Samsung to launch Chromebook in S. Korea next month

Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday that it plans to start sales of a Chromebook laptop running on Google Inc.'s Web-based operating system in South Korea early next month. The Chromebook, which is powered by Google's Chrome operating system will also be launched in Russia and Southeast Asia later this year, Samsung said. Laptops using the Chrome operating system let users use programs, edit documents or save files by accessing the Web applications. Samsung did not disclose details of the model for the South Korean market but market watchers said that it will likely be similar to the company's 12-inch U.S. model. The lightweight laptop with a slimmed down body was released in the United States last month. Samsung, along with Taiwan-based Acer Inc., are the two computer manufacturers that have built laptops that analysts said may replace low-end netbooks down the road. As the laptop minimizes the use of its hard drive disk, it boots at a faster speed than other laptops. It is available at US$429 in the U.S.