Whacky Google Chrome OS Netbook Specs Floating Around

Both IBTimes and Liliputing provide the same rumored Google Chrome OS netbook speces from an unnamed source…

IBTimes: Google Chrome OS-based netbook tech specs are out

Liliputing: Google Chrome netbook specs leaked?

And, writers for both sites have the same reaction I had after reading the specs: It sounds way too powerful and probably too expensive for a box that essentially just needs to run web apps. Most of the netbook’s components seem reasonable:

- 10.1 inch multi-touch screen
- ARM based processor
- WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, Ethernet
- USB ports, webcam, 3.5mm audio jack, flash card reader

Here are the parts that don’t make much sense for a webbook:

- 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
- 2GB RAM

The SSD plus touch screen will probably be the most expensive components. It is difficult to see how Google could sell these boxes for under $300 with these two components in the mix. Linux is running fine on a netbook with 512MB RAM. And, Windows 7 seems happy on 1GB RAM netbooks. So, why does this rumored Chrome OS box need 2GB? The key word, I think, is “rumored”. This is probably all wrong.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Tim Devane (bitly), and SocialTimes' writer Devon Glenn.   Register now.