Samsung and Google Launch "Chromebook" Netbook Discussion

[Charles P. Jefferies]

Samsung and Google have teamed up to produce the Series 5 "Chromebook". The 12.1-inch notebook computer weighs 3.3 lbs and measures just 0.79 inches thin and runs Google's Chrome operating system.

Read the full content of this Article: Samsung and Google Launch "Chromebook" Netbook

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[invisible]

and an Intel dual-core processor (model unspecified).

A little research would show that both the Samsung and Acer models use a dual-core Atom processor.
The Samsung will start at $430 and the Acer at $350.

[Jayayess1190]

1.66GHz Intel N570.

[Partizan]

I have no idea what chrome is capable off, will we be able to use microsoft office programs for school?

[formerglory]

From what the keynote said, the Chromebooks will be fully hackable/jailbreakable, so installing Windows/Linux wouldn't be out of the question. Hexxeh's previous work will help significantly.

Now, as to why someone would want to install something other than Chrome OS on these: hardware quality & price. If the hardware features and price are decent, this may be a compelling netbook.

I'd like to be able to pick up a 3G-version for $350, that would be alright. I might just get in on that Chromebooks for Education "leasing" program and pick one up for a month or so ($20/month for students!).

[brookedale1]

After the X360/460 they really dropped the ball in terms of look. I can't find a machine as nice or as purse matching as my X360.

[Althernai]

I'd like to be able to pick up a 3G-version for $350, that would be alright. I might just get in on that Chromebooks for Education "leasing" program and pick one up for a month or so ($20/month for students!).

That's not how it works:

This monthly subscription includes free software and hardware upgrades, as well as administrative support. The annual cost of such a program works out at $240 per student or $336 per business user. However, Google is also insisting on a three-year minimum contract for businesses and educational institutes availing of this deal, which drives the total cost for a three-year subscription to $1,008 per computer for businesses and $720 per computer for educational institutions. What's more, Google says a customer that wants out of the three-year deal must "pay out the rest of their contract." There's also a minimum of 10 computers per company/school, though it would appear there is no limit on the number of consumers.

Of course, as is the case with buying up front, going for the 3G option is more expensive, with the price jumping from $20/month to $23/month for schools purchasing the 3G version of either the Acer Chromebook or the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook.
...
Schools and business selecting the 3G models will get 100MB of free data per month.

I don't understand why anybody sane would lease an Atom-based netbook for 3 years. The only way this makes any sense at all is if "hardware upgrades" includes getting a completely new machine at some point.

[formerglory]

That's not how it works:



I don't understand why anybody sane would lease an Atom-based netbook for 3 years. The only way this makes any sense at all is if "hardware upgrades" includes getting a completely new machine at some point.

Yeah, I saw that shortly afterwards. I figured it was a month-to-month basis. I could see this ok for a year or so, but not for 3 years. You'd be better off buying the hardware outright.

[KillerBunny]

Someone needs to get hungry man in here

[Hungry Man]

Meh, not interested. They can read the other topic if they're confused about anything. I feel like I'm hitting my head against a wall in there anyway.