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Google and Samsung launch Chromebook laptop Google and Samsung launch Chromebook laptop
(35 minutes later)
With the PC market receding ahead of the launch of Windows 8, is this the right time to launch a new laptop? Samsung and Google reckon so, announcing a new ultrabook-style Chromebook laptop which will cost $249 (£155) in the US and rely on the search company's cloud-based Chrome OS.With the PC market receding ahead of the launch of Windows 8, is this the right time to launch a new laptop? Samsung and Google reckon so, announcing a new ultrabook-style Chromebook laptop which will cost $249 (£155) in the US and rely on the search company's cloud-based Chrome OS.
With an 11.6in screen – smaller than the previous $449 model – and based on an ARM rather than Intel CPU and with minimal onboard storage, the newest Chromebook is a fresh attempt by Google to attract businesses and users which want to store their data in the cloud rather than on their computer. With an 11.6in screen – smaller than the previous $449 model – and based on an ARM rather than Intel CPU and with minimal onboard storage of about 16GB and 2GB of RAM, the newest Chromebook is a fresh attempt by Google to attract businesses and users which want to store their data in the cloud rather than on their computer.
In effect, the new Chromebook is a laptop only useful when it is connected to the internet – and particularly to Google's cloud services. The search giant is offering 100GB of storage on its servers to go with each device. However, the new model does not have built-in 3G connectivity, though it does offer Wi-Fi connections. The higher-end Samsung 550 model offers 3G connectivity as an optional extra. In effect, the new Chromebook is a laptop only useful when it is connected to the internet – and particularly to Google's cloud services. The search giant is offering 100GB of storage on its servers to go with each device. However, the new model does not have built-in 3G connectivity, though it does offer Wi-Fi connections.
A 3G-capable version priced at $330 is listed on Amazon, which says it includes 3G Service from US carrier Verizon with up to 100MB of data per month for two years.
The higher-end Samsung 550 model offers 3G connectivity as an optional extra.
The laptop is designed to hook up directly to Google's services such as YouTube, Google Drive and Gmail.The laptop is designed to hook up directly to Google's services such as YouTube, Google Drive and Gmail.
Google first introduced the Chromebook line in May 2011, and began shipping in June. Initially it targeted businesses, offering them for hire at $28 per month, though the laptops were also on sale for about $449 in Best Buy stores in the US and through Amazon. Those were Intel-based models.Google first introduced the Chromebook line in May 2011, and began shipping in June. Initially it targeted businesses, offering them for hire at $28 per month, though the laptops were also on sale for about $449 in Best Buy stores in the US and through Amazon. Those were Intel-based models.
Now it is offering the new ARM-based models at a significantly lower price. Made by Samsung, it is less than 0.8in thick, weighs about 2.5lb (1.1kg) and Google says it will have about 6.5 hours of battery life.Now it is offering the new ARM-based models at a significantly lower price. Made by Samsung, it is less than 0.8in thick, weighs about 2.5lb (1.1kg) and Google says it will have about 6.5 hours of battery life.
"This is a big step in the journey for us," Sundar Pichai, Google's senior vice president of Chrome and apps, told journalists at the launch on Thursday. "I think it's generally an exciting time in the computing industry.""This is a big step in the journey for us," Sundar Pichai, Google's senior vice president of Chrome and apps, told journalists at the launch on Thursday. "I think it's generally an exciting time in the computing industry."
The design of the product has already drawn comparisons from some commentators to Apple's 11in MacBook Air product. Joe Wilcox of Betanews commented: "There's no mistaking the design similarities to MacBook Air, which can't be accidental."The design of the product has already drawn comparisons from some commentators to Apple's 11in MacBook Air product. Joe Wilcox of Betanews commented: "There's no mistaking the design similarities to MacBook Air, which can't be accidental."
At the Wall Street Journal, its blogging team on the company's third-quarter results remarked "Google's new $249 Chromebook laptop reminds me of another prominent company's thin silver machines, but I can't quite put my finger on it…" and, with a picture, "this is the product Samsung and Google are releasing, months after Samsung got dinged in a lawsuit for creating products that look too similar to things made by Apple" – a reference to the billion-dollar award made against Samsung for patent infringement against Apple iPhones and software.At the Wall Street Journal, its blogging team on the company's third-quarter results remarked "Google's new $249 Chromebook laptop reminds me of another prominent company's thin silver machines, but I can't quite put my finger on it…" and, with a picture, "this is the product Samsung and Google are releasing, months after Samsung got dinged in a lawsuit for creating products that look too similar to things made by Apple" – a reference to the billion-dollar award made against Samsung for patent infringement against Apple iPhones and software.
