Google Intends to Enter Smartbook Market


Google, a leading provider of Internet-based services, reportedly wants to introduce its own smartbook based on Chrome operating system (OS) in order to popularize its Web-based offerings even further. Even though Google plans to launch its smartbook or netbook in late 2010, specifications of the system(s) are already in.

The Google Chrome machine is projected to be based on Nvidia Tegra system-on-chip with ARM processing engine and GeForce graphics processing core (at this point it is unclear whether Google plans to integrate first-generation or second-generation Tegra chip), which will provide it rather rich multimedia capabilities and will be equipped with “HD Ready” 10.1” display with multi-touch support, 2GB of random access memory, 64GB solid-state drive (simplistic flash-based storage seems more likely), Wi-Fi, 3G, Ethernet, USB, web-cam, card reader, etc, reports IBTimes web-site.

It is reported that the device will cost less than $300 and will be sold by Google itself as well as by mobile network operators.


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Hmmm... Not sure how it would be for distributed computing. As I understand it, the core is ARM. I think it is Cortex 9 or 11. This is the same type of core used to power high end smart phones / PDA's and such. I think the newer Cortex CPU's have floating point, but I can't imagine it would be very strong. The new generation of Tegra (2.0) will be out soon, so the Google net book may use that. Otherwise, to get an idea of the current Tegra platform, the Microsoft Zune HD is based on the current Tegra chipset.

However, if GPGPU work can be done on the GPU, then the Tegra platform may have some potential. I imagine it would still get roundly stomped by one of the lower end CUDA chipsets, but even so, I'm sure someone will at least port SETI to it.

If this is the same thing that I've been hearing about, then it won't have much local storage. Everything will be in the cloud. So I don't know how much BOINC would be able to be used even in the GPU aspect.

I don't know why Google is doing this. Most companies don't make money from hardware or OS', it's all in software and support.

Because everyone else has a notebook / sub-notebook / net book / palm top?

In my experience, executive decisions and intelligent, informed decisions are two entirely different beasties, like comparing gerbils and unicorns.