Matt and Devin's guide to Desktop Operating Systems
Chrome OS is a Google-made operating system which consists mainly of the Google Chrome browser. It was initially envisioned as a fully web-based thin client, running the OS, apps, and storage in the cloud. While this specific functionality did not take off, it still specializes in running web applications. Currently, Chrome OS computers have local file storage and media playback capabilities, can run Chrome apps that have been packaged for offline usage, and run webapps online. While Chromebooks have become popular for light personal computing, they have really taken off in the education market, becoming the most popular computer in the K-12 market in 2016. Chrome OS also has support for running Android apps locally, which has become a major selling point for personal users.
Chrome OS is for anyone who has a reliable Internet connection and typically only uses a computer for light web-browsing and media playback. It has also found popularity among educational markets since Chromebooks are typically inexpensive and they are compatible with Google's classroom features. Their mobile device management features and web filtering controls are another major selling point here.