So far Chromebooks have had minimal impact on the PC market, partly because they do not run apps written for the dominant Windows platform and partly because they require constant connectivity to the internet to be useful. Google has not released any sales figures or cumulative user numbers.So far Chromebooks have had minimal impact on the PC market, partly because they do not run apps written for the dominant Windows platform and partly because they require constant connectivity to the internet to be useful. Google has not released any sales figures or cumulative user numbers.
Microsoft saw revenues and profits in its Windows division slump in the third quarter as consumers and businesses awaited the launch of new computers with Windows 8 built in next week. The PC market overall has also slowed down substantially while tablet sales have risen. Apple is expected to push that trend next week with the launch of a new, smaller iPad, while Microsoft has seen strong interest from consumers in its ARM-based "Surface" tablet, due to go on sale at the end of this month.Microsoft saw revenues and profits in its Windows division slump in the third quarter as consumers and businesses awaited the launch of new computers with Windows 8 built in next week. The PC market overall has also slowed down substantially while tablet sales have risen. Apple is expected to push that trend next week with the launch of a new, smaller iPad, while Microsoft has seen strong interest from consumers in its ARM-based "Surface" tablet, due to go on sale at the end of this month.
CommentsComments
6 comments, displaying first 16 comments, displaying first
19 October 2012 8:55AM19 October 2012 8:55AM
The Samsung & Google ChromeBook is very similar to Microsoft's Surface RT, but costs half the price.The Samsung & Google ChromeBook is very similar to Microsoft's Surface RT, but costs half the price.
Is a detachable keyboard (that seems required, it's in all the press shots and adverts) worth the premium that Microsoft is asking for its ARM device?Is a detachable keyboard (that seems required, it's in all the press shots and adverts) worth the premium that Microsoft is asking for its ARM device?
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19 October 2012 8:56AM19 October 2012 8:56AM
The design of the product has already drawn comparisons from some commentators to Apple's 11in MacBook Air product. Joe Wilcox of Betanews commented: "There's no mistaking the design similarities to MacBook Air, which can't be accidental."The design of the product has already drawn comparisons from some commentators to Apple's 11in MacBook Air product. Joe Wilcox of Betanews commented: "There's no mistaking the design similarities to MacBook Air, which can't be accidental."
Yeah that thin, light design is really revolutionary. Who ever thought about making things smaller and lighter before Apple came along. If I was Apple I'd litigious on their ass.Yeah that thin, light design is really revolutionary. Who ever thought about making things smaller and lighter before Apple came along. If I was Apple I'd litigious on their ass.
'Unleash the lawyers' I hear echoing down from Mount Sinai.'Unleash the lawyers' I hear echoing down from Mount Sinai.
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19 October 2012 9:02AM19 October 2012 9:02AM
These things are only useful if you are sitting in an area that has wifi. So if you want to carry on working on a document on the train you can forget it? I just don't see the pointThese things are only useful if you are sitting in an area that has wifi. So if you want to carry on working on a document on the train you can forget it? I just don't see the point
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19 October 2012 9:02AM19 October 2012 9:02AM
Come on ..Come on ..
OK, leaving aside that the Chromebook is almost useless without an internet connection, it lacks many of the features of the Surface RT.OK, leaving aside that the Chromebook is almost useless without an internet connection, it lacks many of the features of the Surface RT.
Aside from ommiting support for legacy applications, the Surface RT is running actual Windows and all the functionality and business support that entails.Aside from ommiting support for legacy applications, the Surface RT is running actual Windows and all the functionality and business support that entails.
There is a huge value difference that justifies the price difference. Not just a detachable keyboard.There is a huge value difference that justifies the price difference. Not just a detachable keyboard.
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19 October 2012 9:03AM19 October 2012 9:03AM
No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame.No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame.
Link to this comment:Link to this comment:
19 October 2012 9:04AM19 October 2012 9:04AM
The chromeBook has obviously breached Apple's "thin computer" and "space age silvery looking computer" patents. Apples busy lawyers have even more work coming their way!The chromeBook has obviously breached Apple's "thin computer" and "space age silvery looking computer" patents. Apples busy lawyers have even more work coming their way!
