Technology | Google Why Google's OS Won't Beat Microsoft Windows 7, open-source competition hold Chrome OS back By Matt Cantor Posted Jul 9, 2009 11:48 AM CDT Copied Steven Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft prepares to address The National Summit in Detroit, Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Microsoft needn’t stress about Google’s planned operating system, writes Joseph Tartakoff for paidContent. Five reasons why: Windows 7 will put Microsoft on firmer ground, having won great reviews so far—and it will have been out 9 months by the time Chrome OS appears. Google’s not the only behemoth that knows users are running apps inside their browsers more often: Microsoft is developing a new "browser-based OS" with that in mind. Chrome OS will face competition from Ubuntu and other open-source operating systems at a time when Ubuntu is emerging as the leader—further splintering the market. Since Chrome OS is centered on the Web, users won’t likely be able to run any Windows applications. This isn’t the first time Google has directly attacked Microsoft: see Google Docs and the Chrome browser; neither has grabbed much market share. Read These Next James Carville has a new 4-word political mantra. "Theo" from The Cosby Show has died at age 54. More big names lend support to Stephen Colbert. Eleven arrested following viral video of honor killing. Report an error