Google Chrome OS Lands On Hardware

We’ve already seen Google’s Chrome OS. Now, it plays nice with USB storage and devices. And finally, there’s hardware you can get your hands on.

Google raised some eyebrows last month when it made changes to Chrome OS’s source code. It added multiple references to touchscreens and tablets, including a new touch-optimized tab page. The idea of a Chrome OS tablet isn’t new though; Google even made mocks of such a device in February 2010.

Acer’s Chromebook has an 11.6-inch screen, has a battery that will last 6.5 hours and cost $US349. Both the Samsung and Acer Chromebooks will be available on June 15.


When asked about Google’s future plans for Chrome OS beyond the notebook, Google SVP of Chrome Sundar Pichai said that Chrome OS is “agnostic” to the hardware it runs on. In other words, Chrome OS can easily be ported to tablets, desktops and other Internet-connected devices.

Google also teased a new reference Chromebook for developers (meaning you can’t buy it) that will feature the new hardware specs. Like the two consumer models, it will be shipped out on June 15 to those at the conference.

That doesn’t mean that Google is ignoring tablets, though. On Tuesday, Google released Android Honeycomb 3.1, the newest version of its tablet-optimized OS. With an operating system already optimized for phones and tablets, Google doesn’t have any incentive to bring Chrome OS to tablets anytime soon.