Google launches Chrome OS on trial basis

Google is set to launch Chrome OS on a trial basis for users who can register themselves for it online. The software will come pre-installed eventually, on a range of computers made by major manufacturers such as Acer and Samsung.

Starting off initially as a trial programme that will only be available in a limited edition, in due course Google's new operating system could come as a standard option with computers and laptops.

In a Google Blog, Linus Upson and Sundar Pichai say that the "The test notebooks exist only to test the software. They are black, have no branding, no logos, no stickers, nothing. They do have 12.1 inch screens, full-sized keyboards and touch pads, integrated 3G from Verizon, eight hours of battery life and eight days of standby time. Chrome notebooks are designed to reach the web instantly."

According to the Google engineers,  "simply by logging in, all of your apps, bookmarks and other browser settings are there. Setting up a new machine takes less than a minute. And even at this early stage, we feel there is no consumer or business operating system that is more secure."

According to the BBC, Google had deferred the launch of its own branded laptop, but company sources say that the firm could release a model with Google branding in due course.

According to CEO Eric Schmidt, the device was very much like the Network Computer devices that he was pushing for at Sun Microsystems 13 years ago, but this time around, the idea would actually catch on.