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$149 Chromebooks

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Re: $149 Chromebooks

#121
post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's cheaper and simpler with less functionality. Isn't that the broad idea [1]? [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disruptive_innovation

A disruptive innovation is an innovation that creates a new market. What market does the Chromebook create that a $200 netbook didn't already create?

These things are only obvious in retrospect. Why did the iPod create a new market when the Nomad MP3 Player already existed?

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#122
post #11

I'd definitely consider using a Chromebook if the offline functionality works. My understanding from people I know working at Google is that the offline Docs and Gmail experience is pretty sub-par at the moment. I guess if you pop out their SSD for a larger one it'd make a decent BSD netbook. Bitrig[0] is slowly but surely getting better. [0] https://www.bitrig.org/

The offline experience is going to be pretty much what you'd get with the offline experience of those apps in Chrome on a Windows or OSX computer, so you can try it out pretty easily.

I guess my point is that people don't always have wifi. I want to use my laptop on the plane (though some airlines now offer super-exorbitantly-priced wifi, I still refuse to pay for it) or in the back seat of a car.

I should be able to tap away at a document or use a Thunderbird-style "send emails when you next have connectivity" mail client.

My understanding is that the Google apps don't currently offer this.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#123
post #36
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft isn't as good at collecting and reselling all of your personal information, so have to charge the actual cost of the hardware.

> Microsoft isn't as good at collecting and reselling all of your personal information, so have to charge the actual cost of the hardware. Google does not sell your personal information in any way. They use it for their own advertising purposes, but they don't sell it to anyone, in any form.

> They use it for their own advertising purposes, but they don't sell it to anyone, in any form.

Some people wouldn't distinguish those two.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#124
post #109

There will be chrome-almost-tablets. I am waiting for Chrometabs and Chromephones (I know there is Android, but well). I am not joking really. I expect that, Chromephones would undermine Android, but Chrometabs could be good idea. Chromebit is great idea! I am in process of searching what to buy for my father. His computer is broken down Athlon machine with Linux (I maintain it). I don't have time to properly maintai…

The flip model has a touch screen, though it's probably not multipoint.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The middle class can afford to pluck down a few more bucks and get a device with a real OS...

Really, we're in a day and age where most people can do their daily activities on the web. The usual "word processing, research, facebook" student load, for instance? A dedicated physical machine powerful enough to run even MS Word locally is a waste of money in this instance. Access to the global information network and ability to use things on it is step 0 in getting people into the modern era. All that other stuff…

Not everyone lives in a first-world country where ubiquitous internet access via wifi hotspots has been implemented, and not everyone can afford a 3G plan.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#127
post #6

Where is the $149 Windows-Based laptop with SSD, 2-4GB RAM, and moderate graphics, that can run your usual Office to Minecraft software? The Chromebook-killer from Microsoft should be here, but all I hear about are the Surfaces. Honestly, the only reason my kids don't have Chromebooks is because they don't easily run Minecraft or downloadable games. Sure they can do their school work on them, but they also like to pl…

Earlier this year I bought an HP Stream 11" laptop directly from Microsoft for $199 (no crapware if you buy a Windows machine directly from Microsoft). The build quality is good, and with a cheap 32gig extra flash memory card it is fine for web browsing and some light weight development (I use IntelliJ). This laptop came with about $140 of free software and services coupons - perhaps if those were not included, Microsoft could approach your $149 price point.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#128
post #96
post #3

I think the bigger news here is the Chromebit. A $100 device that turns any monitor into a computer? Fascinating.

I wonder how much thought they put into theft prevention if this is really intended to be used in schools - the ability to just pull this out the the USB port and walk off seems entirely too tempting in a school setting.

Glue.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#129
post #6

Where is the $149 Windows-Based laptop with SSD, 2-4GB RAM, and moderate graphics, that can run your usual Office to Minecraft software? The Chromebook-killer from Microsoft should be here, but all I hear about are the Surfaces. Honestly, the only reason my kids don't have Chromebooks is because they don't easily run Minecraft or downloadable games. Sure they can do their school work on them, but they also like to pl…

A $150 Windows-based laptop would be a crappy netbook. Chrome should run significantly better on Chrome OS than it does on Windows or IE does on Windows for that matter. Also, Chromebooks usually seem to be targeted at kids or tech illiterate folks who don't want the complexity of Windows. Even a $99 Windows machine won't change that. And what about the security of Chrome OS? It's "virtually" unhackable, while Window…

>Chrome should run significantly better on Chrome OS than it does on Windows or IE does on Windows for that matter.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. In my machine IE and Firefox beats Chrome performance almost in everything. And I have seen ~$100 tablets running Windows 8.1 and the performance is far from crappy.

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