Google Shows Off More Chrome OS Details

Google has unveiled more details about its upcoming Chrome OS, which is slated to be released mid-2011.

Chrome OS will run on Intel-based notebooks; Acer and Samsung are expected to introduce the first commercially-available 





notebooks supporting it. Although the operating system has an offline mode, it still depends greatly on the "Cloud". During the quick initial setup, it pulls your Chrome settings from Google servers; the whole process is supposed to take less than a few minutes.
An interesting fact about the operating system is that it does not allow for users to download and install software. Rather, all applications will be web-based and appear as shortcuts on the user's home page.
Chrome OS is designed to be fast; the company says it can resume from sleep almost instantly. Automatic updates every few weeks will add performance enhancements. 
Chrome OS notebooks will come with 100MB of free data per month via Verizon 3G, which is good for two years; after that plans start at $9.99 per day sans contracts.
Right now Chrome OS is in beta; it is missing support for USB ports and printers, though users will supposedly be able to use the company's Cloud Print service to connect to their home printers.