New blow for Microsoft Surface: Touch Chromebooks 'on sale in 2013'
New blow for Google stablemate Android, too
Google has developed a new touchscreen Chromebook that will be out this year, claim industry sources. It's the latest story to surface about a touch-driven netbook powered by Google's Chrome operating system, which is based on open-source Linux.
A video leaked earlier this month appeared to be an advert for a touchscreen Google Chromebook, a metal-bodied laptop with a high-res 4-million pixel touchscreen named the Chromebook Pixel.
And in a report last night, insiders speaking to the Wall Street Journal said such a touchy-feely computer will go on sale this year. But the sources couldn't say exactly when the device will hit the shelves nor who will manufacture it. Google did not respond to our question about the veracity of the rumour.
The whispers come amid a big advertising push for Google's current Chromebook and soon after it emerged that Google is planning to open a string of bricks and mortar stores. The rumour is plausible as Google pushes deeper into hardware and direct selling against rivals Microsoft and Apple.
If a touchscreen-fitted Chromebook does hit the market, it will compete against the Surface - Microsoft's Windows 8-powered touchscreen laptop-cum-tablet - as well as Apple's iPad and Macbook gear.
And touchy computers using Chrome OS, built around the search giant's Chrome web browser, will compete with devices running on Google's mobile operating Android, also Linux powered. This is an internal rivalry that Google claims it is comfortable with. ®
COMMENTS
Re: Desktop Wars!!!!!
I used to post crap like you Eadon when I was a 20 something jobless dickhead. I grew up though, got a job and realised that being a biased, closed minded moron when it comes to technology makes you unemployable in IT.
Re: Desktop Wars!!!!!
Browser wars - still running. IE still ahead, but performing a tactical rear-guard retreat
Search wars - Google vs MSN / Bing - Google Won. Actually, yes they did.
Console wars - no clear winners here yet.
Mobile phone wars - Apple opened a new western front, progress halted, and now it's a trench war. Ongoing.
Tablet wars - Apple invaded Poland, took over most of Europe, and now Google is gradually getting it's shit together for a counter attack.
Server Wars - Stuck in a trench war, with Linux holding territorial advantage.
Cloud Wars - The data security equivalent of global thermo-nuclear war. Nobody wins.
Desktop Wars - Microsoft controls all of western Europe airspace, but their new dual-role 109's are no match for the new Spitfires, Mosquitos and Mustangs from Linux, Google and Apple. Fronts are being eroded.
Office suit wars: Microsoft controls all of western Europe, but their Panzer tank is now too heavy, too slow, and the driver controls overly complicated. The easier to use and lighter, faster Shermans and Churchhills of LO/OO and - I can't believe I'm saying this - iworks are making advances.
You are correct - only one war was won - but it was Google's search war.
Surface killer?
Nope, Surface doesn't need a killer, it commits suicide very well on its own.
Re: Different kinds of products
"While it is likely to compete with netbooks,..."
"I really don't think that the Chromebook is going to compete with machines that run full OS's..."
I thought most netbooks do run full OSs - all of mine do.
Re: Different kinds of products (@ dogged)
Do remember the time where men where real mean, women were real women, and techies were real techies?
No?
Well, anyway, somewhen around that Microsoft released Vista to almost universal derision, almost as there never failed to be someone in the thread saying how great it was.
