Does Chrome OS use X11 at all? If so, is there a window manager or is Chrome itself serving that function?

There is a window manager. You can dig into the code via chromium.org if you want to understand the details :)

Why don't you let people install ChromeOS on existing netbook? It's linux based, it should work on any netbook. Also, most of those machines have the same hardware anyway.

Try these instructions: http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/developer-guide#TOC-Gett...

Linked from that page is a list of hardware known to be compatible with Chrome OS: http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/getting-dev-hardware/dev...

Have fun!

Thank you. That's interesting. However, mine was more a policy question. ChromeOS is not thought to be just another OS you can download and install. It will be mainly bound to new devices. I don't understand why.

Presumably it's like OS X -- it's a lot harder to make an OS that runs on any old hardware than it is if you know the hardware ahead of time.

Absolutely. Also, there are plenty of great open source developers contributing to the Chromium project to help get the OS working on multiple platforms. If you have an Eee or Dell Mini, for example, there are builds for those freely available.

Is the trial likely to extend to other countries?

The devices we have right now will all be given out to US pilots.

(* applies for citizenship / enrols in flight-training programme)

Do you at least know if whether or not you signed up using the "basic" form or advanced form matters for the early shipments? I signed up about half an hour after the form was live and then found the advanced form and signed up using that instead. Judging by reports from other Cr-48 recipients, I should have signed up using the "basic" form. Can you confirm this?

I know nothing about the distribution side, sorry.