designed devices, therefore, despite the open source codes, it is designed for use by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and not end users. Accordingly, it is worth reading this article and trying Chrome OS on your own, rather, out of healthy curiosity and a desire to keep up with progress - even if Chrome OS is somewhat ahead of its time, this does not mean that the situation will not change tomorrow, especially since we are well aware of the ability of Google "push" their technologies and solutions.

Background

We first heard about Chrome OS just over two years ago, and in November 2009, the code for the new operating system was open-sourced as part of the Chromium OS project. At the end of 2010, Google presented the exemplary Cr-48 Chromebook to a narrow circle of developers and beta testers, and this summer the first commercial products from Samsung and Acer appeared. They really have already been dubbed “Chromebooks” (Chromebook, i.e. Chrome OS + netbook / notebook) and, undoubtedly, this name will take root.

Rice. 1. Visually, the Samsung Chromebook is no different from ordinary laptops, and its internal device has only a few features.

Many other OEMs have also announced their intention to release products on Chrome OS, including non-notebook-type products. For example, xi3 ChromiumPC should rather be called "chrometop" (Chrome OS + nettop). But it is clearly visible that none of the OEMs is in a particular hurry, and the point is not even the dampness of Chrome OS itself (which certainly takes place), but the concept behind it. In addition, the first Chromebooks (due to configuration features) are not so cheap - the recommended price for the older model Samsung Chromebook Series 5 (Atom N570, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB SSD, 12.1″ LED display with a resolution of 1280 ×800, Wi-Fi, 3G modem) is $500, for this money today it is quite possible to find a better equipped general-purpose laptop.

Rice. 2. xi3 ChromiumPC - a very compact computer, in fact, an Internet set-top box, which is supposed to be mounted on the back of the monitor

Architecture

The orientation of Chrome OS to work with web applications led to its specific architecture.

Rice. 3. The absence of the need to run any applications locally other than the browser made it possible to simplify the architecture of Chrome OS as much as possible and provide it with several specific features

As you might expect, it is based on the kernel (version 2.6.32 from the Ubuntu project, which was then made the necessary corrections and improvements) and the Linux system environment. Since Chrome OS is designed to run one single application program in the classical sense - the browser - the latter has been made compact and lightweight. The X Window is also truncated as much as possible, although OpenGL support is retained (for the sake of WebGL), and window manager essentially integrated with the browser. All other functionality, starting with OS configuration tools, is implemented by web applications that are created using HTML5 and Adobe Flash (it is likely that support for a closed third-party technology is a temporary solution, a tribute to the current state of affairs on the Web), respectively, there are no other windows in the system, other than browser tabs and "panels" similar to those commonly used for Google Talk.

The three main goals pursued by such an architecture are: simplicity, speed, security. The first one has actually been brought to the absolute: the user does not need to know anything about such things as drivers, utilities, etc. The system partition is closed for write operations, user data is saved in a specially designated area (although, of course, they are mainly supposed to be stored in the cloud). Unlocking is allowed only for developers, in commercial products it is not expected. The system is updated automatically, as it is now with Chrome. All that is required of the user is to be able to work with the browser, he will comprehend the necessary details as he gets acquainted with the web applications he needs.

With speed, everything is not so clear: in this context, they mainly talk about the speed of Chromebook initialization - subject to Google's OEM requirements for device design (using EFI instead of BIOS, SSD instead of HDD, etc.), this indicator should be no more than 8 s. Feedback from happy owners of Chromebooks indicates that this is absolutely real and, moreover, the initialization speed does not decrease over time, since the user, with all his desire, cannot “litter” the OS, as often happens, say, with Windows. The performance situation for web applications is less obvious. Although commercial Chromebooks are relatively powerful devices (dual-core Atom, 2 GB of memory, SSD), a large number of active content-laden tabs can fully load their computing resources. Google requires the use of a video system that supports hardware acceleration graphics, the “charms” of working without it are easy to taste in a virtual machine, where Chromium OS, under certain conditions, simply eats up all available resources and falls into a stupor. But even on the right Chromebooks, there are complaints about performance, in particular, video playback, which, apparently, is due to hardware limitations. In addition, the drastic reduction in system services and background processes has a beneficial effect on the duration of the Chromebooks. Of course, it depends on the capacity of the battery installed in a particular model and the nature of use, but, for example, the specification of the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 mentioned above promises about 8.5 hours continuous work(according to a special test from Google itself) and according to the first reviews, this is not far from the truth.

