WSJ: Google working on touchscreen Chromebooks for 2013

[techbeck]

The Wall Street Journal reports that Google has developed Chrome OS laptops with touchscreens. According to the Journal's sources, the Chromebooks will go on sale later this year, though there aren't any details on which hardware manufacturers are working with Google. Last year the company started selling Chromebooks by Samsung and Acer directly through the Google Play Store. The rumored Chromebook Pixel

A touchscreen Chromebook would likely require significant alterations to Chrome OS, which uses a desktop-style interface built around Google's Chrome browser and designed for a mouse and keyboard. The touchscreen laptops would mean Google offered two touch-based operating systems; it's unclear how the company would position the new products against existing Android tablets.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/20/4011444/touchscreen-chrome-os-laptops-this-year-report

Keep the topic clean please.

[ahoncbt]

maybe i will try chromebook. windows 8(surface pro) seems to be a failure. at least i will save some money.

Have been hearing some good things about chromebook

[Melfster]

Windows 8 has been more of success then Chromebooks have been. Chromebooks haven't really taken off in big numbers.

[rfirth]

maybe i will try chromebook. windows 8(surface pro) seems to be a failure. at least i will save some money.

Have been hearing some good things about chromebook

First of all, Windows 8 is much more than just Surface Pro. There are many other tablets to choose from, with many other (and sometimes better) docking solutions.

Second, if Windows 8 is a failure, Chromebooks are an epic catastrophe. Very low marketshare, not very powerful... it's like Google said "Let's make netbooks, but make them even less powerful and less useful".

Third, it's unclear why Google wouldn't just put Android on touch-enabled Chromebooks. Why two different operating systems? Why is Chrome OS even needed... why didn't they add this functionality to Android instead? Why can't you dock your Android tablet with a keyboard and mouse and get Chrome OS?

Finally, if a Chromebook fulfills all your needs, so would a Windows RT-based tablet (or laptop) like the Surface RT... and you'd get that long battery life and cheaper prices.

[thealexweb]

^ Chromebooks start at $199, I'd Like to see these cheaper RT devices you speak of.

[dead.cell]

They need to do something. I'm rather disappointed with the direction of the Chromebook as it stands, and if the Ubuntu tablets begin to take off, I'd much rather go that route than to invest in what feels like another netbook...

[rfirth]

^ Chromebooks start at $199, I'd Like to see these cheaper RT devices you speak of.

You're right. But that's not what I meant. I was talking about cheaper prices vs full Windows 8 devices.

[ahoncbt]

Third, it's unclear why Google wouldn't just put Android on touch-enabled Chromebooks. Why two different operating systems? Why is Chrome OS even needed... why didn't they add this functionality to Android instead? Why can't you dock your Android tablet with a keyboard and mouse and get Chrome OS?

Is microsoft using wp8 OS on PC? why didnt ms do it? thats the stupidest question ever.

[Guest pgn]

Is microsoft using wp8 OS on PC? why didnt ms do it? thats the stupidest question ever.

They might as well could have - the interfaces are the same, the underlying c# for apps is pretty much the same, it uses the same Windows NT kernel on wp8, windows 8 and windows rt.

The reason google isn't using android simply is the majority of apps written for android do not even scale up to display right on 1920x1080 tablet screens. What do you think those apps would look like on a chromebook with a higher sized screen, not even including one that is 2560x1700 - you will see every single pixel and all apps will look like garbage. Android at this point is held up to backwards compatibility and a legacy of applications that cant scale up correctly to higher resolutions.

ChromeOS is a failure and this Pixel laptop will be a bigger failure than Google+ and Google wave is.

[Growled Member]

The Pixel costs $1,299 for a Wi-Fi-only version and $1,449 for a version that also includes built-in LTE wireless technology so people can use it on the go.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324048904578318334083850180.html

On sale now.