Google has officially announced plans for a new range of laptops powered by its Chrome OS operating system.
The Chrome OS laptops will be built by a range of laptop manufacturers in a variety of form factors. They will compete with existing laptops powered by the Windows, Mac OS X and Linux operating systems, in much the same way as Google's Android operating system challenges established players in the mobile phone arena.
Laptops powered by Chrome OS won't ship with a hard drive. Instead, all applications and user data will be stored in the cloud on Google's servers. Applications will be downloaded via the new Chrome Web Store and will consist of everyday favourites such as Google Docs, as well as free, paid-for and subscription-based applications created by third parties.
Crucially, use of HTML5 will help ensure data is still usable even when the laptops aren't connected to the Internet. All Chrome OS laptops will feature dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi and come with integrated 3G modems, with data connectivity provided by Verizon in the US. Data providers for markets outside the US have not yet been announced.
No contracts will be required to get online. Verizon will allow all Chrome OS laptop customers to download 100MB of data every month for two years, although, if this proves insufficient, users will be able to top up their allowance with day passes that provide unlimited data usage for 24 hours, or pay for additional data allowance by the gigabyte.
Google says it will take less than 60 seconds to get up and running from the moment a user unboxes their Chrome OS laptop for the first time. It also demonstrated a lightning-quick standby mode that saw the notebooks enter and emerge from standby mode as soon as the lid was opened or closed.
The Chrome OS user experience will be consistent across multiple laptops. As soon as a user logs in, their desktop themes, applications and settings will be synchronised with the new hardware, ensuring there is no difference in their Chrome OS experience regardless of where they log in or what device they use to do so.
Google also demonstrated a 'guest' mode that allows friends to log into Chrome OS and use an incognito browser window, maintaining privacy for both themselves and the owner of the laptop.
The first laptops to use Google Chrome OS will be built by Acer and Samsung, and launch by the summer of 2011. Until then, Google will test the new OS in a pilot programme, using an unbadged laptop known as the Cr-48.
The laptop is equipped with a 12.1-inch display, a full-size keyboard, a huge, MacBook-style clickable touchpad, a 3G modem, 802.11n dual-band Wi-Fi, a webcam and a battery that provides 8 hours of constant use, or 8 days of standby time.
We'll bring you a full hands-on with a Chrome OS laptop in the near future. Until then, keep your eyes locked on CNET UK.
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Comments 13
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anonymous 8 December, 2010 12:29
i am quite looking forward to the Google OS laptops but i'm just not within the idea that they have no HDD, people might want to save files onto their HDD instead even if the OS is based on cloud.
Still it looks quite good considering the battery life, go Google!
Howard10000 8 December, 2010 21:25
Bet they put a hd on it when it's released to the public.
bountyhunter134 8 December, 2010 22:25
I think there's some cunning moneymaking plotting going on there with the 100mb of download per month idea, and also, the main thing i'll be waiting to see is whether the whole idea will get shot down in flames by the tablet market...
adamm255 8 December, 2010 23:03
Its going to be a massive problem for non tech literate people being sold this by incompetent PC World idiots.
Especially if you have crap internet connections, or no 3G in your area.
Then I suppose its kind of like the iPad.
/fail
skapete 10 December, 2010 11:49
I like the idea. At the end of the day, 99% of the stuff you do on a computer (Listening to music, facebook, games, document editing, photo editing, photo viewing) can all be done on the web. So why not make the whole OS just the web?!
Anonymous 10 December, 2010 18:19
So when the website is down due to to many people accessing or via telecommuncations problems or ISP issues..... it becomes a brick - lol
Best make room in the local landfills now - as it will be a huge flop unless they sell it for £10 or the like, as after all most of the 'computer' is on the web.
Anonymous 10 December, 2010 18:24
So anyone want to buy some cheap - Google Shares ? - well wait till this product gets released then there will be tons of them going cheap ;)
Anonymous 11 December, 2010 13:29
Wonder what happens if you currently have no internet connection and your working on something in offline mode like a word document and the battery dies.. what happens to your work? o.o
Anonymous 11 December, 2010 19:38
You ring up Uncle Bill and say please for give me ;) - I'll never leave again - lol
Anonymous 13 December, 2010 23:59
When do you ever go on a computer and not load up the internet straight away? Especially when on a netbook. Sure it'll be pretty useless without internet, but most computers these days are.
Anonymous 21 December, 2010 22:27
It's not the principle of operation that's the problem, it's the fact that all the data 'owned' by the user is freely available to both Google and TPTB to do with what they please. Ever Wondered how much it cost google to photograph all our streets? must have been millions, yet we can all use that service for free??? (ish)
Not a big jump to lots of sinister theories is it?
anonymous 5 January, 2011 17:35
it sounds pretty neat, but no hard disk, saving all the files on google's servers and most important of all it needs a steady internet connection all the time, it will be a miracle if someone buys this in india :P
Anonymous 7 February, 2011 19:31
Cloud computing may not benefit the independent customer right now (all small percentage will love it, most will hate it) but imagine the benefits for the small business. Hey, I want to start up a new company office I need 30 computer with basic office apps. Do I spend thousands of pounds on outrageously priced software as well as thousands of pounds on pc's then employ an administrator to manage it all or do I buy a load of essentially "throw away laptop" from google and let them manage all my data storage for me. All you have to do let the google exploit you through advertising. I price I would be happy to pay.