Dell looks to Google's ChromeOS

Posted on 22 Jun 2010 at 12:08

Dell looks set to continue its experimentation with alternative operating systems, with the company reportedly looking to offer laptops and netbooks running Google's cloud-based ChromeOS platform.

As reported over on Fortune Tech, Dell's president for Greater China and South Asia has issued a statement that Dell "have to have a point of view on the industry and technology direction two years, three years down the road, so we continuously work with Google on this. There are going to be unique innovations coming up in the marketplace in two, three years, with a new form of computing, we want to be on that forefront ... So with Chrome or Android or anything like that we want to be one of the leaders."

While the company is already working with Google on its Android mobile-oriented platform - hence the recent launch of the Dell Streak Android-based half-tablet half-smartphone device - the news that ChromeOS is on the cards is extremely interesting, as is the fact of who reported it.

Google's ChromeOS is designed to be lightweight and at home on very low-powered devices with small amounts of storage. With Dell apparently looking to debut the platform in China and South Asia, it's clear that the company is hoping to grab more of those markets with cheaper, lower-powered devices than would be possible if it were to stick with Windows.

How long it might take Dell to launch ChromeOS-based netbooks in the UK remains to be seen - as does precisely how much of a saving you'll make not paying the 'Microsoft tax.'

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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