Dell eyeing Chrome OS for netbook range

Dell is said to be in talks to bring Chrome OS to netbooks

Recent comments from Dell officials have led to speculation that the company is working on a Chrome OS-based netbook device.

Dell's China and South Asia president, Amit Midha, said in an interview with Reuters, that, although there is no firm agreement, talks to use Google's operating system are underway.

"There are going to be unique innovations coming up in the marketplace in two or three years with a new form of computing. We want to be on that forefront," Midha was quoted as saying.

"So with Chrome or Android or anything like that we want to be one of the leaders."

Dell had been left out of much of the conversation on the deployment of Chrome OS, despite the inclusion of many of the company's primary netbook competitors on early partner lists.

Google unveiled Chrome OS last summer, explaining that the platform would centre on the Chrome web browser and take aim at the netbook market.

The company has said that the first devices to use Chrome will hit the market later this year. Asus, Toshiba, HP, Lenovo and Acer are among the vendors said to be working on products.