Lightweight OS for netbooks...from Google

Netbookers rejoice, or a least look forward with hope:

Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we’re already talking to partners about the project, and we’ll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don’t have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work. - official Google blog

If you could dual-boot and open up either XP or Google OS I’d be all over it. It would be perfect when all you needed to do was get online. PC World has five questions about the Google OS. And Bloomberg sees the OS as a threat to Microsoft, an idea at which the PC World writer scoffs.