[Faline]

Google is launching its new low-priced Chromebook laptop as rivals Microsoft and Apple prepare to release their latest gadgets.



The lightweight computer will sell in the UK for around £200 and $249 in the US. It will go on sale early next week.

It is being made in a partnership with Samsung, which also makes smartphones and tablet computers that run on Google's Android software.

The laptop, which does not have a hard drive, will run on an operating system revolving around Google's Chrome Web browser.

It functions like a terminal dependent on an Internet connection to get to information and applications stored in large data centres run by Google or other technology providers.

It is the least expensive Chromebook that Google has released in the two years that it has been working on the product line.

Google and Samsung released a slightly more sophisticated Chromebook priced at $449 (£280) in the late spring.

Now it appears to be trying to get ahead of its rivals.

Microsoft is poised to release Windows 8, a dramatic makeover of its famous operating system, on October 26.

And Apple says it plans to show off a new product Tuesday. The event is widely expected to be the coming-out party for a slightly smaller version of its iPad.

"This is a big step in the journey for us," said Sundar Pichai, Google's senior vice president of Chrome and apps. "I think it's generally an exciting time in the computing industry."

Despite the low price, the new Chromebook will face a tough time winning over consumers because it is notset up like a traditional PC with a hard drive, said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi.

"A lot of people are going to see it and think, 'Once I have it, what exactly do I do with it?'" Milanesi predicted.

Like tablets, the discount Chromebook will rely on a computer chip design known as ARM, instead of Intel microprocessors. The ARM architecture is more energy efficient, extending the duration of batteries between charges.

With an 11.6in (29.46cm) screen, the new Chromebooks also will have a larger display than tablets selling in the same price range.

The laptops will be set up to automatically use all of Google's services, including its search engine, Gmail and YouTube video site.

Google also is offering 100 gigabytes of free storage on computers kept in its eight data centres.

[DannyDrama]

We can only pray they are built better than the Nexus tablets.

[Drusilla]

They couldn't have thrown in a bit of flash storage ?Great price,but the need to plug in an external hard drive all the time or have a decent internet connection at all times to access your online files means this is a bit off a fail in my book.

Also:a 11.6 inches screen is too small for me.I'm typing this on my luvverly 15.6"er.Big screen all the way baby.:-)

[DiamondSmiles]

I'm on a 10" diagonal mini. I like it much better personally. You can blow things up, if you want to see tiny details better.

No internet connection is no good though. That would frustrate me!

[Brometheus]

Originally Posted by diamondsmiles ↗

I'm on a 10" diagonal mini. I like it much better personally. You can blow things up, if you want to see tiny details better.

No internet connection is no good though. That would frustrate me!

i think you got it confused.. the chromebooks are dependent on internet only.. thats their only purpose. thats why they sell "cheap".. quite frankly.. its a very stupid idea and will never sell well. i dont see how they beat any rivals with this shit. the only perk is the speedy boot up time. same with Windows 8.. theyre both making the wrong moves.

[Pyramid_Head]

With a computer at only $249; Leaves me to suspect that it will be a piece of shit.