What is an internet operating system?

An internet OS runs from a server and uses an internet client — most likely a web browser, properly referred to as as web desktop (webtop), as its front-end. This is an advanced form of the (thin) client-server methodology using newer technologies including new JavaScript frameworks.

The web desktop can be as complex or simple as the vendor wants or the user needs. The end-user buys access to use the desktop anywhere possible (host OS, web browser, home, work, etc.) and usually does not care how the back-end works or looks like. From the various web desktops that I have used, the sales pitch is always how the GUI looks and how portable it is.

The server or group of servers does not need to be locally — not the same building, not the same city, not even the same country. These servers could be running any OS like Linux, BSD, Windows or maybe their custom-made OS. These same machines can handle any combination of web services including runtime libraries and/or environments including various frameworks like IBM WebSphere, OpenSocial, Oracle WebLogic, WordPress and/or frameworks for fediverse and/or other purposes. These software combinations are transparent to the end-user.

In an internet OS, all resources are in the server and not on the web desktop as expected in the client-server model. As such, the end-user cannot mount drives or connect peripherals, but can access peripherals connected to the server that are part of the OS experience. The latter 05/be considered software as a service (SaaS) depending on vendor agreement, which at point would normally charge per computer time — milliseconds a given transaction is performed.

The biggest obstacle for this technology so far has been the correct marketing. Vendors behind these OSs have failed to persuade users to believe that they can take their work from point `A` to point `B` without the need of carrying a laptop around or the need to connect to a corporate VPN. These vendors have had the perfect opportunity with the COVID19 pandemic to exploit the need for a specific technology like Zoom did for teleconference. Perhaps this technology, which is a mix old (thin clients) and new (internet, JS, etc.), is dead on arrival.