Finally, security, the importance of which can hardly be overestimated in the era of the Internet. Chrome OS is designed in such a way that foreign code cannot actually enter the system, regardless of its purpose. Additionally, all system components and updates, which, as mentioned above, are installed automatically, are signed with digital certificates. Attacks directed at the browser and connecting to it third party modules, are isolated within individual tab processes, thanks to Chrome's built-in sandboxing mechanism, which has proven effective even in the much less restrictive Windows environment. In the worst case, a reboot should return the system to its original “clean” state, but the developers still admit the possibility of an intrusion and, in this case, provide a system integrity check during the initialization of the Chromebook. For EFI firmware, system kernel and important components the hashes are checked, which are stored in a secure place (this can be an encrypted EFI area or a TPM chip, the second option is preferable). If mismatches are found, the recovery process is initiated.

Because Chromebooks allow for multiple users as well as guest anonymous login, all locally stored data is automatically encrypted with keys generated for each Google account. Again, TPM is preferred for encryption and key storage, although software implementation is also possible. Apparently, the first OEMs adhere to this recommendation (which, among other things, leads to a price increase), but if Chromebooks go into circulation, someone will probably want to lower the price as much as possible, therefore, when choosing a model, you should pay attention for this item.

Of course, we must understand that absolute protection does not exist. So, at the recent Black Hat security conference, a method for hacking Chrome OS (or rather, some web applications and Google services) was already demonstrated, which provides attackers with access to contacts, cookies, and accounts. This example clearly shows how the attack vector is changing - Chrome OS itself is not of great interest, but the browser and web applications are used as a loophole to user information in the "cloud". back side The closed nature of the Chrome OS software core is the impossibility of extension - for example, Java support cannot be added to the system, not to mention Moonlight, as well as codecs, etc. As mentioned above, all user capabilities are limited to Flash and HTML5, web applications and Chrome extensions.

It is worth noting how large a role EFI plays in the architecture and support of Chrome OS, which is referred to as firmware in the Google documentation. EFI is known to be an evolution of the BIOS and has been around for a long time on Macs running Mac OS X, but almost never on "traditional" PCs, although it is supported on 64-bit Windows. Firmware code plays a fundamental role in boot acceleration due to early initialization of devices, it may also contain basic drivers for additional equipment, security system and functions are strongly tied to it. disaster recovery. So while Chrome OS allows for a regular BIOS, it doesn't make sense in general, so it's no coincidence that Google is targeting the platform for OEM use, rather than self-installation, say, as a second OS - though the latter option is none. , of course, and does not prohibit.

Rice. 4. EFI firmware plays a critical role in the Chrome OS architecture, providing important features such as fast boot and system recovery

Chrome OS should run on x86 and ARM platforms. The latter, most likely, implies use on tablets, but Android already exists for them, why another OS? I think Google's main idea is to enable OEMs to use sufficiently diverse, powerful, yet cheap x86 hardware, as well as to ensure that web applications run on the widest possible range of devices with desktop quality - i.e. in full Chrome, with a predictable rendering engine, with a powerful JavaScript engine, with HTML5 and WebGL hardware acceleration, etc.

We test ourselves

As I said above, the Chrome OS code is being developed as part of the Chromium OS open source project. This is a rather subtle point. Chromium OS can be downloaded and used by anyone, but Chrome OS is only available on real Chromebooks. The fact is that Chrome OS has a number of closed components, in particular, a PDF reader and audio / video codecs, perhaps some more. In addition, developer-focused features, such as the terminal, are blocked in Chrome OS. Therefore, in following sections I will refer specifically to Chromium OS, mentioning Chrome OS only when we will talk about the concept itself or actual "Chromebooks".

