Dell appears to be distancing itself from Microsoft's Windows operating system.

It is believed that Dell might drop Windows and forge ties with Microsoft rival Google as it prepares to launch its Chrome web-based OS to compete with Microsoft's Windows.

Amit Midha, Dell's president for China and South Asia believes that Microsoft will suffer from competition with Google's Android and Chrome OS in the worldwide OS market.

Midha said: "There are going to be unique innovations coming up in the marketplace in two, three years, with a new form of computing, we want to be on that forefront."

He added: “We have to have a point of view on the industry and technology direction two years, three years down the road, so we continuously work with Google on this."

Currently Dell is third in Laptop sales behind HP (Hewlett-Packard) and Acer.