I want a desktop OS that runs web apps so well that it obviates the need for a browser, not an app that runs in the browser that emulates my current desktop OS.

But one of the crucial steps in getting to your end result is building proof of concepts like this gentleman has done. This guy built a nice little prototype, open sourced it and explained the code for anyone wanting to take it further. Now others can look at the cool stuff he did with JQuery and use it to make their own great web apps.

Once there are enough great web apps every layman will clamor for the Desktop OS you want. Which will make manufacturers more inclined to deliver it. That's why Proof of concepts like this are a great thing.

Shades of ActiveDesktop and desktop HTML widget things.

My desktop background used to be a Webcam image. The novelty wears off, though.

I really liked ActiveDesktop. I made my desktop a web page with links to common places I went on my computer.

Impressive work and I don't want to be discouraging but I think that transferring the Desktop paradigm to the web is probably not the best way of building powerful web interfaces

Agreed. It's like making a car that looks like a horse+cart. Fun to do, but no one would use it.

I don't think the point of this demo is to prototype a real desktop - it's just a demo.

I think what he has shown is how to build an app (ok, beding it a bit, but a desktop-like app) using JQuery.

Pretty cool, considering I didn't know you could do such work with JQuery.

Now if only you could run emacs on your desktop in your browser on your desktop.

Browser-based X11 implementation?

...

I think something like this could be ideal for a hosting company's client interface.

I think one of the great things about the web is having client interfaces tailored specifically to the domain being dealt with. I don't think a traditional desktop interface - that is something that is great at handling disparate/undefined domains - is a good choice for something with a finite scope.

Singlehop.com has had one like this for a year or so and it is pretty good.

I was thinking keyboard shortcuts would have been implemented, went to the demo page , opened "my computer", hit Alt+F4 (thinking that itd close the "my computer" modal, boom, my browser closed.

Would be nice to integrate keyboard shortcuts in there as well. Good job though.

I'm updating the desktop from proof of concept to full app. http://www.prototypic.net/rssbus/desktop/desktop.html

Reminds me of http://robin.sourceforge.net/ which was sort of an all-XUL version of this.

Sorry but can someone explain me why was I downvoted. I thought it was a legit question.

I assume you've been down voted because Chrome OS as the name implies will be an operating system (not a web page) and a cursory investigation would have revealed that. Aside from that, the structure of your sentence is awkward and further implies a lack of thought prior to clicking 'reply'.