gOS, the new kid on the block in the world of Linux distributions, is releasing a new version of their operating system next week at CES. As we've written before, gOS is the version of Linux that comes pre-loaded on the $199 PC from Wal-Mart. Please note that gOS doesn't have anything to do with Google directly, it just happens to come pre-installed to use services such as YouTube, Docs, and Spreadsheets, and Blogger. You can also find tools such as Skype, Wikipedia, among others.

gOS is a new step because it's among the first operating systems to be focused on web applications. This pending update that will include Google Gears is significant because Google Gears will allow gOS users to use some these web applications offline, namely Google Reader and Zoho, for starters. Of course, you could always just load Google Gears for Linux on the gOS or most other Linux operating systems today, but the whole point of gOS is that the operating system is designed to be easy to use the moment you first turn your PC on.