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Google's OSes Duke It Out
Windows is dead. Haven’t you heard? Yeah, right, we don’t believe that for a parsec (although we wouldn’t mind if Modern got swallowed alive by a Sarlacc to be slowly digested alive for a thousand years.) Still, for those who are living in their post-PC fantasy, the OS of choice for computing won’t be based on Windows.
Since it has been foreseen that Google will rule the entire world, we decided to put the company’s two showcase OSes up against each other in a epic sibling rivalry not seen since Boromir vs. Faramir, Thor vs. Loki, and Ferris vs. Jeanie Bueller.
Round 1: Price
A large part of Google’s OS success hasn’t been because of its awesomeness. No. Frankly, we think nothing speaks louder than the almighty dollar in this world. But both are “free,” right? So this is tie? Not really. Although Android is technically free since Google doesn’t charge device makers for it, there are costs associated with getting devices “certified.” Oh, yeah, and then there’s Apple and Microsoft, both of which get healthy payouts from device makers through patent lawsuits. Microsoft reportedly makes far more from Android sales than Windows Phone sales. You just generally don’t see the price because it’s abstracted by carriers. Chrome OS, on the other hand, actually is pretty much free. A top-ofthe-line Chromebook is $280, while a top-of-the-line Android phone full retail is usually $600. We’re giving this one to Chrome OS because if it’s generally cheaper for the builder, it’s cheaper for you.
Winner: Chrome OS
Round 2: Security
Both Chrome OS and Android are based on Linux, which generally starts out being inherently more secure than competing mainstream consumer operating systems. A Linux kernel doesn’t make it bulletproof, though. If you had to pick between iOS, Windows Phone, and Android for malware issues, Android would be the clear loser. Certainly much of that comes from users opting into malware, pirated apps, and the sheer volume of Android devices out there, but we think it’s fair to say that Android has more security problems. Let’s not even get into stranded tablets and phones that never see security updates pushed to them. To this date, we know of no credible security breaches of Chrome OS, and when holes are found, they’re patched with a speed Android OS users could only dream of. Even the four year-old (ancient!) original CR-48 gets updates within a few weeks, while a $600 phone from 2014 will be ignored for months (if not years).
Winner: Chrome OS
Round 3: Usability
Android is regarded as a powerusers operating system. It’s malleable and easily bendable to your every desire. Want a widget that alerts you when it’s time to take a nap in the conference room? Got it. With skins providing device makers’ interpretations on how to make Android “better” (usually for the worse), it’s also pretty damned complicated sometimes. In fact, HTC users can’t easily navigate Samsung devices without some confusion and vice versa. To get lost or confused in Chrome OS would be a feat of unimaginable proportions because there’s just no way to do it. It’s on, off, or in the browser for the most part. And an HP or Acer or Toshiba Chromebook? All the same. Down to the interface and keyboard. In fact, we’d argue that generic feel is another knock against it -- just not in this category.
Winner: Chrome OS
Round 4: Sexiness
Here’s something you’ll never hear: “Oh. My. Gawd. Is that the new $200 Chromebook? Can I see it so I can stroke its cheap painted plastic skin?!” Outside of the Google employees given free Pixels, Chromebooks have the sex appeal of geriatric sock garters or Limburger cheese. As much as it’s a bad tech marketing cliché, break out the latest wonder phone with its 4K glassless 3D screen at a party and you’ll get the adoration and attention your lonely soul craves. We honestly don’t see that changing, either, because as much as we’ll say, “Bah, I don’t give two No. 2’s about new phones,” there’s no denying just how mesmerizing it is to check out the latest smartphone in person.
Winner: Android OS
Round 5: Application Support
For those who don’t know, Chrome OS is pretty much cloud computing. Websites are your apps, and that, Mr. Nonbeliever, means that every website is technically an app, so there are tens of millions of apps for Chrome OS! So, nyah nyah! The truth is, there are surprisingly more Chrome OS apps that can be run offline and in the browser than you’d expect, but we think it’s fair to say that Android’s traditional client-based computing, locally run apps, is more fulfilling and far better supported than Chrome OS. To us, Chrome OS “apps” still feel like you’re trapped in a browser. Then again, maybe that’s the whole point.
Winner: Android OS
And the winner is...
This is a shocker to us, because as power users and people who love complicated hardware and devices, we really thought Android OS was going to walk away with it. After all, most of us have wondered just why the hell Android OS isn’t being used in clamshell devices instead of that weak-sauce Chrome OS. But when you add up the numbers and divide by 16.7, Chrome OS is actually the surprise winner here. Maybe there’s a reason Microsoft is more afraid of Chrome OS than Android OS these days.
