SAN FRANCISCO — The first laptops running on a Google-designed software system will go on sale in the U.S. and six other countries next month.
The June 15 release date announced last week means the lightweight laptops will hit the market nearly two years after Google Inc. began working on an operating system based on its Chrome Web browser.
Since then, Apple Inc.’s iPad and other tablet computers have become hot sellers. The growing popularity of tablets has raised questions about how interested consumers will be in buying Google-powered laptops specifically tailored for Web surfing.
Samsung Electronics Co. and Acer Inc. are making the first Chromebooks. They will sell for $349 to $499 at Best Buy and Inc. in the U.S. The cheapest iPad sells for $499.
