The first notebook equipped with the Google-developed Chrome OS is expected to be launched in the fall of 2010, according to Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management at Google.

Pichai, speaking at Computex 2010 on June 2, did not indicate which vendor will launch the first Chrome OS notebook, Acer is likely to be the one, industry sources said.

In response to the question how Google positions its two operating systems, Android and Chrome OS, Pichai said that Android starts from hand-held devices with development toward multi-functions whereas Chrome OS is basically for PCs. For the time being, Google's development of Chrome OS focuses on 10- to 12-inch notebooks, Pichai indicated.

The Google Chromium project provides open-source codes for vendors to design hardware without bearing the Chrome OS name, Pichai indicated. But for devices carrying the Chrome OS name, vendors will be required to work with Google in product development and marketing, or to obtain Google certification, Pichai said.