The standard way to get familiar with Chromius OS is to download and compile it in a Linux environment. But for most users, this is a rather complicated and time-consuming procedure, and besides, it is completely redundant for the purposes of a first acquaintance. Many enthusiasts distribute already compiled builds, for example, on the site http://chromeos.hexxeh.net/vanilla.php you can get the latest "nightly" build at any time. Many people refer to this resource and its creator seems to be known, but I still recommend creating a new account specifically for experimental purposes. Gmail entry, which is required to log in.

Rice. 5. Builds are posted every day, it makes sense to take the latest

This site offers bootable USB flash drive (and burning utility) and virtual disk images for VMware Workstation/Player and Oracle Virtual Box. In theory, the option with a bootable flash drive is preferable, since you can work with it on real hardware - but only on condition that it turns out to be compatible with Chromium OS. Unfortunately, the latter is far from always fulfilled, most often the video system is not recognized (the OS is either not initialized at all, or hardware graphics acceleration is not enabled) and network adapter, especially wireless. My most successful experience - with Acer Aspire One on new platform AMD Brazos: Wi-Fi didn't work, and although the graphics were picked up, but the acceleration gave strange results and effects, so that it was not even possible to get adequate test results. In a word, everyone who wants the USB option is well worth a try, but for a guaranteed result, use virtual machines.

Oddly enough, for these purposes, I recommend using not VirtualBox, but Vmware solutions. For me (perhaps it was some peculiarities of my computer) Chromium OS worked unstable in VirtualBox, with various strange effects, and in Vmware Player it was not only more stable, but also visually somewhat “faster”. In addition, Vmware Player - also free product, and it is even easier to adjust the configuration in it virtual machine.

So, for starters, we register and download the Vmware Player itself - about 100 MB. Installing the program does not require additional steps, you can safely agree with all the options offered, at the end you will need to reboot.

Rice. 6. The least problematic way to test Chromium OS is Vmware Player

The Chromium OS image (archive of about 250 MB) for Vmware will be distributed with a ready-made virtual machine, but I recommend additionally configuring it before using it. Unzip the downloaded file, launch Vmware Player and open the .VMX file in it (something like ChromeOS-Vanilla-0.14.805.2011_08_21_1656-r8ca0f243-VMWare.vmx). Then click on the Chromium OS machine that appears in the left pane right click mouse and select Virtual Machine Settings. Although the preset parameters are quite sufficient for the functioning of a virtual machine running Chromium OS, depending on the host configuration, they can be adjusted - for example, to add RAM or processor cores.

Rice. 7. Although Chrome OS is designed to work with the Internet, Flash and HTML5 load computing resources quite well, so adding them to a virtual machine will not hurt

Next, select Hard Disk (IDE) from the list of virtual hardware and pay attention to the name of the hard disk image file in the right pane. It will look like ChromeOS-Vanilla-VMWare.vmdk, while the filename from the archive will include the date and other details - you need to edit it accordingly.

Rice. 8. You need to correct the name of the virtual disk file so that it matches the one specified in the virtual machine settings

Now select Network Adapter and in the right pane select the type of NAT connection.

Rice. 9. NAT - the most versatile and hassle-free virtual network operation mode

In this case, Vmware Player does not allow you to configure the video system from the graphical interface, there is no such possibility in Chromium OS either, therefore, if no additional steps are taken, the virtual machine will work in an unpredictable resolution - for example, it exceeded even the physical resolution of the monitor for me. To fix this situation, you need to open the virtual machine (.VMX) file in Notepad and add the following three lines at the end:

svga.autodetect="FALSE"
svga.maxWidth="1024"
svga.maxHeight="768"

In this case, the working resolution will be 1024×768, specify other parameters if necessary. Finally, in the main menu of Vmware Player, select File and there - Player Preferences. Since the Vmware Tools component in Chromium OS still cannot be installed, you can uncheck the Check option for software components as needed to disable persistent reminders.

