Your notebook probably has some version of Windows on it as XP or Windows 7 Starter. Since the notebook has limited resources to start you can run an operating system that will give you the most horsepower.
Turn Your Old PC into a Webapp Monster with gOS
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As more and more full-featured web applications look to replace traditional desktop apps, the concept of a web-based operating system has gained a lot of momentum. And since Wal-Mart began selling a $199 PC running a free Linux distribution—called gOS—with a hearty dose of webapp integration, we're getting closer. If you've got an extra PC gathering dust, gOS is not only a worthy operating system for a cheap PC from Wal-Mart; it's also an excellent (and free) way to repurpose your old PC.
But I'm a power-user, you say, if I'm going to run Linux it's not going to be this kiddie web crap. Be that as it may, gOS is actually running full-on Ubuntu with a paint job in the form of the Enlightenment window manager. You still get access to the rest of the wealth of Linux applications available. The main difference is the focus of gOS, and that's webapps—more specifically, Google webapps. According to the founder of gOS, It's not an official "Google PC" or "Google OS"; it is what I think one should look like, though.
Of course, gOS provides shortcuts to more than just Google applications. In all, gOS's launchbar offers up the following who's-who of web applications:
- Email: Gmail
- Chat: Meebo
- News: Google News
- Calendar: Google Calendar
- Maps: Google Maps
- Office: Google Docs and Spreadsheets
- Shopping: Google Product Search
- Social Networking: Facebook
- Online Video: YouTube
- Reference: Wikipedia
- Blogging: Blogger
Want to check your email? Just click the big Gmail icon. Watch some online video? Click YouTube. The default browser for web browsing is, naturally, Firefox, so you'll also be able to install your favorite Firefox extensions and tweak your browser to your heart's content.
gOS Is Just Ubuntu with a Paint Job
So Why Use It?
There are a few instances that gOS could come in particularly handy, especially if you're repurposing a PC (that is, it's no longer your primary PC). First, it's an excellent gateway PC for general use. After all, what do you use a general purpose home PC for other than the internet? Second, gOS offers no-brainer access to many of the most popular web sites on the internet, making it great for kids or grandparents alike getting started with their first PC. Imagine setting up a Google account for someone who's not terribly keen on computers and then handing them over to a PC with gOS. Getting started from there couldn't be easier.
It's not that gOS does something that no other operating system is capable of. But if the web is what you're most interested in using your computer for, gOS will be customized and ready to tackle the most popular webapps out of the box.
Give the Live CD a Try
Luckily you don't have to make any major commitment to try out gOS, since—like many good Linux distributions—gOS comes in the form of a bootable Live CD. So go grab the Live CD image (which should download quickly over BitTorrent) and burn it to a CD (I'd recommend using ImgBurn).
Linux gOS with Mac OS X like theme
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gOS or "good OS" is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution created by 'Good OS LLC', a Los Angeles-based corporation. Its CIO Dave Liu described that after meeting Enlightenment and open source people he realized that his dream to bring Web 2.0 applications into mainstream use could be realized by creating a Linux distribution that made it easy for users to access Google and other Web 2.0 applications.
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History
The company initially advertised gOS 1.0 as "An alternative OS with Google Apps and other Web 2.0 apps for the modern user." This first version gOS (1.0.1_386) was based on Ubuntu 7.10 and the Enlightenment window manager E17.
On January 7, 2008, a test version (2.0.0-beta1) of gOS, intended to demonstrate the Everex CloudBook at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, and named "gOS Rocket", was released. This version was also E17 based. The definitive second version of gOS debuted at the end February 2008, together with the launch of Everex's new CloudBook, the gBook laptop, and a new, second version of the gPC, the "encore". This version was called gOS V2 Rocket, and was completely rewritten and now based on the GNOME window manager, a built in Compositing window manager, and the Avant Window Navigator.
On April 6, 2008, Good OS launched a publicly available version of gOS, called gOS 2.9 "Space", intended for the gPC mini, This version is based on Compiz fusion, Gnome, and the Avant Window Navigator dock manager, but also uses E17 code. It has a Dock with a "stack" very much like the "fan view" of Mac OS X v10.5.
On September 23, 2008 Good OS launched gOS 3 Gadgets, which is described by Good OS, as "The third and best version of gOS to date, Perfect for Netbooks". It is still based on GNOME but has replaced AWN with yet another launcher called Wbar, and introduces the full support for Wine 1.0, Picasa (using the Wine libraries) and Google Gadgets.
On December 1, 2008 Good OS announced its next operating system, Cloud. Cloud can be described as an "instant on browser based application environment". With Cloud users can browse the Internet seconds after turning on their computer, and can also use it to run applications, like Skype, or a media player. Cloud shows a Dock similar to gOS 3 in the browser window, and will keep loading the main operating system (Windows, Linux, OSX) in the background. An icon in the Dock will tell the user when the main OS has finished booting in the background, and can be used to switch instantly to the main OS, when tasks not (yet) supported under Cloud are needed. A beta test program for Cloud version 1.0 was announced January 30, 2009.
On January 3, 2009 Good OS released gOS 3.1 Gadgets (SP1), or Service pack 1, a bug-fixed version of gOS 3.0. Simultaneously they also launched a new official forum, as a replacement for the google discussion group used previously, and faqly, which is now defunct.
Faqly was a cross between an Internet forum and a FAQ where gOS users could ask questions, and browse for answers. Other gOS users, or Linux experts, could then provide answers to the questions. But Faqly had some large usability problems, notably the fact that users had problems deciding when the system was searching for an answer, or entering a new question. Additionally, questions and answers could not be edited or deleted.
Design
gOS: Good OS for Google Enthusiast
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Remember the fuzz about Google launching Google OS (Operating System) spread among Google mania back a few months ago? Well, up until this post is posted, it seems that Google OS is not going to happen. Feel disappointed? Don’t be! As other Google enthusiasts is trying to make it happen!
Introducing gOS a GNU/Linux OS based on a well known Ubuntu distribution. The main goal of gOS is to provide an operating system integrated with Google services such as GMail, Google Search, Calendar, Maps, Talk, Blogger, YouTube and some other well known website or application such as Skype and Facebook.
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