Commodification of the desktop operating system complete

OS X in Windows 7 in Chrome OS on Cr-48

So I read a great post the other day about the commodification of the client operating system. I surprisingly agree with the author. I think that's the way we're headed.

In Amazon style, Amazon would like us to get our commodities from Amazon. Several months ago Amazon released Amazon Workspaces.

Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed desktop computing service in the cloud. Amazon WorkSpaces allows customers to easily provision cloud-based desktops that allow end-users to access the documents, applications and resources they need with the device of their choice, including laptops, iPad, Kindle Fire, or Android tablets. With a few clicks in the AWS Management Console, customers can provision a high-quality desktop experience for any number of users at a cost that is highly competitive with traditional desktops and half the cost of most virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions. 

Pretty cool really. Cloud-based desktops were really unheard of before Amazon's release of Workspaces. Virtual desktops? Sure and they're terrible. Hosted desktops? Sure, and they're even worse. True cloud-based desktops before Amazon Workspaces? Nope.

With Workspaces a small business could have always up to date, always secure Windows computers at their beckon call. The device being used by the end user can be a system like Chrome OS which you can't really break. Starting Chrome OS up from scratch takes a few minutes at most.

Around the world today millions of hours will be spent messing with operating systems. Large corporations have entire teams dedicated to desktop support. Our idea of the operating system will soon be a distant memory, no more special or important than the black pen that runs out of ink, quickly interchanged with another without a second thought.

Chromebooks. Beyond Client-Server

Currently the #1 Best Seller in Computers & Accessories on Amazon.com is the Samsung Chromebook.

I'm very bullish on Chromebooks and ChromeOS and have been since testing the prototype devices almost exactly 2 years ago today. I'm excited by Chromebooks because they're simple. Simple is good.

Simple is the opposite of complex and as famed technologist Ray Ozzie notes in his Dawn of a New Day memo, complexity is not cool.

Complexity kills. Complexity sucks the life out of users, developers and IT. Complexity makes products difficult to plan, build, test and use. Complexity introduces security challenges. Complexity causes administrator frustration.

As someone who often plays the roll of administrator, or managing others playing this roll, I have a particular appreciation for the awesomeness that is simplicity. Ray Ozzie feels the same way as Leonardo da Vinci did some 500 years ago as he stated, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Some things never change.

The best computer for road warriors?

Without question, the Chromebook.

My role for the past 10 years has basically been biz dev which, as my other biz dev associates will agree, means you do whatever, whenever, where ever and however. You wear tons of different hats and try to bring two or more organizations together despite both of their best efforts to keep this from happening. Navigating the politics and dysfunction in one organization is difficult enough - now multiple that several times over. 

I find myself spending a lot of time in a variety of places at client sites. Access to the Internet is always a shaky issue. IF you can get access to WiFi or a cable the chances that it is a reliable connection are slim. Messing with network cards or smartphone hotspots is great if you can get them working without looking like a total spaz. Waiting for a computer to boot up can also be a pain - god forbid you have to restart it, the meeting will be over before you're back up and running. 

Enter the Chromebook. I'm writing this post from the office of a CIO who stepped out. For security reasons temporary guests are not given access to WiFi. No problem, the Cr-48 I'm using has Verizon wireless 3G built into the device. The instant on functionality of the device combined with it knowing my WiFi networks were not available and connecting via 3G had me running and connected in a matter of seconds. The all day battery life ensures I won't be messing with cords or crawling under a table to plug anything in. If later I needed to knock something out from the car or any other location while traveling, no problem. 

Chromebooks are easy. That's all I ever wanted.

Important Update: Now if you could only eat a Chromebook. I'm starving! Where did this guy go? I hope he remembers I'm in here...

The World's Simplest "Computer"

Will Chromebooks eventually achieve meaningful market share? I really hope so.

Personally I'm tired of listening to people talk about computers not working. Cutting Windows from the equation greatly simplifies the process of consuming technology services.

Windows 1.0 was released in 1985 - you'd think that would be enough reason for us all to be kicking it to the curb. Certainly a lot of people are, Apple continues to post record Mac sales quarter after quarter. PC sales are only down if that PC runs Windows.

For the better part of 10 years I would give people tips, tricks and general guidance to help them efficiently manage their Windows powered PC. I've given up on that route - it's useless. Umzuzu CEO, Tony Sheets, compares it to building sand castles - you can build it perfectly but it's coming crashing down regardless.

The model is inherently flawed. The universe is far too hostile. How many people have spent a full work day or, much worse a personal day, "fixing" a computer? Time is unquestionably our scarcest resource. 1 hour spent messing with Windows is 1 hour too many.

"What's wrong with your computer? It's running Windows." Simple as that.

For several years the, "why not just buy an Apple" suggestion has been countered with, "they're too expensive." Chromebooks are not expensive, starting at $350.

Chromebooks have tons of potential:

• They're SIMPLE and that's the best part
• The sand castle is gone - the OS starts from a fresh copy every time
• An always fresh and automatically updated device becomes faster rather than slower over time
• They're safer as data is stored else where - like an ATM card for our data - it's annoying to loose an ATM card but much worse to lose your money
• All day battery
• Fast, fast, fast 

Our perception of a "computer"  is horribly outdated - like 1985 outdated. Saying a Chromebook is "just a browser" misses the whole point. When's the last time you heard someone say a "browser is just a browser" - the Internet is already the center of our computing experience. Web apps completely dominate everything we do in our personal lives and are increasingly playing a role in our business lives.

Real work occurs between people and other people, not people and their desktop. People are on the Web. The Internet is the most disruptive innovation in human history and increasingly Windows is just in the way.