As we tipped exclusively back in February Acer has officially confirmed that they will release a Google Android netbook. The device, over time, could well incorporate new ARM chip technology as opposed to the Intel Atom processor which will be in the first netbook.
See original story on new Acer Netbooks and Mobile Phone running Google Android .
The move is a blow to both Microsoft and Intel as Acer is the #1 notebook vendor in Europe.
Acer admits that the move to non Intel processors and the Google Android operating system, which comes free to vendors, will lower the cost of Acer devices running the Google Android OS, including a new phone that is due in Australia later this year.
Acer executive Jim Wong said that the new Google Android OS had a significantly faster boot up time than the new Windows 7.
The device could be the first Android netbook available worldwide if China’s Guangzhou Skytone Transmission Technologies doesn’t get one out first.
Skytone has said its Android netbook is undergoing final testing, which could mean a launch date anytime between next week and 2010.
Jim Wong, president of Acer’s global product operations, said that the company decided to move quickly to work with Android because there is a strong development momentum behind the software.
ARM Holdings a chip-technology licensing company, said it would launch a new chipset to drive netbooks, taking on a domain dominated by Intel’s Atom microprocessors.
The development of Android netbooks indicates that the software is powerful enough to replace Windows, which runs about 90 percent of the world’s personal computers. Google’s move into PC operating systems escalates the pressure on Microsoft as it prepares to introduce Windows 7, according to Calvin Huang, an analyst at Daiwa Securities Group.
“This is a negative and may force Microsoft to lower the price of Windows 7,” said Huang, who covers the computer industry from Taipei. “More and more vendors are adopting Android and non-Windows in their products, so this is a very good chance for Android to penetrate the PC market.”
Acer’s Android-based Aspire One netbook will be cheaper than the Windows XP model, though the two products will have the same electronic components, such as Intel Corp.’s Atom processor, Acer’s Wong said.