More...
Windows is dead. Haven’t you heard? Yeah, right, we don’t believe that for a parsec (although we wouldn’t mind if Modern got swallowed alive by a Sarlacc to be slowly digested alive for a thousand years.) Still, for those who are living in their post-PC fantasy, the OS of choice for computing won’t be based on Windows.
Since it has been foreseen that Google will rule the entire world, we decided to put the company’s two showcase OSes up against each other in a epic sibling rivalry not seen since Boromir vs. Faramir, Thor vs. Loki, and Ferris vs. Jeanie Bueller.
Round 1: Price
A large part of Google’s OS success hasn’t been because of its awesomeness. No. Frankly, we think nothing speaks louder than the almighty dollar in this world. But both are “free,” right? So this is tie? Not really. Although Android is technically free since Google doesn’t charge device makers for it, there are costs associated with getting devices “certified.” Oh, yeah, and then there’s Apple and Microsoft, both of which get healthy payouts from device makers through patent lawsuits. Microsoft reportedly makes far more from Android sales than Windows Phone sales. You just generally don’t see the price because it’s abstracted by carriers. Chrome OS, on the other hand, actually is pretty much free. A top-ofthe-line Chromebook is $280, while a top-of-the-line Android phone full retail is usually $600. We’re giving this one to Chrome OS because if it’s generally cheaper for the builder, it’s cheaper for you.
Winner: Chrome OS
Round 2: Security
Both Chrome OS and Android are based on Linux, which generally starts out being inherently more secure than competing mainstream consumer operating systems. A Linux kernel doesn’t make it bulletproof, though. If you had to pick between iOS, Windows Phone, and Android for malware issues, Android would be the clear loser. Certainly much of that comes from users opting into malware, pirated apps, and the sheer volume of Android devices out there, but we think it’s fair to say that Android has more security problems. Let’s not even get into stranded tablets and phones that never see security updates pushed to them. To this date, we know of no credible security breaches of Chrome OS, and when holes are found, they’re patched with a speed Android OS users could only dream of. Even the four year-old (ancient!) original CR-48 gets updates within a few weeks, while a $600 phone from 2014 will be ignored for months (if not years).
Winner: Chrome OS
Android is regarded as a powerusers operating system. It’s malleable and easily bendable to your every desire. Want a widget that alerts you when it’s time to take a nap in the conference room? Got it. With skins providing device makers’ interpretations on how to make Android “better” (usually for the worse), it’s also pretty damned complicated sometimes. In fact, HTC users can’t easily navigate Samsung devices without some confusion and vice versa. To get lost or confused in Chrome OS would be a feat of unimaginable proportions because there’s just no way to do it. It’s on, off, or in the browser for the most part. And an HP or Acer or Toshiba Chromebook? All the same. Down to the interface and keyboard. In fact, we’d argue that generic feel is another knock against it -- just not in this category.
Winner: Chrome OS
Round 4: Sexiness
Here’s something you’ll never hear: “Oh. My. Gawd. Is that the new $200 Chromebook? Can I see it so I can stroke its cheap painted plastic skin?!” Outside of the Google employees given free Pixels, Chromebooks have the sex appeal of geriatric sock garters or Limburger cheese. As much as it’s a bad tech marketing cliché, break out the latest wonder phone with its 4K glassless 3D screen at a party and you’ll get the adoration and attention your lonely soul craves. We honestly don’t see that changing, either, because as much as we’ll say, “Bah, I don’t give two No. 2’s about new phones,” there’s no denying just how mesmerizing it is to check out the latest smartphone in person.
Winner: Android OS
Round 5: Application Support
For those who don’t know, Chrome OS is pretty much cloud computing. Websites are your apps, and that, Mr. Nonbeliever, means that every website is technically an app, so there are tens of millions of apps for Chrome OS! So, nyah nyah! The truth is, there are surprisingly more Chrome OS apps that can be run offline and in the browser than you’d expect, but we think it’s fair to say that Android’s traditional client-based computing, locally run apps, is more fulfilling and far better supported than Chrome OS. To us, Chrome OS “apps” still feel like you’re trapped in a browser. Then again, maybe that’s the whole point.
Winner: Android OS
And the winner is...
This is a shocker to us, because as power users and people who love complicated hardware and devices, we really thought Android OS was going to walk away with it. After all, most of us have wondered just why the hell Android OS isn’t being used in clamshell devices instead of that weak-sauce Chrome OS. But when you add up the numbers and divide by 16.7, Chrome OS is actually the surprise winner here. Maybe there’s a reason Microsoft is more afraid of Chrome OS than Android OS these days.
More...