Google CEO Sees Chrome Netbook News Later This Year

Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said there may be announcements later this year about netbook PCs running its new Chrome operating system, as the Internet giant makes its deepest push into Microsoft's business.

AP

Schmidt also said on Thursday that while the worst of the economic downturn has passed, there aren't any strong signs of an immediate recovery.

"I think the new normal is now," Schmidt said at a one-hour briefing with reporters, along with Google co-founder Larry Page, at the Allen & Co media and technology conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Earlier this week, Google announced it was developing a PC operating system based on its Chrome Web browser, expected in the second half of 2010. The company said computer makers like Hewlett-Packard and Acer are working with Google on Chrome devices.

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Page went on to describe Chrome as reducing the overhead costs of owning computers, allowing people to own more and search more. Chrome, Page said, is all about getting computer out of the way and letting you get your work done.

"Everybody we've talked to under nondisclosure is excited about the plan. So hopefully later this year we'll see some announcements," Schmidt said on Thursday.

Schmidt and Page repeatedly steered the conversation away from the rivalry with Microsoft, describing the Chrome OS as a product that would be "additive" to the PC market, with Page saying that Chrome OS is not direct competition to Microsoft.

"I don't want to talk about Microsoft," Schmidt said, noting later that Google did not have any particular goals for Chrome to take market share in the PC business.

"We have a different business model, we benefit when people spend more time online," said Schmidt. "There's a huge opportunity in building an operating system that takes advantage of the web."

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