Gates chimes in on Chrome OS

Days after Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer hit out against Google for releasing both the Android and the upcoming Chrome operating systems, the company’s founder has entered the debate.

Bill Gates spoke with CNET News about Google’s upcoming web-based OS, and said Google’s new venture was more or less another Linux-based OS, and essentially more of the same.

“There are many, many forms of Linux operating systems out there and packaged in different ways and booted in different ways,” he said, and noted that, “in some ways I am surprised people are acting like there’s something new. I mean, you’ve got Android running on Netbooks. It’s got a browser in it.”

He also attacked the company for being unclear about their upcoming product, saying “the more vague they are, the more interesting it is”.

The comments come after Ballmer hit out against Google for releasing two operating systems within a short amount of time, despite Microsoft having Windows XP, Vista and the upcoming Windows 7 on the market and supported by the company at the one time.

“I don’t know if they can’t make up their mind or what the problem is over there, but the last time I checked, you don’t need two client operating systems. It’s good to have one.”