Rice. 10. Uncheck the box to avoid being reminded of Vmware Tools every time you start the virtual machine

Now you can turn on the virtual machine.

First meeting

After a really quick initialization, you will see a welcome and initial setup screen. Many languages ​​are supported - choose Russian.

Rice. 11. Chrome OS supports many languages, although localization is not complete

This is followed by the Login screen, where you can enter your existing Gmail credentials, create a new account, or perform a guest login, which will make it impossible to make and save any changes to the system.

Rice. 12. You can work in guest mode, but it's better to create a separate account

The popular browser Google Chrome, as well as its freely distributed copy of Chromium, is known to the vast majority of computer users. It works without any complaints, if we really exclude the problem with the Adobe Flash plugin. When going to the page http://get.adobe.com/ru/flashplayer, the user is told that the Adobe Flash plugin is installed and does not require an update.

At the same time, nothing can be viewed on the pages of sites with active content. The only thing that saves is that on the popular YouTube video hosting, videos are played using HTML5 technology and can be viewed without using the Adobe Flash plugin.

Now let's stop and take a closer look at the file manager of the Chrome OS system. It is launched by clicking on the icon located on the desktop of the operating system. Like the settings menu, it opens as a separate web browser tab. The left side of the tab contains the available disks, while the right side shows all the contents of the selected disk.

In the directory tree, Chrome OS is represented as a folder for downloading files, a Google Drive cloud service for storing files, and a system drive partition.

Also in the file manager, you can see all sections of the hard disk, even those on which the Windows operating system is installed. All operations with files and folders, such as copying, moving, renaming and deleting, are performed using the corresponding buttons in the context menu.

All photos in the Chrome OS operating system can not only be viewed, but also edited in the editor.

With audio and video files, things are not as good as with. The operating system, of course, has a built-in media player, but in our testing it refused to play any files.

The Chrome OS desktop can be accessed by pressing the familiar "PrintScm" button located on the keyboard. All pictures taken are automatically saved to the folder where downloaded files from the Internet are saved.

Installation additional applications

There are no traditional programs like in operating systems or Ubuntu Linux in Chrome OS. They have been replaced by a plethora of gadgets and browser plugins. Some of these applications are able to work even without an active Internet connection.

To launch the Chrome Web Store application store in the operating system, you must click on the icon on the desktop. Getting to the main Chrome page Web Store, the user will immediately see the various categories of programs, and the most popular applications on the right.

Our first candidate for installation was the remote work plugin. table chrome»used to manage multiple computers over the Internet. This plugin can be easily found in the application search bar. To add it to your operating system, click the blue "Install" button, then click the "Add" button, wait for the installation to complete. After successful installation, the application icon will appear on the Chrome OS desktop.

To uninstall this application, right-click on the application's icon and select "Uninstall from Chromium" from the context menu. Other add-ons are installed and removed in the same way.

Additional applications:

Google Mail Offline. A handy application for offline access to your Gmail inbox.
- IMO Instant Messenger. Pretty powerful exchange client instant messaging with built-in support for various services such as ICQ. skypc, google talk. Jabber and others.
- Cut The Rope. A fun game that is sure to appeal to users of all ages.

A few years ago, Google introduced the Chrome OS operating system, which was essentially the Chrome browser. Many took this as an unsuccessful experiment, since it did not pull on a full-fledged OS. Without access to the Web, Chrome OS was practically useless, the usual software was missing. Only Google services and numerous extensions familiar from the Chrome browser were available to users.

However, this also had its advantages: the system did not require powerful hardware, and the cost of a laptop did not exceed $ 300. It's cheaper than most Windows devices, not to mention the MacBook.

No longer just a browser

Charlie Brannan/flickr.com

Almost seven years have passed since then and a lot has changed. The system became more functional, self-sufficient, acquired support for offline programs. Yes, when connected to the Internet, she still knows more, but now this can be said about any operating system. Offline you can listen to music, watch movies, work with documents. Such features will satisfy the requirements of most users.

