Windows remains the operating-system of choice for countless users who would like the full desktop power without any type of compromise regarding the apps they have to run.

And while the competition from other platforms, including Linux itself, keeps growing, Windows continues to be number 1 desktop platform, and the large app ecosystem plays a vital role within this.

Google itself is pushing hard for Chrome OS, an operating system whose adoption is growing mostly in the education market where Chromebooks can be used by teachers and students for any wide selection of tasks. But simply like other platforms, Chrome OS has also suffered from the possible lack of app support, something which once more made Windows the go-to platform for thus many customers.

And now everything is designed to change.

Google has recently announced that it's bringing Windows apps, such as the Microsoft Office productivity suite, to Chrome OS, all using a partnership with Parallels. Quite simply, Chrome OS users should be able to run Windows apps on Chrome OS just like they are doing on Microsoft's operating system, therefore the drawback that I was referring to earlier would technically be eliminated.

Parallels software will be offered by OS level on Chrome OS, so the virtualization software would become available for everyone natively.

"The Chrome OS team is focusing on new methods to make sure every company can benefit from the velocity created by supporting a cloud workforce. For instance, our new partnership with Parallels brings legacy application support-which includes Microsoft Office desktop apps-to Chromebooks. More to come about this within the coming months," John Solomon, VP, Chrome OS, explains.

This announcement is anything but great news for Microsoft.

While initially the software giant might be one of the companies to profit in the Windows app support on Chrome OS, especially because Microsoft Office would thus make its debut on Google's platform, not the same thing is likely to happen in the long run.

Quite simply, with Chrome OS available these days to run Windows apps, some users no longer have a reason to choose Microsoft's operating-system, so in the long run, the marketplace share of Google's operating system is likely to continue growing.

And Google itself admits the adoption of Chrome OS is skyrocketing.

"The benefits and features of Chrome OS that we once thought were additive suddenly became mandatory and business-critical. Case in point, we have seen a 109% year over year growth in unit sales within the U.S. for Chromebooks, and ~155% year over year development in commercial Chromebooks in Q1 2020, fueled in part through the cost benefits and simplicity of deploying Chromebooks," Solomon notes.

Based on third-party data, Windows continues to be the main desktop operating-system having a share of the market that's over 85 %. Quite simply, nearly 9 in 10 PCs out there are still powered by Windows, with Windows 10 adoption also increasing, the latest OS version may be the one to benefit.

But on the other hand, the adoption of Windows alternatives keeps improving too. For instance, Linux has reached a brand new record this year, with increased and much more users giving a try towards the likes of Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and other distributions. With Chrome OS typically on affordable devices, there's a high probability Google would also become a more important player in this market.

For now, Microsoft continues to be go-to company for 9 in 10 users on the desktop, but it's pretty clear that it's all an engaged market with a continuously expanding portfolio of alternatives.