There as those who refer to Chrome as the foundation of operating system that, when complete, will allow Google to compete more directly with Microsoft for control of the desktop.

I remember a time when people said that Java was the desktop of the future and that soon applications would "live" one level above the operating system. Goodbye Windows, hello apps! Or so the thinking went.

While that has not happened yet, Chrome certainly helps Java work faster and also separates browser sessions so that if one crashes it will not slow down the others. That would be an important feature for a browser looking to become an operating system.

But, what of ? Google already has a real operating system for mobile devices, one that some say is poised to overtake the functionality of the forthcoming iPhone 3.0. There is speculation Android will find its way onto netbooks and wild speculation it will morph into a desktop OS.

I have written previously that I don't think Google needs for Android to become a desktop operating system.