Google recently released the current build for Google Chrome OS, an open source operating system designed to run on low-cost netbooks. Chrome OS’s primary interface will be an enhanced version of their Chrome browser. Some reports indicate that Google’s Gears will be part of the OS enabling users to use some apps offline, although the vast majority of the apps used on Chrome OS will be Internet based apps. The new systems will be able to boot quickly, some estimates say in as much as seven seconds. Supported hardware apparently will be kept to a minimum, since the devices will be primarily Internet-only devices. The netbooks will only support small solid state (flash) hard drives that will primarily be used to store documents, emails, and other types of data temporarily until it can be sent to Google. All of the data sent to Google will be encrypted and stored on and backed up to Google’s servers and will instantly follow you to your next Google Chrome OS-based netbook. Although it is too early to tell how successful Google’s Chrome OS will be, it is apparent that they are looking at a very specific niche – Internet users.