Google's calculation was correct: people spend most of their time in the browser. More precisely, in . Its share is about 50%, which makes it the most popular in the world. “If so,” Google decided, “keep an affordable device that has your favorite browser with all kinds of extensions.” And that's it, nothing more. The interface is simple and concise, even a child will master it.

By the way, about children: most often Chromebooks are purchased for education and the corporate segment. As a result, Chrome OS laptops outsold Apple laptops in the US in the first quarter of 2016. Nearly 2 million versus 1.76 million is a major achievement for a browser OS.

But Google dealt the main blow recently, in May 2016. What many have been waiting for has happened: in the near future, Chrome OS will receive native support for Android applications. Chromebook owners are incredibly lucky, because in the near future they will have access to almost the entire range of Google Play! The issue of the number of applications and dependence on the Internet is immediately resolved. It is important that applications are not emulated, but are native, that is, they have access to Wi-Fi, RAM, a processor, and other necessary components.

In fact, now we have another Android device, but with more features. Yes, but for the vast majority of users, the functionality of a Chromebook will suffice.

Pros of a Chromebook

Kohichi Aoki/flickr.com

1. Price

I'll start with the most important - the cost of Chromebooks. IN USA cheap laptop on Windows will cost 400-700 dollars. The MacBook starts at $899. At the same time, the price of most Chromebooks does not exceed $300. A great option for schoolchildren, students and just people who need a laptop only to surf the Internet and work with documents.

2. Simplicity

Chromebooks are easy to use. They are smart, easy to set up, absolutely everyone can master them: from children to the elderly. This is why Chromebooks are so popular in schools and the corporate sector.

3. Large selection

The range of Chromebooks is quite extensive. There are laptops with screen sizes from 11 to 15 inches. Iron is also the most diverse: from mobile processors, which are usually installed in smartphones, up to Intel processors.

4. Ecosystem

If you own an Android smartphone, a Chromebook is a worthy addition to your ecosystem. Thanks to Google services, all data is synchronized. In the same way, you can work with third party software thanks to native support for Android applications.

Cons of Chrome OS

Oll Raqwe/flickr.com

1. Dependence on the Network

Whatever one may say, the work of Chromebooks is tied to the Web. Without the Internet, their opportunities tend to zero. Despite the fact that the Internet is now everywhere, for many it can be a serious problem.

2. Lack of "adult" software

Chromebooks are not suitable for serious work. You will not be able to install Photoshop, AutoCAD and other software that works on Windows and OS X. Such devices are more suitable for those who spend most of their time in the browser, as well as for those who actively use Google services.

What's next?

Of course, in seven years, Google has made a huge step, but according to experts, this is just the beginning. After the system starts supporting Android applications, its popularity will increase significantly.

From a fun experiment, it will turn into an extended version of Android for budget laptops. And in this case, not Apple, which is focused on the premium segment, but Microsoft will become a competitor. After all, she mainly earns on the sale of software for the corporate segment and licenses for the sale of laptops. The sharp increase in the popularity of devices on Chrome OS can pretty much spoil the life of Microsoft.

That desktop applications, and the desktop itself will sooner or later move to the web, was clear almost after the birth of JavaScript, so the appearance of Chrome OS is largely predictable. And that it was Google that released the cloud OS is also absolutely natural. But let's try to move away from the endless debate about the future of the desktop, kindled by the conservative part of IT people, and look at Chrome OS from the point of view of technical implementation.

road to the clouds

Google announced Chrome OS in the summer of 2009 and already in November demonstrated it to the public and made the source code publicly available under the name Chromium OS. Back then, the operating system was quite simple and was a full-screen Chrome browser running on top of a heavily stripped-down Ubuntu distribution. It implemented all the same mechanisms for isolating browser tabs and plug-ins, the same multi-process model of the browser, but in general, the operating system did not differ in anything special.

