Yes, a web based OS could be a reality in the very near future.

Quote: Originally Posted by TechSpot YouOS Demonstrates a Web Based Operating System What's the next step after web-based applications and thin clients? Web-based operating systems, apparently. An interesting idea known as YouOS is a project that strives to create a full computing environment that is entirely web-based, running programs (including browsers) completely inside your browser. Files are saved and data kept inside your virtual web environment and you can access it from just about anywhere. While not much more than a demo at this point, the concept and potential behind YouOS is clear. As long as you can access a browser, you could theoretically access your YouOS machine. With many companies focusing on creating web-based applications, even Microsoft, the near future may see projects like this become commonplace. Take a look

New Source: TechSpot

I can see good and bad in this idea, but there is a demo on the YouOS site that you can check out.

It's an interesting trend how everything is now moving to being web-based (like the Writely.com word processor) thanks to the powers of AJAX.

This is a bad idea. Well why not just let hackers sit at out computer a few hours.:furious3:

Internet Explorer is bad enough.

Quote: Originally Posted by musclecars&computers This is a bad idea. Well why not just let hackers sit at out computer a few hours.:furious3: Internet Explorer is bad enough.

Yup, it's like app and OS developers have just given up. I don't like web based apps... if the internet gets toasty, or your FW... or router, or switch, or eieio... you are toast.

The Navy uses web based apps for all kinds of stuff..... what a pain in the @ss.

There's no real reason or market for this, I don't think. If you have a web-based operating system, what are you gaining? Want to listen to music? You need speakers. Want to play a game? It isn't going to happen on a web-based "rowboat".

There's also the issue of bandwidth hogging. Can you imagine the bandwidth that would be needed to host, say, 10,000 users' OS? It would be wasted! :issues:

Quote: Originally Posted by Meta There's no real reason or market for this, I don't think. If you have a web-based operating system, what are you gaining? Want to listen to music? You need speakers. Want to play a game? It isn't going to happen on a web-based "rowboat". There's also the issue of bandwidth hogging. Can you imagine the bandwidth that would be needed to host, say, 10,000 users' OS? It would be wasted! :issues:

Actually, there is a huge enterprise level market for this. For large corporations with thousands of employees, instead of spending millions on OS and App licensing as well as PC purchase and life cycle.... buy a huge server and propogate a web based OS and app suite to either your current pc footprint or newer thin type clients (or even pc's).

There are millions that can be saved. I don't like it. It isn't pretty, or easy to manage. But, in a large enterprise evironment, it could make sense.

Plus, imagine how much money can be saved on RAS for travelers. Use hotel internet connections to VPN into your desktop at the office (which is actually on a corporate server).

Not my cup of tea... but not a particularly bad idea.