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Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

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Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#51

Post by watty »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #29
eggbrain wrote: post #3

When I first saw the Chromebook, I figured it would be priced around $150, so that it was a no-brainer decision (especially with it's limitations over a normal laptop). But at $349, its still $75 more than an Acer Aspire One. Make it $100-$150, and I'll buy it. As it stands though, its too much money and too little benefits.

Samsung Series 5 cost $334.32 to make.[1] Your price expectations are way off. [1] http://www.thechromesource.com/with-what-it-costs-to-make-is...

I figured Google would try to use their ad-powered business strategy to lower the profit margin to near-zero or negative rather than competing against netbooks. Didn't PS3 sell hardware for much lower than cost to manufacture?

These things would sell like hotcakes for $200 and Google would grow in users and advertising revenue. I was just surprised that they're selling near netbook prices considering they're limited devices and tied so tightly into Google Services. I don't see them disrupting the mobile device industry with Chromebooks unless they decide that # of users is much more important than profit per sale.

Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#52

Post by MatthewPhillips »

watty wrote: post #51
MatthewPhillips wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Samsung Series 5 cost $334.32 to make.[1] Your price expectations are way off. [1] http://www.thechromesource.com/with-what-it-costs-to-make-is...

I figured Google would try to use their ad-powered business strategy to lower the profit margin to near-zero or negative rather than competing against netbooks. Didn't PS3 sell hardware for much lower than cost to manufacture? These things would sell like hotcakes for $200 and Google would grow in users and advertising revenue. I was just surprised that they're selling near netbook prices considering they're limited…

Google doesn't price these Chromebooks, they only price their business/education rental program. I don't know why it's hard for people to believe that Samsung and Acer have control over their own products.

Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#53

Post by dstein »

I think Google's strategy for ChomeOS is all wrong. Nobody wants low powered laptops without a proper OS. As soon as the iPad blew up the netbook market Google should have retargeted ChomeOS as a tablet OS. A lightweight (zero-weight) OS is perfectly suited for a tablet. I use an iPad almost exclusively for browsing the net and checking email and I bet I'm not the only one. A Chrometablet with some decent specs and maybe some hardware WebGL support might even open a whole new online gaming market.

Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#54

Post by eli »

watty wrote: post #51
MatthewPhillips wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Samsung Series 5 cost $334.32 to make.[1] Your price expectations are way off. [1] http://www.thechromesource.com/with-what-it-costs-to-make-is...

I figured Google would try to use their ad-powered business strategy to lower the profit margin to near-zero or negative rather than competing against netbooks. Didn't PS3 sell hardware for much lower than cost to manufacture? These things would sell like hotcakes for $200 and Google would grow in users and advertising revenue. I was just surprised that they're selling near netbook prices considering they're limited…

I wonder, how obnoxious and intrusive would the ads have to be before they earn back $150+ of revenue? Not sure I'd sign on to that.

Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#55

Post by tedunangst »

nextparadigms wrote: post #43
lftl wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair as far as I can tell, there is no directly comparable Windows Acer Aspire One. All the 11.6" Acers I see run on a different chipset, and they're all only $20 cheaper than the Acer Chromebook. When I first tried out the Chromebook, I thought the same thing about price. But I'm pretty sure Microsoft licenses Windows for these netbooks VERY cheaply, so there's not much price to be shaved by swapping out the O…

They don't really need to skimp on hardware. They just need to use the inexpensive ARM chips over the expensive Intel chips. That should cut at least $100 from the retail price. I can't believe they did the same mistake as with Google TV.

The Atom N570 costs $86, so unless ARM is literally paying people to use its chips, dropping $100 seems unlikely.

Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#56

Post by joeyespo »

mtogo wrote: post #23
Ronkdar wrote: post #13

> It just works. Can we stop saying this please? > "Your apps, documents, and settings are stored safely in the cloud." Until Google deletes your account for no specific reason and refuses to give it back (this has happened to more than one person) > Millions of apps. [citation needed] > Friends let friends login. Every OS ever has had this feature. It's called "Users" >Gets faster over time. What does this mean? Tha…

I agree with you 100%, especially on the "It just works" point, but you're wrong on the "friends let friends login" thing. As far as i know, no other OS allows me to log into someone else's computer and get the exact same experience i have on my own, and vice versa.

I've always wanted it to work this way. Even just a few years ago, I'd never imagine this would be accomplished by using a browser-based operating system.

Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#57

Post by eggbrain »

jonknee wrote: post #31
eggbrain wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The model I saw was here: http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MC505LL-11-6-Inch-Laptop... Which could very well be the 2010 model. That being said, the OP never mentioned getting "the latest and greatest" Macbook Air, only a Macbook Air.

Yes, that model is no longer being manufactured. If you weren't wanting to compare what a new computer costs, this already silly argument becomes even sillier.

To be fair, they are both "new" computers -- IE not refurbished or used. My point was the intent of the OP could have been what he found on Amazon from the respective retailers -- in which case the price point was much closer to what he mentioned than to the price point shoota mentioned. I never meant to imply that we should compare a new Chromebook to a 2008 Model (or a used one, a refurbished one, or one being sold from a illegitimate retailer), which it does seem like it comes across as I reread my comment.

Its a stupid argument to begin with on my part, but I felt it was worth a meager defense.

Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#58

Post by seles »

Ronkdar wrote: post #13

> It just works. Can we stop saying this please? > "Your apps, documents, and settings are stored safely in the cloud." Until Google deletes your account for no specific reason and refuses to give it back (this has happened to more than one person) > Millions of apps. [citation needed] > Friends let friends login. Every OS ever has had this feature. It's called "Users" >Gets faster over time. What does this mean? Tha…

> > Friends let friends login.

> Every OS ever has had this feature. It's called "Users"

Uh, not iphones/pads (iOS)... so yes that is a big deal

Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#59

Post by notatoad »

Zumzoa wrote: post #12
notatoad wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the theoretical market for chromebooks is people who only want a computer for facebook and email and want to buy something simple and cheap. in practice, i think the market is just nerds who want to play with a chromebook because it's new and cool. i appreciate what google is trying to do with chromeOS, and i think it's a good idea, but they have failed miserably at marketing it to non-techies.

In terms of providing simple email, web use and facebook, the Chromebook may be out-performed by most modern mobile phones.

for general, non-mobile use, a 3.5-4" screen does not outperform a 12" screen.

Re: Chromebooks on sale at Amazon for $349

#60

Post by tomkarlo »

watty wrote: post #51
MatthewPhillips wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Samsung Series 5 cost $334.32 to make.[1] Your price expectations are way off. [1] http://www.thechromesource.com/with-what-it-costs-to-make-is...

I figured Google would try to use their ad-powered business strategy to lower the profit margin to near-zero or negative rather than competing against netbooks. Didn't PS3 sell hardware for much lower than cost to manufacture? These things would sell like hotcakes for $200 and Google would grow in users and advertising revenue. I was just surprised that they're selling near netbook prices considering they're limited…

Manufacturers price consoles below cost because most of the revenue will come from game sales (which they license rights to)... getting a chunk of $60 transactions is much more lucrative than trying to monetize with ads.
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