The Google Chrome Netbook
We know that Google is creating an operating system for netbooks, but there is also speculation that they are in touch with manufacturers to create a Google Chrome netbook. This isn’t totally out of whack with reality, even though Google is not known for hardware products. They have aggressively been expanding their product mix and took on Microsoft with the Google Chrome browser. Then came online Google Apps, a free (for personal home use) MS-Office replacement. There were also rumors about an Android-based Google phone in devlopment earlier this year.
Little known British website Ibtimes.com has released what it claims are the Google Chrome netbook specifications. It doesn’t really say where its rumors come from though, so we don’t know how viable the report is. Anyways, they report that the netbook will feature:
- Display: 10.1 inch HD ready multi-touch screen
- CPU: ARM-based processor
- Storage: 64GB SSD
- Memory: 2GB
- Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, Ethernet
- I/O: USB, webcam, 3.5mm audio jack, flash card reader
- OS: Google Chrome OS
The site also goes on to claim that the netbook will be available at a sub-$300 price, but will be subsidized. All in all, the netbook specs look impressive. The ARM processor will whoop the Intel Atom Pine Trail series, and the 64GB SSD will offer more security and solidity than the normal hard drives in other netbook. If you’re questioning the storage capacity, remember that this netbook is based on the “cloud computing” concept, where everything is stored on the internet. This means that major portions of software will be stored online, and much smaller nooks on your netbook will link up to them and run the application. Of course, the netbook would be need to be online all the time.
We’ll keep you updated about the Google Chrome Netbook, but if these rumors are true it will be a killer little machine.
Filed under: Netbook