Lenovo's Snapdragon smartbook gets Android, pictured properly (Updated)
By Vlad Savov 
posted November 26th 2009 6:20AM
posted November 26th 2009 6:20AM
Update: Lenovo's PR team contacted us to clarify that the above device, although strikingly similar to the Lenovo machine (possibly a reference design), is a separate, Quanta-manufactured smartbook that was on display at a Qualcomm event last week. Nevertheless, it could still end up bearing Lenovo regalia, given that Quanta produces the IdeaPad line.
[Images courtesy of Silicon.com; taken by Natasha Lomas]
I wonder how many smartbooks, netbooks, tablets and media players Android will end up on before Chrome OS is even launched.
The OS is only a year old as well. Google will be happy if Chrome OS is even half as successful as Android has been.
@Kratos: Chromium OS will improve the entire Linux community. It has pushed the acceptance of Coreboot, Startup and various other Linux improvements/daemons.
Chromium OS will eventually merge with Android, this is inevitable. Android just needs a newer Webkit build, plugins (Flash, Moonlight, etc), bookmark sync and it's already back at Chromium (OS) level.
@Kratos I agree with Pyronick. Not only because of his pyromania, but because Chrome and Android are bound to meet up relatively soon.
The newest ARM-architecture CPUs are being positioned as competitors to Intel's Atom, but they can't run x86 OSs. Android is free and has been available, so we're seeing Android on these devices now. Moblin is being developed with Intel for the Atom CPU, so it's not intended for ARM CPUs. Now that Chrome OS is going to be available, manufacturers will start working with Chrome OS as well. If it's a netbook, Chrome OS will probably serve as a better (that is, easier and therefore less expensive) starting point than Android. Both OSs are free, but they see subsequent development for different platforms.
There is no guarantee of Google Experience integration in Android, and there are no apps in the Android Marketplace for netbooks. They're really just using the Android as the OS, because it's free and it's already ARM CPU compatible. What will be interesting about Chrome OS is that it will be both x86 and ARM CPU compatible.
@Kratos
A cool implementation would be a computer that could dual boot either Chrome or Android, with the former for less intensive online activities and the latter as a more standalone, offline, operating system. That way, both bases are covered.
This looks massive...I kinda expected all smartbooks not to be ARM netbooks but something like the Sharp Netwalker is (5").
I just don't see the point over a netbook....
Why am I unverified? thanks
I, for one, would rather have an Android desktop then a Chrome OS one.
I, for one, welcome our new Android overlords.
I apologize. Profusely.
@Gad Get Human Error Found: Apologize are a form of Weakness.
Android must remove the problem. The Daleks must survive!
@Evolyptic Apologies FFS
I would prefer a lean desktop Linux distro than Chrome.
Debian is available for ARM.
Ubuntu has an ARM version
Something like Xubuntu for ARM could do the trick.
Tne still have all the apps available if you want them.
Why shoe-horn an OS with an interface designed for phones into a device with a full keyboard and a big screen. It doesn't make sense to me.
@alberth
I agree, I just don't think Android would make a good laptop/smartbook/netbook/whatever OS. Don't get me wrong, I like Android (even have a Droid and a G1) but it would make more sense to me if they just put linux on it...
@(Unverified)
they already have products with linux on them. how many do you need.
If they want to try a new product. let them.
@alberth: Linux distributions like Debian (Ubuntu), Red Hat (Fedora), etc all need to have precompiled packages. Or they have to be compiled locally by the user, which is not really an easy job for newcomers.
Android is pure crossplatform, because it's a virtual machine on top of a Linux kernel. Thus, only the kernel needs to be compiled, which is done by the manufacturer.
Hopefully, Linux/*nix will one day be improved to a state where programs can be compiled with only one or two simple commands.
Or preferably from within the GUI (Gnome, KDE, XFCE, Enlightment, etc.)
Erm. Chrome on a netbook sucks, can't see this being any better.
And yes, before you ask - tried it, and is pointless having any other OS rather than W7 on a netbook, or any other PC for that matter!
You are using the word "smartbook"... Bad boy...
I dont see how android on a netbook could work, isnt it more suited to a tablet device? I thought this was what Chrome OS was for? But i guess i dont have any experience of using android on a netbook so i may be wrong.
I have to agree that I don't think Chrome OS is going to be the smash hit. I can do everything Chrome does on Linux, Windows, or Mac OS plus run native apps.
Android maybe a better fit but talk about fragmenting. I so had hopes that Google was going to fix Linux with good drivers, very pretty and consistent UI, and and full legal multimedia support. Throw in a real app store and it could have been a real winner.
I have to agree that I don't think Chrome OS is going to be the smash hit. I can do everything Chrome does on Linux, Windows, or Mac OS plus run native apps.
Android maybe a better fit but talk about fragmenting. I so had hopes that Google was going to fix Linux with good drivers, very pretty and consistent UI, and and full legal multimedia support. Throw in a real app store and it could have been a real winner.
Make it a 10" screen, with a convertible tablet/swivel screen format, and I'll be interested.
I really hope that made-for-ChromeOS computers have keyboards that do away with F1 to F12 buttons and other unnecessary-for-Chrome buttons.
Android needs a recycle bin! I hate going through the menu to remove apps, I can imagine it will get old on a pc quickly, needs an easy way to remove apps
Lenovo -- please listen to business users. We don't want Chrome or Android or anything related to linux. We want Windows and a Trackpoint and then we will buy your netbook at a premium.