Two weeks ago, the tech world was abuzz with a rumor that Google's Chrome OS would be launching not in late 2010 as originally announced, but this month. My response was a bemused "Yeah right," but it turns out there was some truth to it.

Chrome hasn't officially been released to public yet, but recently Google officially made the operating system open-source. That means that if you know what you're doing, you can compile the code yourself and run the system on your computer. For the brave among us, TechCrunch has provided step-by-step instructions for downloading a virtual machine image via file-sharing sites so you can test it in a virtual setting.

As the details of Chrome have materialized, some interesting possibilities for the nonprofit community have emerged. When you use Chrome, all of your data is stored remotely, possibly making it easier than ever to work with older, donated computers. TechCrunch quotes Sundar Pichai, Google Vice President of Product Management:

In Chrome OS, every application is a web application. There are no native applications. That gives us simplicity. It's just a browser with a few modifications. All the data in Chrome OS is in the cloud. This is key, we want all of personal computing to work this way. If you lose your machine, you just get a new one, and it works.

Are we ready for a completely cloud-based operating system, given recent security concerns (not to mention lingering questions about Google and privacy)? Will the obvious benefits of a software as a service operating system outweigh the perceived risks?

Related

• Software as a Service (SaaS) Is Green, but Is It Right for You? (Blog)
• Comparing Online vs. Traditional Office Software (Learning Center)
• Extending the Life of Your Computer (Learning Center)
• Has SaaS Been Right for Your Organization? (TechSoup Forums)

All this month, TechSoup has been talking about reducing energy use at your organization and software as a service was a primary topic of discussion. For more, check out our Unpower Yourself! campaign. Learn more about cloud computing for your nonprofit or library on TechSoup's cloud page.

Photo: cobalt123, CC license