The Cr-48 and Chrome OS: Google's vision of the net

Google has already surprised me with some of what I have seen. For example, their plans to build printing support into ChromeOS actually look like they might work. I am not sure what they have planned in terms of device support for things like cameras or media players.

The plug-in problem was the biggest red flag for me. What good is the WebStore if you cannot run the applications you find there. Of course, if this just means making sure there is a flash plug-in or something then I am sure these problems can be solved before ChromeOS launches for real.

The WebStore is clearly meant to be the place where you would find an application to help you perform the kinds of everyday tasks you describe (photo manipulation in your example). There are web sites out there today that do this kind of stuff. If Google or somebody else puts it in an easy to find place (the WebStore) then your Mom might not have problems with her camera after all.

I am sure that Google is hoping that some of us will be less cynical about the potential for ChromeOS and that we will write applications to plug some of these holes. The Android Market has certainly attracted lots of attention. Time will tell if something similar can happen here.