By Paul Suarez - Sat Nov 21, 2009 5:05PM EST Earlier this week, Google gave the world a first look at the Chrome OS<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=132137cbq;_ylt=AvgIdmugoTHoeF43icfylyPiS5A5/*http://www.pcworld.com/article/182718/google_chrome_os_its_promises_and_secrets.html?tk=rel_news>. The press event confirmed what was suspected when Google announced it was working on a netbook operating system<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=12f1f01jd;_ylt=Am2cDiCMy19RW8_eWSnM6YDiS5A5/*http://technologizer.com/2009/07/07/eleven-questions-about-googles-chrome-os/>four months ago -- it would emphasize speed and simplicity<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=132137cbq;_ylt=AnLEm_TAMOzNSjd_zbmvoh_iS5A5/*http://www.pcworld.com/article/182718/google_chrome_os_its_promises_and_secrets.html?tk=rel_news>. As the tech world tests versions of the operating system that were compiled from Google's source code<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=12u8ec4gm;_ylt=AuMMU2LQ9V63rpS0oOVA4QfiS5A5/*http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/building-chromium-os/getting-the-chromium-os-source-code>it is looking like the project's priorities may be weaknesses. Chromium OS is simple; so simple that most hands-on impressions are calling it the Chrome browser with a few add-ons<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=12oqiehi6;_ylt=AmP8CVQXEFD9dGHq5.yx4z_iS5A5/*http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/google-chrome-os-available-as-free-vmware-download/>. The OS adds features such as a battery life indicator and window management, but lacks a few standards -- such as a way to shut down the OS. A big advantage to Chrome<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=12mnvd5hs;_ylt=AgMldXhLTUp_lrBf34EFm0LiS5A5/*http://www.pcworld.com/article/182777/google_chrome_os_a_simple_faq.html?tk=rel_news>is that the cloud-based model has the potential for extremely fast computing, including a boot time as short as three seconds. Right now, Chrome OS is getting mixed speed results, which is probably because it is running through virtual machines<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=12ad8sl4h;_ylt=AhHuJvJn7gnuQzosM5G_QBHiS5A5/*http://www.pcworld.com/article/182749/get_chrome_os_now.html?tk=rel_news>. Vladislav Savov of Engadget<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=12oqiehi6;_ylt=AszfVxGOWvT2SDL7UlIg1lHiS5A5/*http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/google-chrome-os-available-as-free-vmware-download/>reports his install booted to the login screen in fewer than ten seconds and was able to browse the Web in another five. Sean Kalinich from Tweaktown<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=138l2bsoj;_ylt=AsSnXHozxoC3Par64czWTbniS5A5/*http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3019/google_chrome_os_hands_on_dev_build_november_20_2009/index.html>had a far more underwhelming experience. His machine was booting about as fast as a laptop running Windows 7 off a SSD. Here's what he had to say: *"Boot up - From pressing the start (power) link until we hit the log in screen was 14.8 seconds. After typing in our log in information (which HAS to be a Gmail account), it took a further 4.4 seconds to get to the "Desktop", so total boot up time is about 20-25 . . . " * It seems that it is too early to tell if the Chrome OS will be a hit<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=133ls73ev;_ylt=AiSmYAwCHxnAEXc.7ChyfLviS5A5/*http://www.pcworld.com/article/182743/five_reasons_google_chrome_os_will_succeed.html?tk=rel_news>or a flop<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=13cge0th8;_ylt=ArieyiePOwSrxDKrOSmFOrziS5A5/*http://www.pcworld.com/article/182728/google_chrome_os_will_fail_here_are_the_fatal_flaws.html?tk=rel_news>. To be fair, this is a very early version of the OS that wasn't ever meant to be much more than a browser. As Harry McCracken of Technologizer<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/googleunveilschromeostechworldyawns/34169184/SIG=1352k51e4;_ylt=ApyZBvbFazqorB95tV3_E07iS5A5/*http://www.pcworld.com/article/182793/chrome_os_move_along_nothing_to_see_here_yet.html?tk=rel_news>points out, Google said the OS is subject to quite a bit of change before an official release next year, and critiquing the OS is premature until a close-to-final build is available