Google picks LI retailer to sell Chromebook

Google has turned to a Port Washington electronics retailer, Systemax Inc., to help market and sell the Chromebook -- the cloud-computing laptop that has no operating system or hard drive, but instead operates only on the Internet and only with Google's browser, Chrome.

The Systemax subsidiary TigerDirect.com is now one of only three retailers authorized to sell the Google devices, which are made by Samsung (priced at $350 and up) and Acer ($430 and up). Google's other two retail partners are BestBuy and Amazon.

"A Chromebook is a mobile device based on Google’s Chrome operating system and designed specifically for people who live on the web," Systemax says.

It has "a comfortable full-sized keyboard, large display and clickable track pad, all-day battery life, light weight, and built-in ability to connect to Wi-Fi and 3G networks." The devices are not sold in stores, but only online.

TigerDirect, based in Miami, is a major component of Systemax, which also owns and does business under the revived CompUSA and Circuit City brand names.