You bring up a good point — but I don't necessary think Gears should be considered an OS. Gears is essentially an implementation of HTML5, and I would consider it more of an API than an OS. It can be used to write new applications for the cloud/thin computing, but it comes short of managing memory or hardware.

I have no ill will against any cloud apps — you mention Dropbox as a service you use, and I use it a lot when I can't get on my home network. I won't deny that cloud apps are becoming more important especially when using mobile devices like smartphones and MIDs/Netbooks, the walls between being connected or not are rapidly falling (although offline support is still something I consider a must for any HTML5-ready site). Perhaps I am looking wrong at where the future is — mobile computing might be the future, and if it means having to use the “cloud” to keep all of our information connected, its a change that I will embrace (I already have).

You bring up a good point — but I don't necessary think Gears should be considered an OS. Gears is essentially an implementation of HTML5, and I would consider it more of an API than an OS. It can be used to write new applications for the cloud/thin computing, but it comes short of managing memory or hardware.

I have no ill will against any cloud apps — you mention Dropbox as a service you use, and I use it a lot when I can't get on my home network. I won't deny that cloud apps are becoming more important especially when using mobile devices like smartphones and MIDs/Netbooks, the walls between being connected or not are rapidly falling (although offline support is still something I consider a must for any HTML5-ready site). Perhaps I am looking wrong at where the future is — mobile computing might be the future, and if it means having to use the “cloud” to keep all of our information connected, its a change that I will embrace (I already have).

You bring up a good point — but I don't necessary think Gears should be considered an OS. Gears is essentially an implementation of HTML5, and I would consider it more of an API than an OS. It can be used to write new applications for the cloud/thin computing, but it comes short of managing memory or hardware.

I have no ill will against any cloud apps — you mention Dropbox as a service you use, and I use it a lot when I can't get on my home network. I won't deny that cloud apps are becoming more important especially when using mobile devices like smartphones and MIDs/Netbooks, the walls between being connected or not are rapidly falling (although offline support is still something I consider a must for any HTML5-ready site). Perhaps I am looking wrong at where the future is — mobile computing might be the future, and if it means having to use the “cloud” to keep all of our information connected, its a change that I will embrace (I already have).

One, doesn’t G already have an operating system available in the form of gears? I mean you use it to run on-line apps when you’re off-line… doesn’t that make it an os?

Second, digital nomads like me are clamouring for a cloud-based life, a device agnostic lifestyle where you can continue to access everything you need. I’ve got G apps or Zoho, Gmail, Flickr and Picasa for pics, and Dropbox for my files that don’t fit anywhere else. Now granted, I have my own hosting account(s) for my blogs and other websites, that helps a lot. Couple all that with the $250 netbook making the PC a commodity instead of an investment…

In the end, this migration back to the big iron (ie the Cloud) is going to happen, and tools like Gears are helping bridge the gap that currently exists between online and off-line. As connectivity becomes more ubiquitous the less of a big deal it will be… IMHO.

Awesome topic!

@jtrigsby