Over the next five years, Google continuously, but not really advertised its work, developed Chrome OS. Along the way, it released the so-called Chromebooks and Chromeboxes, which became popular among Unixoids, who demolished Chrome OS immediately after purchase. Gradually, Gooogle abandoned Ubuntu in favor of Gentoo (apparently, in order to be able to build packages without “useless” dependencies for it and the buns of the Hardened version of the distribution kit) and replaced the single-window mode with the standard multi-window mode for desktops with a standard taskbar below. Google deliberately ditched it in the first versions of Chrome OS, as the OS was geared towards netbooks with their small screens, but, apparently, users did not appreciate this.

There are also offline web applications (available also in regular Chrome) and, finally, support for a number of Android applications. The latter event was expected after the leadership of the development of both operating systems passed into the hands of Sundar Pichai, who has always been responsible for the development of Chrome, Chrome OS and Google web applications.

Chrome OS evolves along with the browser itself, so their versions are the same. At the time of writing, this was version 41, but unlike the browser, Chrome OS does not have builds ready to be installed, with the exception of officially supported Chromebooks and Chromeboxes. However, it is quite possible to find unofficial builds based on Chromium OS sources on the Web. For example, you can always download daily builds for x86, x64 and ARM. It is enough to write one of them to a USB flash drive and boot from it. However, one must be prepared that not all components of the machine will start (in my case, the touchpad fell off). In addition, Chromium OS does not support Flash, DRM and Netflix, but it does have access to the console with root rights.

Basic concepts

The key idea behind Chrome OS is that, by and large, it's a thin-client OS where everything but the GUI and the browser is on the web. In fact, without an Internet connection and a Google account, the operating system will not even let the user in (at least for the first time). Google offers to save files to your Google Drive (the company gives Chromebook buyers 100 GB), settings, extensions and installed applications are synchronized with the standard browser chrome way. For printing it is recommended to use Google Cloud print.

In Russian realities, this approach does not give anything and creates a lot of difficulties, and in the rest of the world too. But Chrome OS is Google's future, and this model of work has allowed programmers to implement a number of interesting architectural decisions and security approaches. Which is what we'll talk about in the rest of the article.

It all starts with the BIOS

Although Chromium OS can run on computers with standard BIOS, Chromebooks are based on CoreBoot. And this is not just one of their technical features, but a deliberate optimization. CoreBoot is a fully 32-bit "BIOS" stripped of the ballast of a large number hardware initialization code, useless these days. Together with Google optimizations, it is able to perform a cold start from pressing the power button to loading the kernel in just a split second.

Next, CoreBoot finds boot partition GPT and loads into memory a binary containing the u-boot bootloader (it is usually used in embedded electronics) and the Linux kernel, after which it gives control to u-boot, and the almost standard boot procedure for Linux distributions begins, which includes mounting the root partition, start demons, graphics system and finally the interface.

The interesting thing about this whole procedure is that the bootloader with the kernel and the root FS have "backup copies" in separate sections, and this feature is used to update the OS and rollback in case of failure. During an automatic update, Chrome OS does not touch the current installation at all, but instead writes a new version of the OS to the very “backup partitions” that become “current” after a reboot. In the event of a failure when loading a new version of the OS, a reverse swap will occur and the user will be able to access a known working system (the system itself is able to understand that it has successfully booted and put the appropriate flag on the current GPT partitions).

Moreover, at each stage of the transfer of control from one component to another (for example, from CoreBoot to u-boot), the digital signature is verified (in the case of the root FS, block-by-block verification checksums on the fly), if it does not match, the system will also roll back to previous version. This works because partitions with the current version of the system are mounted read-only and the user cannot even accidentally change them.

INFO

The Chromebook's EEPROM contains not only two copies of the firmware (one of which is a backup), but also a non-rewritable recovery firmware that allows you to boot the system from a USB flash drive or memory card and check and restore the system.

In addition to CoreBoot, any Chromebook's EEPROM includes SeaBIOS, an open BIOS implementation that allows you to install Windows or Linux on your device without any hassle.

