As it stands, Google’s Chrome OS largely exists on laptops, although more recently some OEMs have opted to give them the hybrid treatment where they can double up as a laptop or be folded into a tablet. However it seems that’s not where Google’s ambitions for Chrome OS will end.
In a recent conference call, Google’s director of product for Android and Chrome, Rajen Sheth revealed that Google was looking to bring its Chrome OS platform to more form factors. According to Sheth, “We have put a lot of investment into the touch UI and making touch a great experience on the Chromebook. You’re going to continue to see that happen. And what that’s going to do is it’s going to open up the possibilities for OEMs to have an even wider variety of form factors.”
He also adds, “You may expect everything from detachables to tablets based on Chrome OS down the line.” Like we said Chromebooks are mostly styled like laptops and more recently hybrids, but it sounds like Google is interested in making Chrome OS more portable by offering up the platform in a tablet form factor.
Google declined to answer whether or not they themselves will be making a Chrome OS tablet, but instead reiterated that their “partners will be able to build a variety of form factors with Chrome OS including convertibles, detachables and tablets.” However given that Google has built their own phones, tablets, and Chromebooks in the past, a Google-branded Chrome OS tablet might not be that much of a stretch.
