HP testing Android on netbooks

While Dell and Asus said to be considering it

1 April 2009 12:08 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Hewlett-Packard has confirmed it is considering launching Android-based netbooks, while the Wall Street Journal reports that Asus and Dell are considering similar moves.

The WSJ states that these PC makers are testing Google's Android operating system, designed to run on mobile phones, for use in netbooks, in a bid to counter Microsoft's dominance over the software for such devices - usually XP.

HP has programmers "testing Android for a potential netbook", with Satjiv Chahil, a vice president of HP's PC division, stating: "We want to assess the capability Android may have for the computer and communications industries, and so we are studying it".

HP is said to have not decided yet to go ahead with a launch, while Asus has not confirmed plans and Dell, who is said to be looking more at MIDs, than netbooks, declined to comment.

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Hardware, Netbooks, HP, Android, Asus, Dell, Google, Software, Rumours, Operating Systems