While pitting
Google Chrome
OS against Microsoft Windows makes for great headlines along the lines of "Google Intros Windows Killer" or "Chrome Goes For Microsoft Jugular," the reality is that no one really knows for sure how the introduction of Chrome will play out.
We know there's a lot of hype. There always is when someone attacks a part of Microsoft's business. We've seen it with Linux, and with Firefox, and Google Wave, and Apple OS X.
A couple of things we also know:
Chrome looks to be heading for the netbook market. That makes sense. The company Google was born out of a way to take better advantage of the Internet. And netbooks were developed as a low-cost alternative to full-blown notebook PCs for those whose main reason for having a portable device is to access the Internet.
Windows will continue to have a lock on the PC market. Sure, Microsoft's share of the PC operating system market will fluctuate up or down, with perhaps an emphasis on the down over the long term. But that long term is very long, and a big enough part of the customer base, especially the business customer base, is satisfied enough with what they have to not have any pressing need to change.
Unfortunately, headlines like "Most Users To Continue With Windows" or "Microsoft Is Good Enough For Your Business" don't get bloggers and reporters noticed.
