Presentation at UNC CAUSE 2013, November 19th, 2013 Overview of Chrome OS

1. UNC CAUSE 2013
Chrome OS:
To the “Googleverse” and Beyond
Joel Dunn - UNCG
Todd Sutton - UNCG

2. What is Chrome OS?
● A variant of Linux, announced July 2009
● First based on Ubuntu, then Gentoo
● Provides a user experience environment centered
around the Chrome Browser

3. What is Chrome OS?
● Very limited shell (crosh), you have no rights to run as
root or other privileged activities unless you run in
“developer mode”

4. What is Chrome OS?
● Software installations are limited to apps in the Chrome Web
Store which are built for Chrome
○
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You can’t run Windows, OS X or Linux binaries
You can’t run Android apps from Google Play

5. Chrome
v. Chromium
● Google open sourced the Chromium project in November
2009
○
http://www.chromium.org
● Chrome Browser is to Chromium Browser as Chrome OS is
to Chromium OS
○
“Chromium OS is an open-source project that aims to provide a fast,
simple, and more secure computing experience for people who spend
most of their time on the web.” https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.
org/dev/
● Chrome OS is Google’s proprietary version for a specific set
of devices (Chromebooks, Chromeboxes, and Chromecast)

6. Where are we today?
● Chrome OS and its devices have rapidly developed
and matured as the device ecosystem and use
cases have multiplied
● Provides the same level of base browser capability
as Chrome on Windows or OS X
● Bottom line is a “laptop” that quickly boots to a
Chrome browser for secure execution of web-based
content

7. Evolution of Chrome OS
...to this...
●
●
●
Originally single window
Overlapping, resizeable windows in spring 2012
Rapid changes in 2013
○ Immersive full screen, summer 2012
○ “packaged app” in spring 2013
■ A superset of “legacy packaged app” installed as an extension but
with more access to API for comprehensive app
■ Desktop-type experience with Javascript, HTML5, CSS
■ Look and feel of a “fat client”

8. Weatherbug - A packaged app...

9. Some Chrome OS Features...
● Local storage
○
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Typically 16GB SSD, for OS and user data
Typically has an SD card reader and multiple USB ports for storage
keys, drives
Think of local storage as a “cloud cache,” not a place to accumulate
GB’s and TB’s of stuff
■ Embrace “statelessness!”
● Includes file manager and media player for common
types
● Rapidly growing application ecosystem
○
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/apps

10. More Chrome OS Features
● Access to remote systems
○
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Chrome Remote Desktop
VNC/RDP
SSH
Citrix
● Printing via Google Cloud Print
○ Why are you still printing, anyway
?
● Quick boot, security, simplicity, easy updates

11. A word about security
● Any system is vulnerable
● Some are a lot less vulnerable than others
● Chrome OS is a hardened consumer
operating system
○ Verified boot (boot loader in RAM)
○ Sandboxed applications/tabs
○ Automatic updates, so emergent vulnerabilities are
patched

12. What can Chrome OS do?
● Same browser experience as Windows or OS X
● Close connection to Google applications
○
○
Plays nice with all Google services
Most Google services are browser-based already
● Think of Chrome OS device as cloud portal
● Google docs maturing rapidly
○
○
Offline editing available
Google has purchased QuickOffice for better MS Office fidelity; editing
still “experimental beta” but coming!

13. What can’t Chrome OS do?
● Run “.exe” files or Google play apps (it’s a different OS!)
● Print locally - requires Cloud Print
● Run content requiring custom plugins, but Flash is built
in
○
Silverlight, for example (deprecated by MS anyway!)
● Run Skype
● Interface to some USB devices (UVC ok!)

14. Chrome devices
● Chromebooks
○
○
CR-48, December 2010
■ Named from an unstable isotope of Chromium
Retail machines appeared in May 2011
■ Samsung 500, followed by the 550
■ Acer C700

15. Desktops: the Chromebox
● Samsung Series 3 (above) in May 2012
● Refreshed in spring 2013
● Multiple display support, more USB ports

16. Chrome OS hits the mainstream
● Samsung released the ARM Chromebook (model
XE303C12) in October 2012
● Tipping point toward mass market adoption, coincided with
Google mainstream media campaign with TV commercials
● $249 price point with 6 hour battery life captured attention
● Acer releases the C710, as low as $199

17. Chromebook Pixel
a concept device...
● What Chrome OS could be on high end hardware with
an added touch interface
● Released in February 2013
○
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Google says it won’t refresh, was trying to generate ideas
Rumor is that Acer will release touch Chromebook soon!

18. A rolling stone gathers no moss...
● Fall 2013, a flock of new Chromebooks
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Haswell-based models such as the Acer C720
■ Greatly improved battery life, 8+ hours
■ Maintains low price points at $249, including 4GB RAM
HP Chromebook 11
■ Same ARM processor as Samsung
■ Light (just over 2 pounds), 6 hour battery, charges with micro USB
■ Inexpensive fashion (multiple colors), $279

19. Why Chrome OS v. Netbook or
Ultraportable?
● Compute power balanced with the demands of OS
○
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Tuned hardware takes less power to run
Not trying to “put 10 pounds in a 5 pound sack”
● More and more apps/services are or will be web-based
○
You spend most of your time in a browser, anyway, don’t you?
● How many features of Word and Excel do you really
use, anyway?
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Balance benefit of convenience with cost of complexity

20. Markets
● Education
○ K12 has been a big adopter
○ Higher ed has not yet embraced in big ways
● Consumer
○ Rapid adoption thru 2013, spurred by inexpensive devices
● Corporate/organizational
○ Moving but not as fast as education
○ Has tended to be SMB’s
○ Does require a “rethink” of tools and a willingness to drive
change in the way things are done

21. Adoption at UNCG
● Experimenting organically
● Exploring use as conference room device/kiosk
● A smattering of Chrome OS devices are showing up in
IT as well as across campus
● Since UNCG is a Google School, it’s a natural fit
● One vision is use of Chrome OS as the “outer
environment” for email and collaborations, with Citrix for
access to core data center for access to Banner and
restricted data

22. Demo, show & tell!

23. Questions?