Google Says Some Newer Chromebooks Will Be Eligible for Googlebook OS
Google says many of its newest Chromebooks will be eligible to switch to Googlebook OS, but it has not named models or a timeline. The first Android-powered Googlebooks go on sale next week.
In a Help Center post published last week, Google said Chromebooks already on the market will continue to receive updates throughout their promised support window. The company also said many of the “newest Chromebook devices” will be eligible to switch from ChromeOS to Googlebook OS. Google added: “Many of our newest Chromebook devices will be eligible to transition over to Googlebook OS. Details on migration paths and device eligibility will be shared soon.”
Google has not shared much else about the transition process, according to the report. The company has not said which specific models will be eligible or when the migration option will become available.
The launch of a new laptop operating system from Google raises questions about ChromeOS and the many existing laptops that run it. Android Authority reported that it sounds like Chromebooks and Googlebooks will coexist for the foreseeable future. That assessment matches comments from ChromeOS VP John Maletis, who said in May that new Chromebooks were still in development.
From a branding perspective, the report said ChromeOS and Googlebook OS look alike and offer similar functionality, which could create confusion for casual consumers shopping for easy-to-use laptops. The report added that it is good to have explicit confirmation that Googlebooks will not immediately make existing Chromebooks obsolete.
The report also said the first wave of Chromebooks from Acer, Lenovo and Dell will be available starting in early October.