The ubiquitous Linux

Current versions of Chrome OS are based on Gentoo Linux, with the exception that Ubuntu's Upstart is used instead of the distribution's standard OpenRC init system. Compared to a regular Linux distribution, the system is greatly curtailed, so there is nothing special to download here and it starts in just a second. There is no regular terminal, but there is a local shell crosh available via.

By executing the shell command in it, we will get access to the standard bash with root rights (in Chromium OS, of course) and we will be able to explore the system. There are rsyslogd daemons we all know, dbus-daemon (D-Bus is used in Chrome OS to exchange data between the browser and the rest of the system), wpa_supplicant (authentication in Wi-Fi networks), dhcpcd, x, ModemManager (work with 3G modems), udev, ConnMan (manages network connections) plus more than a dozen Chrome OS-specific daemons responsible for, among other things, updating the system (update_engine), working with the TPM module (chapsd), encrypting the home directory (cryptohomed), debugging (debugd) and other tasks.

A special place here is occupied by the session_manager daemon, which is responsible for initializing the high-level part of the OS. Its tasks include:

1. Start X server.
2. Initialize environment variables for Chrome browser.
3. Create necessary directories, files and cgroups rules for Chrome.
4. Launch Chrome.
5. Fire the login-prompt-visible Upstart event, which will cause the login window to appear on the screen.

During this process, any components responsible for the formation of the "desktop" (with the exception of the login window) are not launched. It is rendered by the browser itself, relying on the Aura framework, which includes low-level graphics and windowing functions (hard-accelerated via DRI), and the Ash desktop environment, which renders the taskbar, window decorations, Google Now, and other standard interface elements. OS. Although they are part of the Chrome browser, they nevertheless run inside several independent processes.

INFO

In the event of a system boot failure, which is logged if the browser process cannot be started within 30 seconds, Chromium OS automatically starts the SSH server and restarts polling the kernel for hardware using the udevtrigger command.

Thanks to the integration of Aura and Ash into Chrome itself, you can get the Chrome OS desktop on any OS by launching the browser with the --open-ash flag.

Security

In addition to the methods already discussed to ensure the security and integrity of data, such as secure system boot, an encrypted home directory with cached data (encryption is performed separately for each user), as well as standard browser Chrome methods isolating processes, plugins, and Native Client from the system (seccomp-bpf is used here, which allows you to filter calls to system calls), Chrome OS uses a number of other security approaches.

Central among them is minijail, a small application used to isolate system services (daemons) and other system components. This is very flexible application, which allows you to perform functions such as endowing the application with "capabilities" or revoking them (capabilities - a special subsystem of the Linux kernel for endowing non-SUID binaries with some root capabilities), locking it in a chroot, revoking root permissions, set resource limits (rlimits), place the process in dedicated namespaces (like LXC and Docker) and apply cgroups rules to it.

If you look at the output of ps aux|grep minijail (see screenshot) on a running system, you can see that minijail is used to launch daemons with certain settings, but the number of such daemons in relation to all those running on the system is not so large . Judging by the developers' documents, in the future they plan to significantly expand minijail and apply it to much more system components, including the graphics stack and Chrome. For now, what is, is.

Other security measures include the use of compiler flags to minimize the risk of a stack break (-fno-delete-null-pointer-checks, -fstack-protector, FORTIFY_SOURCE), the use of a "reinforced" ASLR (Address space layout randomization) mechanism in the Linux kernel (PaX patch), using capabilities instead of SUID binaries where possible, restrictions on loading kernel modules, using the TPM module (in Chromebooks) to store disk encryption keys and the user's password, prohibiting the user from running regular ELF binaries, and some others quite standard techniques, many of which overlap with Android and Hardened Gentoo.

conclusions

Of course, Chrome OS is far more complex than I've been able to describe in this article. It has many nuances and a huge number interesting ideas. You can read about all this on the Chromium project website, since the authors are open in relation to third party developers and wrote some pretty good documentation.