Google and other companies to unveil first Chrome OS powered notebooks and smartbooks later this month?

The first Google-branded Chrome-running notebook is said to be manufactured by a company called Inventec. Rumor is initial shipments will reach 60 000-70 000 units.

The smartbook will be build around an ARM-based platform and won’t be available through retail channels (only online, directly from Google).

A little while after we see Google’s Chrome-based firstborn, we’ll get to meet some smartbooks made by Wuanta Computer but wearing the Acer and the HP logos. Those should be launched some time in December. Asustek will probably join the party a tad later.