Creating a new host operating system is very simple in VMWare Fusion 3.0. Simply open up the Virtual Machine Library, and select the Create button.

 

 

 

 

The next screen gives you three different options. Choose the last option that is named "Use existing virtual disk". At this point, VMWare will also ask you if you want to use it as is, or if you would like to make a copy. I decided to make a copy of it. At this point, it also notified me that the existing virtual disk was created with an old version. I allowed it to convert the it to a new version. 

 

 

 

 

The next screen is important. It asks you what type of operating system lives on the virtual machine. Based on the Techcrunch article, I choose Linux, and then Ubuntu.

 

 

 

 

The image file is rather small, so it only took a few minutes to convert over.

 

 

 

 

Once the machine is all copied over, you ca now launch it through the Virtual Machine Library.

 

 

 

 

The operating system launched for me without a problem. As others have reported, it will display a black screen for a varying amount of time (about 20 seconds on my Macbook Pro). At that point, you will be taken to a login screen.

 

 

 

 

I ran into my only problem trying to login for the first time. It stated that it could not reach a network and that my offline login information was incorrect. To fix this problem, I had to go into my VMWare settings for this virtual machine and change my network settings. I changed from NAT to Bridge, restarted the VM, and was then able to login correctly. A word to the wise, this disk image was downloaded off of the Pirate Bay, and for all we know, could contain malicious code that steals login information. I used my secondary Google account to perform my testing.

 

 

 

 

Chrome OS looks and acts just like the Chrome Web Browser. It does provide sort of a "home page" that has icons for web based applications - Google Docs, Gmail, Hotmail, a Notepad application, Facebook, Hulu, some games, and even Pandora. 

 

 

 

 

In attempting to use Pandora, I was not able to get my sound working, but I really can't say I bothered to really try. Unfortunately from a review standpoint, the release I tested was very basic and doesn't offer a whole lot of functionality. There is a clock, a network icon, and a battery/charger icon. The network icon gives very basic options for Ethernet and Wifi networks. The battery/charger icon doesn't really show anything of interest either.

 

Testing Chrome OS out really drove home the fact that we have reached the point where traditional hardware and operating systems are becoming less important. I can read my favorite websites, listen to music, play on Facebook, and even do some work without ever needing other installed applications. Up until this point, Netbooks have simply been highly portable PCs that still rely on traditional computing technologies and come with the headaches of maintaining them. While I can't see this replacing everyone's main system, I can absolutely see it giving the Netbook market a true identity for the future. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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