Google-Branded Chrome Notebook May Launch In November

Google may be poised to get back into the hardware business with the imminent launch of a Google-branded Chrome OS notebook.

A company spokesperson declined to comment, but a report in Taiwan's Digitimes says unnamed sources at electronics component makers tell of a Google-branded Chrome OS notebook that will be launched before the end of the month.

On November 19, 2009, Google said, "Google Chrome OS will be ready for consumers this time next year."

Inventec will be manufacturing Google's Chrome OS notebook, Digitimes says, with initial shipments expected to reach 60,000 to 70,000. Acer and HP are expected to launch their Chrome OS notebooks in December.

Google's acknowledged Chrome OS partners include: Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba.

:story: Full story: InformationWeek