Google is likely prepping at least one new Chromebook based on Intel’s upcoming 22nm Haswell processor.
According to ZDNet, Mountain View dev Stefan Reinauer recently committed Haswell-related code changes to Coreboot, a fast boot open source BIOS replacement for Linux systems (Google Chrome OS vendor support was added to Coreboot last year).
Indeed, Reinauer’s new Haswell-related code commits last week included haswell: use dynamic cbmem and haswell boards: support added chromeos function.
Intel claims that its next-gen 22nm chip – targeted at mobile devices – will offer double the battery life compared to devices using its third generation Ivy Bridge processors.
If so, Chromebooks powered by Haswell will likely edge fairly close to the extended battery life boasted by Samsung’s $250 ARM-based Chromebook.
In other Chromebook news, the $1,449 (Verizon) LTE version of Google’sflagship Chromebook Pixel is slated to ship out to customers by April 8th. Key Pixel specs include a 64GB solid-state drive, 12.85-inch touch-enabled display with 2560 x 1700 pixel resolution, a 1.8GHz Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, integrated HD Graphics 4000, a microSD slot and two USB ports.
Chrome OS can best be described as a Linux-based operating system designed to operate exclusively with web applications and Mountain View’s cloud-based Google Drive.
