In late 2008, Google surprised the tech community by launching their own browser. Rumors swirled about the direction of the company, since this was Google’s first significant foray into building applications that run locally. What could they do in 2009 to top that? How about an entire operating system.

Google Chrome OS is built on the idea that other operating systems were designed in an era where most computing was done offline (Microsoft, Apple, are you listening?). Everybody knows the common complaints of those systems: expensive, heavy resource hogs that get slower and slower the more they’re used. Since many (if not most) common computing situations are now performed online, having a bloated operating system doesn’t always make the most sense.

The implications are clear. Google wants you running their operating system, using their browser, and accessing their online office applications (Google Docs). In keeping with their mantra "don’t be evil," Google claims there are multiple options from competitors to keep the DoJ from getting too keen on anti-trust issues. Google has clearly learned from Microsoft’s example.

Judging by the video below – this major undertaking is well under way, and if history is any indicator it will be highly polished upon full release.

Each business morning until the end of the year we’ll be highlighting what we think are the top 9 cloud computing stories that either took place or became more significant in 2009. Be sure to either check back here on the blog or follow us on Twitter @ModelMetricsInc for each update.

At number 9 on our list, cloud computing itself makes it as a top story of 2009. The year that has seen businesses and consumers alike continually stifled by the credit crunch has also seen the dramatic rise and growing acceptance of cloud computing as a legitimate enterprise alternative to more costly on-premise applications.

What was once viewed as pure marketing hype (and famously lampooned by Oracle’s Larry Ellison) is now the fastest growing sector in enterprise technology. In 2009 cloud computing pioneer salesforce.com became a billion dollar company, with no signs of slowing down despite significant economic headwinds.

Independent research firm IDC projects that from 2009 – 2012 the market for cloud computing will triple in size, exploding to US$42B. Their research supports the notion that companies are continually looking to lower their technology costs, and finding those cost reductions with cloud computing technology from salesforce.com, Google, and Amazon Web Services.