Google takes on Microsoft, Apple with Chrome laptop

May 11, 2011, 22:18 GMT

San Francisco - Google opened another front in its battle with Microsoft and Apple Tuesday, unveiling a new laptop powered by Google software that takes direct aim at Microsoft's dominant Windows and Apple's OSX operating systems.

The laptops, to be built by Samsung and Acer, will run Google's Chrome OS, and will be available for purchase on July 15, Google executive Sundar Pichai said at a press conference unveiling the new product.

Unlike Microsoft's and Apple's computer operating systems, the Chrome OS will run most programs remotely through a browser, allowing computers to run more quickly and with less lag time when turning them on. The devices will carry a starting price of 349 dollars, with higher prices depending on configurations and other options such as internet access.

Google is also offering the laptops to students at 20 dollars per month, and to businesses at 28 dollars per month.

'These are not typical notebooks,' Pichai said. 'With a Chromebook you won't wait minutes for your computer to boot and browser to start. You'll be reading your email in seconds. Thanks to automatic updates the software on your Chromebook will get faster over time.'

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