It seems like every week a few dozen companies pump out new online "operating systems," commonly referred to as WebOSes. Essentially, they're like virtual desktops that you can access from any web browser. Each lets you run a small suite of applications like a word processor, spreadsheet, calculator, instant messenger, and in some cases, even a web browser.

This week, French company Jooce launched a beta version of a slick looking WebOS, and we shrugged. It's hard to care anymore. Mashable's put together a list of more than 45 WebOS applications. And that might be just the tip of the iceberg.

Sure, the world would be a better place if we had more than 3 or 4 desktop operating systems to choose from (assuming you don't run into file compatibility problems). But seriously, do we need 50 different webtops? In fact, do we need one? There's not a single thing you can do with Jooce, EyeOS, Ataloo, AjaxWindows, or any other WebOS that you can't do with Zoho, Google Docs & Spreadsheets, and a good online storage site.

We could see a WebOS being useful if the world was filled with dumb terminals that had nothing but a web browser installed. Then you could go to any terminal and access a powerful online desktop. But instead, you can use your powerful computer to access a stripped down version of all the same tools that are already on your desktop.

Seriously, does anybody actually use any of these services? Bueller? Bueller?

It seems unlikely that web based "operating systems" are going to replace the concept of the desktop OS anytime soon. But there is some appeal to the idea of having a central desktop with access to your documents, files, word processor, and RSS feeds no matter what computer you're using.

EyeOS is hardly the only name in the web operating system game, but the recently launched EyeOS 1.0 makes a pretty compelling case that a web OS could actually work. Web-based applications, (including a word processor, chess game, calendar, calculator, and process manager) load quickly and are easy to use. The desktop has a clean and modern feel to it. The list of applications is pretty light, with no spreadsheet or presentation software.

But EyeOS is open source, and anyone can develop applications that will run on the platform. So if you're not happy with the current software available, you've only got yourself to blame.

[via Read/WriteWeb]

At this point web-based "operating systems" have to fight seemingly insurmountable odds to really work well. There are limits in the codebase (choosing JavaScript versus Flash, or a combo of both, results in a few compromises). There are limits within the browser itself (can't save if the window gets closed, or if the connection goes south). But that's not stopping people from trying. Webby's World has a little blurb about some of these attempts, and mentions a relative newcomer: XIN. I've been playing with Goowy for a while now and find it amusing and useful, not to mention getting better all the time. It's only a matter of time and maturity before the best of these are either acquired or get swept up in a MySpace-esque social vector. Anyone got a particular favorite in this race of could be's? To me they are like fancy cars- nice to look at, but not practical for driving to work every day.

EyeOS is a cool app that I think will take some time to find its niche. EyeOS is technically a web app, but you have to find our own web space which supports PHP if you want to use it. It attempts to be an entirely web-based OS with windows and apps and all that you can access from any web browser. Apps are easy one-click installs, but unfortunately the selection is extremely limited at this time. The bundled apps include a calendar, calculator, text editor, and web browser (how meta), and there are a few that you can install from the web including an IRC client, but that's basically it for now. However, it does look like a very slick project, so here's hoping EyeOS will find some traction (a hosted service would help) and turn out to be something worth using.