Google Unveils HP Chromebook 11 Laptop

Google has unveiled the latest in its line of Chromebook budget laptops.

Designed and built with Hewlett Packard, the $279 (£173) Chromebook 11 is billed as one of the lightest laptops on the market at just over 1kg (2lb).

Chromebooks run Google's own Chrome operating system and rely heavily on web-based services, such as Gmail and Google Docs, rather than memory-heavy applications installed on the machine itself.

The company said the idea was to make computing "faster, simpler and more secure".

Schools have been the biggest buyers of previous Chromebook models, made by the likes of Samsung and Acer.

Other users have typically bought them as a back-up machine for browsing the web.

Key specs of the new Chromebook include a 11.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1,366x768 pixels and a dual-core Samsung Exynos processor.

It can also be charged using a smartphone-style micro USB cable, meaning users can potentially carry just one charger for their phone and laptop.

In the style stakes, the machine comes in a simple black or white design with a choice of four coloured strips around the keyboard.

The Chromebook price also pitches it as a tablet alternative for users who want to stick with a physical keyboard.

However, with sales in that sector expected to surge even further this Christmas, it remains to be seen whether many mainstream shoppers will be tempted by the new Chromebook.

Tesco recently announced its own budget tablet, the Hudl, while Amazon is bringing out an update to its Kindle Fire in the coming weeks.

The Chromebook 11 is available in the UK and US now, with other markets set to follow by Christmas.