First Chrome OS notebook coming this month

Google-branded notebooks bearing the first version of Chrome OS will appear later this month, offering the first glimpse at Google's browser-based operating system.

Little more than a year after Google first lifted the veil on its plans to challenge Microsoft Windows and Apple OS X with Chrome OS, the first hardware to support it is finally ready for launch. The Taiwanese paper DigiTimes reports that Google will release its own Chrome OS notebook, manufactured by Inventec, later this month. Acer and HP will also release Chrome OS notebooks in December.

The first Chrome OS notebook will keep stay true to Chrome’s browser roots – it’s being developed for consumers who buy computers primarily to use the Web. The Linux-based operating system will mostly act as a glorified browser, relying on cloud-based apps like Google docs to supply the functionality that traditionally comes from locally installed software.

Netbooks have taken a considerable hit since the introduction of tablets like the iPad. If Chrome OS “smartbooks” make a strong impression at the end of this month, it could reinvigorate the flagging market for low-cost notebooks.

Don’t expect to pick up a Chrome notebook at Best Buy anytime soon, however. Google won’t be shipping to retailers, instead selling the notebook online only at a price that has yet to be announced. Google is reportedly hosting an event that promises “exciting news about Chrome” and, according to Engadget, that means an official unveiling of its Chrome OS netbook. Earlier rumors of a launch in November have already fallen through, but a launch in just days would coincide with Google’s latest update to Chrome.

The netbook itself purports to have an interesting list of features, most notably a Cloud-based operating system, and according to early reports, the netbook can boot up in mere seconds. Interestingly enough, Google doesn’t seem poised to flood the market with the device; on the contrary, the rumor is that only 65,000 of the first iteration of the device will be made available to their “close friends and family.”  If this is true, that could certainly raise some eyebrows, especially considering the chunk of the market Apple and Samsung now have. The longer Google waits, the more of a handicap it may  be imposing on itself when the netbook does finally launch. However, Google may already have lost. Google Chrome 8.0 was pushed through with little fanfare, but the added inclusion of a Web Store (essentially Google’s App Store or Marketplace) delivers more circumstantial evidence in support of the netbook announcement. It has long been announced that this Web Store will allow app vendors to create content not only for the Chrome web browser, but the operating system as well. With nothing but (substantial) rumor to go on, it’s too soon to tell whether any of this will be enough for Google to distinguish its device from competitors. However, if Google does have an ace up its sleeve, it appears we’ll find out this coming Tuesday.