Today, at Google I/O, Google revealed that the first Chrome OS laptops, or Chromebooks, will be available for order on June 15 in the United States. Prices will start at $349 for an 11.6-inch model. Additionally, Google announced a sweet deal for students -- a Chromebook for 20 bucks a month. Assuming a nine-month school year that works out to $180. Businesses can subscribe for $28 per user/a month.

Chrome OS is a cloud-dependent operating system requiring a persistent Internet connection -- or so it seemed before today's Google I/O keynote. The user's Google account ID allows syncing of browser bookmarks and passwords with computers running Chrome and opens access to server-side Google services like Apps, Gmail and Reader.

Today Google revealed some new enhancements -- a file manager and media player for Chrome OS, which allow users to access some local files. Additionally, at launch, Chromebooks will be able to access Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs offline. Google also is providing developers with the means of associating cloud services with Chrome OS for offline use. Angry Birds, which debuted today at the Chrome App Store, supports this capability.

The First Chromebooks

Acer and Samsung will be the first manufacturers selling Chromebooks, starting June 15. The Chrome OS laptops will be available from Amazon and Best Buy in the United States. They also will be available in six European countries -- France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and United Kingdom.

The Samsung Chromebook will have 12.1-inch display and 8-hour battery life. It will be available in WiFi-only and WiFi/3G versions for $429 and $499, respectively. The Acer model will have an 11.6-inch display, starting at $349. Could this be the MacBook Air killer?