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Google's new Chromebook not coming to Asia
The new Chromebook uses an ARM processor from Samsung
The new Chromebook uses an ARM processor from Samsung
The ARM laptop is coming with the launch of a new Google Chromebook built by Samsung, but it's unlikely to reach Asia anytime soon.
In a departure from previous Chromebooks, the new model, which still runs Google's browser-based Chrome OS, uses a low-power ARM processor from Samsung that claims to last up to 6.5 hours on battery. This 11.6-inch laptop is pretty handy at around 1.1kg and comes with USB ports (including USB 3.0), HDMI and an SD card slot.
At just US$249, the Samsung Chromebook is as affordable as the 16GB Google Nexus 7. Both devices come with limited internal storage, though Google does include 100GB on the cloud-based Drive with the Chromebook. The laptop uses a dual-core Samsung Exynos processor that is based on ARM's latest Cortex-A15 design.
There's a proper keyboard and a 1,366 x 768-pixel matte display on the Chromebook. So if you find yourself bemoaning the missing keyboard on tablets, and an Asus Transformer-like slate is beyond your budget, the Chromebook could be the answer. You can find out more about the Chromebook in CNET's hands-on.
The Chromebook is available for preorder online in the US and UK. Consumers can try them out in retail outlets starting from Monday. There's no word on when sales will expand to other countries--older Chromebooks are available in eight countries and we expect that the new model will eventually follow suit. Google has informed us that it currently has no plans to sell the Chromebook in Asia.
While it's admirable that Google continues to improve Chrome OS, Android currently has much greater traction among consumers and developers. In the short term, the company would probably have more success with an Android-powered laptop rather than a Chromebook. After all, the mobile OS is even used in cameras now.
Of course, given that it uses an ARM chip, it's probably just a matter of time before an avid tinkerer find a way to install Android on the Chromebook.
Source : CNET Asia
