Chrome OS is beginning to make more sense to a lot of users - maybe not you. My email, my pictures, most of my business and education docs are already online. I don't use the more advanced software, which requires the Windows OS, until I get back to my home office. So, these lighter, longer-life laptops might make more sense for me while I'm on the road. Although, I'd prefer to have Chrome OS on a Transformer-type device, giving me both a tablet and a netbook.
Most of my clients, who are small-medium sized businesses, are already in the cloud (Google Apps), too. Some of those clients are pilots, who would love to have a laptop that
1) isn't over-priced, like Apple,
2) actually gets 8+ hours of battery life and
3) gives them access to the typical services that they use, every one of which happens to be web-based.
As for why Google is pursuing 2 platforms - Google OS and Android - at the same time -- I don't have an answer for that one. I think the answer to that question will present itself as both platforms mature a bit more. Too early to tell without being involved in Google's meetings.
