Google Chrome Roll out December 7, likely unveiling Chrome OS netbook

A rumored Google event on December 7 could herald the long-awaited Google Chrome OS netbook, but the initial launch might be smaller than expected.



Google is seemingly hosting an event that possibilities “sensational news about Chrome” and, according to Engadget, that means an official unveiling of its Chrome OS netbook. Earlier rumors of a launch in November have already fallen through, but a launch in just days would coincide with Google’s latest update to Chrome. The netbook itself purports to have an interesting list of features, most notably a Cloud-based operating system, and according to early reports, the netbook can boot up in mere seconds. Interestingly enough, Google doesn’t seem poised to flood the market with the device; on the contrary, the rumor is that only 65,000 of the first iteration of the device will be made available to their “close friends and family.” If this is true, that could certainly raise some eyebrows, especially considering the chunk of the market Apple and Samsung now have. The longer Google waits, the more of a handicap it may be imposing on itself when the netbook does finally launch. However, Google may already have lost.

Google Chrome 8.0 was pushed through with little fanfare, but the added inclusion of a Web Store (essentially Google’s App Store or Marketplace) delivers more circumstantial evidence in support of the netbook announcement. It has long been announced that this Web Store will allow app vendors to create content not only for the Chrome web browser, but the operating system as well. With nothing but (substantial) rumor to go on, it’s too soon to tell whether any of this will be enough for Google to distinguish its device from competitors. However, if Google does have an ace up its sleeve, it appears we’ll find out this coming Tuesday.

Toshiba roll out netbook with 2-watt Harman Kardon speakers

Toshiba plans to launch two new netbook models: one with a set of impressive speakers and another one "no frills" version.

Toshiba has roll out plans to release the noise to netbooks in the form of Harman Kardon speakers. The speakers will be offered in Toshiba’s forthcoming NB520 netbook and, according to Toshiba, will be the smallest embedded laptop speakers made by Harman Kardon. The speakers will be 2-watts apiece “giving sound volume and quality not normally associated with netbooks.”



The NB520 will also have an Atom N550 processor, 2GB of DDR3 Ram memory, Bluetooth 2.1 support, a 250GB Hard Disc, and ten hours of battery life with a 6-cell battery.



Toshiba thinks that there is a demand. The company says that over two thirds of netbook users rely on speakers to watch movies or listen to music. That figure might continue to rise as online video and music streaming continue to grow in popularity.

That’s why company has trying to raise the sound volume and quality on a netbook.

For those strictly interested in the business side of netbooks, Toshiba will also be offering the NB500, a stripped down version of the NB520. The NB500 does away with the Harman Kardon speakers, axes the Bluetooth, and offers an Intel Intel Atom N455 processor. The battery life expectancy is also a bit lower in this model __up to eight hours with a 6-cell battery.

Both models will have 10.1-inch LED-backlit displays with 1,024 x 600 resolutions, three USB 2.0 ports, up to 250GB of disk space, Windows 7 Starter, and a host of other standard features.

No announcement on prices yet, but expect to find out before they ship sometime in the first quarter of 2011. We’ll wait to see if audio-minded consumers will choose Toshiba’s option over, say, an iPad.