Google Inc (GOOG): Would You Consider a $99 PC That Runs Android?

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has certainly done its part to make its Android operating system a predominant mobile platform on smartphones and tablets around the world, certainly in no small part due to the efforts of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. to buy into the platform for several handsets at different price points so the platform is accessible to a large percentage of people.

But Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has had some trouble getting its Chrome OS  a foothold in the PC and laptop market, which has been dominated by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and its Windows platform for quite a few years now. And while Chrome was designed for laptops and PCs, there has been limited exploration into Android, which has obviously become so very popular in the mobile market.

But there is one manufacturer that is willing to give Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android a shot in the PC space, and offer such a computer for an unheard-of price of $99. Meet MiiPC, which is a small personal computer that is geared toward children and developed by ZeroDesktop and founder Young Song, who talked about the machine at the Computex show in Taipei this week. While there are some OEMs who are tying Android on a PC-type device, the MiiPC looks like the only one that will have Android as the exclusive OS (Asus has a device that can run on either Android or Windows 8). This device comes in a small case and the device can be hooked up to a display, keyboard and mouse (if you have those things lying around).

Geared for children, Song said parents have the ability to monitor kids’ use remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This means parents not only can see what their kids are doing or what games they are playing on the computer, but with a mobile device the parents can either block access to a game or activity or can establish a set amount of time for access. This device got off the ground thanks to $175,000 in crowdfunding from Kickstarter, and the initial plan is to develop about 2,000 units to start in the hopes of lining up a deal with a major OEM who can mass produce the device. The device can also be used to stream video to as many as 10 different devices.

The device is expected to be available by the fall, and will have more memory added for the U.S. market and retail for $129 on our shores. What are your thoughts about this device? Do you think Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android can fit the bill as a PC operating system where Chrome has failed? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

DISCLOSURE: None