Google takes on HP, Dell (and Microsoft) with own Chrome OS-based netbook

Now, Chrome OS is real - Google unveiled it last month and at that time Google said it wanted to work closely with hardware manufacturers for producing only fully compatible Google Chrome OS machines as it wanted to make sure that Google Chrome OS is associated with the best end user experience. Not surprisingly, many vendors (i.e. PC makers) are scurrying to include it in their future launches.

However, Google is now mulling about launching its very own-brand netbook (gBook?) that would run on Chrome OS and has reportedly tapped several PC makers and hardware companies for making the netbooks as per its specifications.

According to Tech Crunch and other tech blogs, Google has sent out RFPs (Request for Proposal) to several such companies and it won't be before long that Google inks a deal.

"Google has handpicked a team to design the netbook that would run on Chrome OS and is in talks with several technology companies about the specs and other hardware issues. They want to make a device that delivers an extraordinary end user experience," an industry watcher said.

"Among others, these companies include Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba," Tech Crunch said.

When contacted, Google refused to comment on this matter. And, though no word on the specs of the netbook is out, yet, tech analysts are betting that it will sport a chipset from Nvidia's Tegra line and it will be powered by an ARM CPU (which reportedly performs better than Intel Atom and consumes less power).

Well, though reports about Google netbook could turn out to be nothing more than just rumours, we would not be surprised if Google does launch its own netbook.

Why? Because Chrome OS could be Google's next cash cow and Google sure would like to want to do something more with it than just distribute it among PC vendors.

For instance, Google, which has climbed up the ladder simply by powering your searches and serving ads, could launch a netbook that is designed to only show its ads and, perhaps, only run its applications.