Google Chrome OS (almost) claimed its first casulty, the netbook everyone was watching.
Updated 073109: AHA! Acer has changed its mind again and has decided to proceed with the Android netbook. IDG News Service reports, “The company decided to reiterate its commitment to the project after news reports said the project had been delayed or changed. The world’s third-largest PC vendor plans to debut Android in an Aspire One with a 10-inch screen and an Intel Atom microprocessor. A similar Aspire One is currently available from Acer but it comes with Microsoft Windows XP.”
With Acer back in the Android netbook game, guess I have to eat most of my rant from yesterday.
From 073109: Acer has killed its plans to build an Aspire One netbook running Google’s Android operating system. The netbook, was showed off at Computex last month with Acer announcing plans to release it to market in Q3 this year. It featured the same Intel Atom microprocessor as in Acer’s other Aspire One netbooks, as well as a 10in screen.
Acer is citing lack of market interest for shelving the project but given that the company was geared up to produce is a mere month ago, the culprit is really more likely Google itself, and its announced plans to product Chrome OS. Nice job, Google. You create a new mobile device operating system and as soon as it gains momentum in the netbook market when one vendor stands up and announces support, you shoot the whole thing in the back.
At the same time, Acer had announced plans to ship an Android smartphone sometime in 2010 so we’ll see if Acer continues with that project. It is also possible Acer was never that committed to Android netbooks and was simply showcasing it to put more pressure on Microsoft to sell Windows at even lower prices.
Ah well, folks that want an alternative to Windows don’t need Android anyway. The Linux netbook market with models from Acer, Dell and others, seems to be booming. But Google needs to learn how to play nicer with others.
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