Google may reign supreme online, but it has yet to corner the market on hardware. Last year, Google and Samsung teamed up to produce the Chromebook, a lightweight notebook that uses the Chrome Operating system, but with little fanfare and modest sales. On Tuesday, Google and Samsung released the next generation Chromebook, and are hoping this model will win over consumers.

According to Google, the initial release in May 2011 was meant to be a quieter affair to gauge the market and test its engineers, The Associated Press reports.

"This release is a big step in the journey to bringing [Chromebooks] to the mainstream," Google's senior vice president of Chrome and apps, Sundar Pichai, told the source.

The Chromebook automatically distinguishes itself from other notebooks and laptops because it doesn't have a hard drive. Instead, the device is largely dependent on internet access, with Google's various online services acting as the backbone of the operating system.

On its own, the notebook has 16 gigabytes of memory, which is comparable to an Apple iPod - but Google undoubtedly expects users to rely on their Google Drive cloud computing service for internet storage. However, the Chromebook does have two USB ports, so anyone who prefers to have their data stored offline can always invest in an external hard drive. The ports will also enable the use of other laptop accessories.

The new model is faster than the original Chromebook, and also features an improved media player and a more app-focused interface.

Additionally, Google and Samsung have also released the Chromebox, which allows users to run Chrome OS on their desktop display screens.

If you're interested in learning more about the various operating systems run by Apple, Toshiba and Samsung laptops, contact a specialist at PortableOne to explore the options available.