On a serious note it will be interesting to see how well this concept does. Most people have wifi at home and many only use their laptops at home - so this could potentially do quite well. Apple products are expensive and the iPad is much better at consuming media (web surfing, music, films, etc) than it is at creating media. Current windows-based laptops suffer from the usual bugbears (viruses, third party apps that conflict and crash, relentless windows updates that end up making your computer so slow it's almost unusable, etc). Perhaps Google has found a middle way.On a serious note it will be interesting to see how well this concept does. Most people have wifi at home and many only use their laptops at home - so this could potentially do quite well. Apple products are expensive and the iPad is much better at consuming media (web surfing, music, films, etc) than it is at creating media. Current windows-based laptops suffer from the usual bugbears (viruses, third party apps that conflict and crash, relentless windows updates that end up making your computer so slow it's almost unusable, etc). Perhaps Google has found a middle way.
Link to this comment:Link to this comment:
19 October 2012 9:07AM
In what way is it similar to Surface RT?
Specifics please.
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19 October 2012 9:09AM
There's thin and silver, and there's "looks almost exactly like a MacBook Air".
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19 October 2012 9:11AM
Well at least they've finally realized that charging more for a PC that does less isn't going to work so this might have more of a fighting chance.
I'm still not sure I see the point though, Stick Chrome on your PC / tablet / whatever and you have all the functionality this offers and more.
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19 October 2012 9:18AM
If you want to keep all your data on other people's servers, because 'The Cloud' seems like a hyped up concept (nevermind that memory is dirt cheap these days) then more fool you.
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19 October 2012 9:28AM
My instinct says it's dead in the water but maybe my instinct is bad. The only desirable factor here is the price. As everyone does the cloud now the only other reason for buying one of these would seem to be redundant.
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19 October 2012 9:30AM
It really is hard for me to see what benefit this offers over, say, Ubuntu - especially a netbook running Ubuntu. Other than the fact that it comes pre-installed and ready to go, which is obviously a bonus for the non-techie user. But I can't believe that requiring Internet access all the time is well suited to the non-techie user.
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19 October 2012 9:32AM
The Samsung & Google ChromeBook is very similar to Microsoft's Surface RT, but costs half the price.
Is a detachable keyboard (that seems required, it's in all the press shots and adverts) worth the premium that Microsoft is asking for its ARM device?
Well, there's the fact that they both have a completely different OS.
Are you part of the Google ecosystem (Gmail, Google Photos etc) or the Microsoft Windows ecosystem? That's the difference and the reason why people will buy one or the other. Although, I'm sure there's another player in the market, if I could only remember their name....
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19 October 2012 9:34AM
@Vanillacide
the fact it does way less than the Windows machine might have something to do with the price difference.
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19 October 2012 9:38AM
Macbook Air £850. Samsung chromebook £200 (potentially). Amazing value.
Google Docs offers an offline mode where you compose documents without web connectivity (is there such a thing?) - to be synced when next connected. Pretty sure the chromebook would have this so it isn't totally useless without t'interweb.
I'll have one. Add it to the rest of the almost completely unnecessary technology I own.
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19 October 2012 9:38AM
Are you part of the Google ecosystem (Gmail, Google Photos etc) or the Microsoft Windows ecosystem? That's the difference and the reason why people will buy one or the other.
I am heavy into the google ecosystem but I still see no reason to buy this - I can access all of those services with ease via windows plus have access to office and a range of other bits of software that are not available/mature on chrome OS.
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Chromebook is the latest attempt by Google to attract businesses and users to cloud computingChromebook is the latest attempt by Google to attract businesses and users to cloud computing
With the PC market receding ahead of the launch of Windows 8, is this the right time to launch a new laptop? Samsung and Google reckon so, announcing a new ultrabook-style Chromebook laptop which will cost $249 (£155) in the US and rely on the search company's cloud-based Chrome OS.With the PC market receding ahead of the launch of Windows 8, is this the right time to launch a new laptop? Samsung and Google reckon so, announcing a new ultrabook-style Chromebook laptop which will cost $249 (£155) in the US and rely on the search company's cloud-based Chrome OS.
With an 11.6in screen – smaller than the previous $449 model – and based on an ARM rather than Intel CPU and with minimal onboard storage, the newest Chromebook is a fresh attempt by Google to attract businesses and users which want to store their data in the cloud rather than on their computer. With an 11.6in screen – smaller than the previous $449 model – and based on an ARM rather than Intel CPU and with minimal onboard storage of about 16GB and 2GB of RAM, the newest Chromebook is a fresh attempt by Google to attract businesses and users which want to store their data in the cloud rather than on their computer.
