Google details Acer ZGB, Samsung Series 5 Chromebooks
updated 03:25 pm EDT, Wed May 11, 2011
Samsung Series 5 and Acer ZGB specs hit
Google together with Amazon has quickly posted full details of the first Chromebooks. The Acer Wi-Fi Chromebook, going by its ZGB codename at Google, will run a 1.66GHz Atom N570 and get six, not 6.5, hours of battery life. The 11.6-inch system's weight will be in line with its class at just under three pounds, and it should carry a 16GB drive, two USB ports, HDMI out and a 1.3-megapixel webcam.
The price isn't listed but was said by Google to start at $349 for a Wi-Fi version and more for a 3G equivalent when they ship on June 15.
The Samsung Chrome OS PC is now known as the Series 5. With its larger 12.1-inch screen, it weighs slightly more at 3.3 pounds but will ship with a better than expected 8.5-hour battery. Samsung broke from the usual and gave a real-world battery life claim of five hours when playing non-stop video.
Inside, it shares the same Atom N570, 16GB storage, and two USB ports, although Samsung unusually drops to mini VGA output for outside video and a slightly lower resolution one-megapixel webcam.
Samsung has been more thorough with pricing and expects the Series 5 to start at $430 for a Wi-Fi model where one adding prepaid 3G hikes the price to $500.
Samsung Series 5
