Chrome OS clearly aimed at netbooks
Does that mean that Google is working on touch support and isn’t revealing it yet or that the feature is still an option, but no decision has been made? It’s anyone’s guess at this point, but don’t hold your breath for the feature in the first public releases coming in less than a year’s time. Google has made it very clear that the focus is on netbooks and capable ones at that.
It said that it wanted a full-blown computer with a no-compromises keyboard and a large enough screen, possibly aiming at 12 inch rather than the standard 10 inch displays in netbooks. It also intends to keep the price down to make the devices affordable and even a 10 inch touch display would certainly drive up prices considerably. One thing is for sure, touch isn’t a priority right now.
Android and iPad
That may change, of course, if the iPad becomes a runaway success, somewhat unlikely from what we’ve seen so far. However, netbooks are just the first step and Google has said it planned to conquer everything from mobile devices to desktop PCs and this very likely means that touch support will be a part of Chrome OS at some point. Let’s not forget that Google already has an OS to counter the iPad, Android, the very same OS that competes with the iPhone which, incidentally, shares its operating system with the newly launched tablet. If a hardware manufacturer would want to release an iPad competitor, Android would probably be much more suitable and Android-based tablets are already in the works.
Subscribe to the Multi Touch Newsletter.
Get free updates on the latest in Multi Touch.