Google's Chrome OS kills Quality Time

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No point in adding yet another platitude to the ocean of comments on Google’s announcement of Chrome OS. Guess we saw it coming. And it was hardly rocket science, I might add.

It is however worrying that Google envisions an operating system that will fire up a laptop in just a few seconds. I mean, after all these years of getting used to operating systems that take more and more time to start up, I sort of got fond of the idea of being delayed. Admitted, it’s the IT version of the Stockholm Syndrome, but I actually cherished these precious moments of being forced to do nothing. Whether Windows, OS X, or Ubuntu: while loading their endless series of kernel software modules and drivers, they all brought me valuable opportunities to meditate or to contemplate the day to come. I would watch that hourglass for many minutes and time after time it would remind me of the relativity of technology and the craziness of rush and speed. Or I would just thoroughly enjoy a strong espresso. Or I would do nothing. All justified by our commonly shared acceptance of operating systems that are so complex that they take forever to come to live.

Now Google breaks this equilibrium with Crome OS, with the promise that booting it will be a matter of seconds. It will set a trend and we should hate them for it. Or at least, we should think twice before clicking on one of these placed ads. That will teach them.

Goodbye Quality Time. I will miss you dearly.

Posted by Ron Tolido on July 8, 2009 in Technology | Digg this | Seed Newsvine

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Comments

# on July 8, 2009 7:09 PM, Henk-Jan van der Klis said:

If you & we seriously believe in Google OS's power, we could dramatically increase our productivity at each day's beginning. That can be valued as well, just as quality time is appreciated ;)

# on July 9, 2009 12:12 AM, Jeroen Trappers said:

I guess your post is ironical anyway, but think about the time you save at work, which you can then spend with family and friends instead. :-)

# on July 9, 2009 4:33 AM, Kannan Kartha said:

That was another way to look at it. But frankly most people are tired of the time it takes for Windows to boot. I keep it in standby for lack of patience to wait and get the system started.

In anycase, this OS will target netbooks more and hardcore users will still stick to their old machines I guess.

# on July 9, 2009 9:34 AM, Nigel Walsh said:

I never looked at it that way - love it! isn't this the move to an always on culture? Are we not there already?

# on July 9, 2009 3:32 PM, Ron Tolido said:

@Henk-Jan :) On the other hand, productivity is often not increased by having more time or starting up faster, it's more a matter of careful timing. And proper preparation.

# on July 9, 2009 3:38 PM, Ron Tolido said:

@Jeroen. Irony...? Where ? ..... :) There is indeed an interesting point in technology that actually save you time, rather than monopolising it...

# on July 9, 2009 3:40 PM, Ron Tolido said:

@Kannan That's not too bad..? I have a certain version of Windows on a PC that is particularly unreliable when put in standby...

# on July 9, 2009 3:43 PM, Ron Tolido said:

@Nigel we are definitely already in 'always on' mode. So yes, beside all irony I am trying to make two points: it is insane that we have gotten used to the fact that OS's take forever to start up and on the other hand: we should be able to decrease our speed whenever we feel that we are dictated by the machine...