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Acer To Launch Chrome OS Netbook Next Month

Posted by Soulskill on from the what-a-short-strange-road-it's-been dept.

Barence writes "Acer is preparing to launch devices based on Google's Chrome OS at next month's Computex trade show, according to reports. Multiple sources have apparently told VentureBeat that the company will show off devices at the Taipei show at the beginning of June. It doesn't specify what the devices are, although given that Chrome OS is primarily designed for low-powered laptops and Acer's status as the world's second biggest PC maker, it seems inconceivable that the devices won't be netbooks. Meanwhile, Google is considering implementing a Coverflow interface into Chrome OS. One design adheres fairly closely to Apple's template, and allows users to flip through applications and web pages with 'hotkeys and swiping gestures.' Favicons will be displayed beneath the pages, allowing users to click these and head straight to the application."

5 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. Competition by Ltap · · Score: 4, Informative

    This might actually succeed, given that most of the competition I've seen is either clunky XP or a low-powered version of Win 7.

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    1. Re:Competition by sznupi · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yeah, stories from one camp, apparently, claimed just that.

      But some manufacturers quickly stepped forward saying that their Linx netbooks don't have higher return rates at all.

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      One that hath name thou can not otter
    2. Re:Competition by Insanity+Defense · · Score: 5, Informative

      EEE netbooks used to ship with a Linux distro. You know what killed that? Returns. Joe User booting it up, braying "The hell? Where's my Windows?" and returning it. It got so that retail salesweasels were begging people not to buy them, because they got dinged for all the returns.

      At the time this rumour started it was checked with ASUS who said that the rate of returns of Linux and Windows netbooks were the same.

      The whole nonsense started with a different netbook provider who delivered a Linux netbook with the WiFi and camera not working and then published the 4 to 1 return rate. This was then widely touted as being netbooks in general rather than just one minor league player who "fucked up" their Linux netbook.

      So please stop spreading this Microsoft propaganda.

    3. Re:Competition by Mordok-DestroyerOfWo · · Score: 4, Funny

      I have Meerkat running now on my Mini...so far so good.

      Doesn't that scratch the finish?

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  2. Inconceivable that the devices won't be netbooks? by sznupi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Why inconceivable? Since Acer already is big with netbooks, they don't have to prove much there.

    And considering that ChromeOS device could be just as well based on ARM chip (with many advantages of that route), it could as well be a new kind of devices, at least as far Acer is concerned (tablets? They do fit with "lack" of features of ChromeOS). Not saying this is what will happen...but inconceivable?

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    One that hath name thou can not otter