Google to release Chromebook with touch screen?

Could Google be introducing a touch-capable Chromebook at the end of the year?

Citing a Taiwanese newspaper, DigiTimes said that the search company will launch a 12.85-inch Chromebook soon. Besides the presence of a touch screen, we know nothing about the rest of the hardware. Still, Chromebooks have always been very affordable and even with the addition of a touch panel, this probably wouldn't change drastically.

Google's Chrome OS already includes a touch-screen keyboard, which means that it shouldn't be too difficult to add a touch-centric interface to the operating system, especially with Google's experience with Android. The company has launched two Chromebooks from Acer and Samsung in recent months. But a third, touch-capable version would send a different signal.

For one, it would mean that both Microsoft and Google see a future in touch-screen laptops. One could then assume that it's a matter of time before Apple, too, goes down this road.

(Via DigiTimes)

This story originally posted as "Google to launch touch-capable Chromebook?" on CNET Asia.