HP's Android-Based Netbook May Be Released by AT&T

HP was demonstrating a netbook running Google's Android OS at CES earlier this month, but said it was an experiment rather than a product it was getting ready for release. However, the FCC has approved a device that looks very much like the one HP was showing off.

Most of the information from the FCC filing is not publicly available yet, so the connection between this device and the Android-based one HP was showing off at CES is somewhat tenuous, and based mainly on the fact that both have the same outline featuring rounded corners (shown here).

If these two are the same, then HP's Android-based netbook will be called the Compaq AirLife 100, and be able to connect to AT&T's 3G cellular-wireless network.

The prototype that was being shown off at CES was based on a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor and sported a 10-inch Touchscreen (see image at right).

Trade-offs
Google created the Android OS to run on smartphones, not netbooks, so HP had to make significant modifications to this operating system for its prototype.

As a result, Google hasn't certified it and won't allow HP to put the standard Android applications on it.

In addition, while some third-party applications would be able to handle running at a screen resolution not supported by the standard version of this operating system, not all of them will.

Why Not the Chrome OS?
Last year, Google announced the Chrome OS, which is being specifically created to run netbooks. Since then, many of the companies who had been considering an Android-powered netbook changed their plans to this upcoming OS. 

However, when demoing its device, an HP representative pointed out that Android has advantages over Chrome, most notably support for touchscreens. 

Availability
At this point, there's no way to say when the HP Compaq AirLife 100 will be released, or what it will cost.

Source: FCC