The rumors that Google’s Android is expanding beyond mobile phones finally have some clout.

Acer Inc. has announced that it will release the Aspire One netbook, a low-cost notebook featuring Android, during Q3. The Android model will be less expensive than the Windows XP model, even though the two have the same electronic compartments. Asustek Computer Inc., which created the netbook, also has developed a model that runs on Android.

These developments show that the Android software is powerful enough to replace Windows, which currently runs about 90 percent of the world’s personal computers. Calvin Huang, an analyst at Daiwa Securities Group Inc., told Bloomberg that this puts Google in a position to compete with Microsoft, which is preparing to introduce Windows 7.

“This is a negative and may force Microsoft to lower the price of Windows 7,” he said. “More and more vendors are adopting Android and non-Windows in their products, so this is a very good chance for Android to penetrate the PC market.”

Officials in the marketplace think the competition will be good and will allow users a choice as to what’s best for them.