In effect, the new Chromebook is a laptop only useful when it is connected to the internet – and particularly to Google's cloud services. The search giant is offering 100GB of storage on its servers to go with each device. However, the new model does not have built-in 3G connectivity, though it does offer Wi-Fi connections. The higher-end Samsung 550 model offers 3G connectivity as an optional extra. In effect, the new Chromebook is a laptop only useful when it is connected to the internet – and particularly to Google's cloud services. The search giant is offering 100GB of storage on its servers to go with each device. However, the new model does not have built-in 3G connectivity, though it does offer Wi-Fi connections.
A 3G-capable version priced at $330 is listed on Amazon, which says it includes 3G Service from US carrier Verizon with up to 100MB of data per month for two years.
The higher-end Samsung 550 model offers 3G connectivity as an optional extra.
The laptop is designed to hook up directly to Google's services such as YouTube, Google Drive and Gmail.The laptop is designed to hook up directly to Google's services such as YouTube, Google Drive and Gmail.
Google first introduced the Chromebook line in May 2011, and began shipping in June. Initially it targeted businesses, offering them for hire at $28 per month, though the laptops were also on sale for about $449 in Best Buy stores in the US and through Amazon. Those were Intel-based models.Google first introduced the Chromebook line in May 2011, and began shipping in June. Initially it targeted businesses, offering them for hire at $28 per month, though the laptops were also on sale for about $449 in Best Buy stores in the US and through Amazon. Those were Intel-based models.
Now it is offering the new ARM-based models at a significantly lower price. Made by Samsung, it is less than 0.8in thick, weighs about 2.5lb (1.1kg) and Google says it will have about 6.5 hours of battery life.Now it is offering the new ARM-based models at a significantly lower price. Made by Samsung, it is less than 0.8in thick, weighs about 2.5lb (1.1kg) and Google says it will have about 6.5 hours of battery life.
"This is a big step in the journey for us," Sundar Pichai, Google's senior vice president of Chrome and apps, told journalists at the launch on Thursday. "I think it's generally an exciting time in the computing industry.""This is a big step in the journey for us," Sundar Pichai, Google's senior vice president of Chrome and apps, told journalists at the launch on Thursday. "I think it's generally an exciting time in the computing industry."
The design of the product has already drawn comparisons from some commentators to Apple's 11in MacBook Air product. Joe Wilcox of Betanews commented: "There's no mistaking the design similarities to MacBook Air, which can't be accidental."The design of the product has already drawn comparisons from some commentators to Apple's 11in MacBook Air product. Joe Wilcox of Betanews commented: "There's no mistaking the design similarities to MacBook Air, which can't be accidental."
At the Wall Street Journal, its blogging team on the company's third-quarter results remarked "Google's new $249 Chromebook laptop reminds me of another prominent company's thin silver machines, but I can't quite put my finger on it…" and, with a picture, "this is the product Samsung and Google are releasing, months after Samsung got dinged in a lawsuit for creating products that look too similar to things made by Apple" – a reference to the billion-dollar award made against Samsung for patent infringement against Apple iPhones and software.At the Wall Street Journal, its blogging team on the company's third-quarter results remarked "Google's new $249 Chromebook laptop reminds me of another prominent company's thin silver machines, but I can't quite put my finger on it…" and, with a picture, "this is the product Samsung and Google are releasing, months after Samsung got dinged in a lawsuit for creating products that look too similar to things made by Apple" – a reference to the billion-dollar award made against Samsung for patent infringement against Apple iPhones and software.
So far Chromebooks have had minimal impact on the PC market, partly because they do not run apps written for the dominant Windows platform and partly because they require constant connectivity to the internet to be useful. Google has not released any sales figures or cumulative user numbers.So far Chromebooks have had minimal impact on the PC market, partly because they do not run apps written for the dominant Windows platform and partly because they require constant connectivity to the internet to be useful. Google has not released any sales figures or cumulative user numbers.
Microsoft saw revenues and profits in its Windows division slump in the third quarter as consumers and businesses awaited the launch of new computers with Windows 8 built in next week. The PC market overall has also slowed down substantially while tablet sales have risen. Apple is expected to push that trend next week with the launch of a new, smaller iPad, while Microsoft has seen strong interest from consumers in its ARM-based "Surface" tablet, due to go on sale at the end of this month.Microsoft saw revenues and profits in its Windows division slump in the third quarter as consumers and businesses awaited the launch of new computers with Windows 8 built in next week. The PC market overall has also slowed down substantially while tablet sales have risen. Apple is expected to push that trend next week with the launch of a new, smaller iPad, while Microsoft has seen strong interest from consumers in its ARM-based "Surface" tablet, due to go on sale at the end of this month.