14 DAY TRIAL // Since the launch of Google's Android operating system, designed for smartphones, there have been rumors and reports of an upcoming wave of netbook systems that will be offered with said OS. Some of the names that have been mentioned in different reports and news articles on the Internet include the Palo Alto, California-based HP, ASUS, Acer and more. However, most of these companies have been quiet about their plans to launch new netbook models running on Android as an alternative to current Windows XP netbooks. On that note, it appears that Dell might actually be working on an Android netbook of its own, according to a recent video released by the company.
In the aforementioned video, posted on Dell's DevlVlog YouTube Channel, Doug Anson, the company's technology strategist, showcases three Linux-based operating systems running on their latest Inspiron Mini 10v netbook, which packs the Intel Atom N270 processor. Among the three, he also presents the most recent version of Android, known as Cupcake, which could indicate that the system vendor is currently toying with the OS as a potential alternative to the successful Windows XP, featured on the majority of today's netbooks.
Unfortunately, the demonstration isn't meant to show off the various features that can be enabled on an operating system like Android, but rather serve as proof that it can work on the company's latest netbook. However, despite no official indication that an Android Inspiron Mini is cooking up in the labs over at the Round Rock, Texas-based vendor, Dell is known for trying to stay competitive by providing innovative features for its systems.
In addition to Android, Doug Anson also showcased the standard Ubuntu and the Netbook Remix operating systems, running on the same netbook. However these two are a common thing with Dell's such machines.
The company is yet to confirm if it's going to invest in research for running Android on netbooks and consequently provide users with another flavor of Linux, as an alternative to Microsoft's Windows.