HardwareAsus to Launch Android-based Smartbook Next Year.
Asus is planning on launching a super cheap "smartbook" in the first quarter of 2010 and word on the street is that the machine will run Google"s Android OS.
Liliputing cites Asus CEO Jerry Shen as saying the company plans to launch a smartbook in the first quarter of next year. The site goes on to define smartbooks as low power, 3G-enabled ultraportable laptops with ARM-based processors and says that it"s not clear whether Asus" new toy will be run on Windows, Linux or Android (despite the company having briefly demonstrated an Android smartbook earlier this summer). Said smartbook packed a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, GPS, 3G, WiFi, and integrated graphics. Pricing for the device is said to be around the $180 mark.
The news comes not too long after Acer launched its own Android netbook. The company"s dual-boot netbook runs the Google OS as well as Windows XP. The netbook uses Android as a quick-boot OS to allow the user quick access to limited functions without having to spend time waiting for Windows to load.