Day 2 of Google I/O: Chrome, Chrome, Chrome

Chromebooks, the Chrome Web Store, and updates to the Chrome OS.

Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Chrome, 
took the stage during the second day of the Google 
I/O developer conference to talk up new 
advancements in Google's Chrome product line.

(Credit: CNET/James Martin)

Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Chrome, took the stage
during the second day of the Google I/O developer conference
to talk up new advancements in Google's Chrome product line.

Leading the charge on the news front was the announcement of the first Chromebooks, notebooks that are based on Google's Chrome OS and provide an always-on and always-connected computing experience.

During the press conference following the keynote address on Wedneday, where the first two Chromebooks were introduced, Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Chrome, emphasized that Chromebooks represent a new model of computing.

"It offers an end-to-end computing experience," he said. "It's very different from a (Microsoft) Windows machine. The always-connected and always-on capability of it offers a totally different experience."

Samsung and Acer will each be offering Chromebook notebooks starting June 15. The Samsung Chromebook will cost $429 in the U.S. for the Wi-Fi only version and $499 for the 3G version. Acer's Wi-Fi only Chromebook will cost $349.The devices will be available for sale in the U.S. from Amazon and Best Buy.     Read More