Google has officially launched it’s new Chrome-based notebook PC. The Chromebook is a “simplified” notebook PC which runs on Google’s Chrome operating system which is little more than an Internet browser which encourages consumers to use cloud based services for their day-to-day business needs.
Google has been advocating Chrome OS as an alternative to Microsoft Windows for almost two years, the Chromebook is the first PC available that is specifically designed to run on the OS. Because it is essentailly a “cloud PC”, the Chromebook takes a lot of the administration out of using a PC. Tasks such as installing software, running anti-virus checks, and backing up all your data are eliminated with the Chromebook because all of those functions can be handled in the always-on cloud services offered by Google.
“The complexity of managing your computer is torturing users,” Google cofounder Sergey Brin told Reuters. “It’s a flawed model fundamentally. Chromebooks are a new model that doesn’t put the burden of managing your computer on yourself.”
Reuters also reports that the Chrome software will be free, but it is expected to encourage people to use the Internet more often, and to search for more things, providing a boost for Google’s Internet ads business.
Because of its stripped-down OS, the Chromebook can boot in seconds.
Samsung and Acer will be making the Chromebooks, which will be available in Europe and the US in June 2011.
By Angela Meadon
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