Google announced the Chromebook today. Is it worth it?
So the Google I/O conference is wrapping up today and Google finally dropped the bomb. Come 15 June you’ll be able to buy your own Chrome laptop.
There are 2 models lined up, one each from Acer (11″ screen) and Samsung (12″ screem). Neither has truly spectacular specs; they’re decent mid-level laptops. Also, complete specs haven’t been released so we don’t know what they are, yet.
But there is a partial list of specs on Amazon for the Acer, and I can see a problem. It only has a 16GB SSD drive. Um, no. That’s just not gonna work for me. I’m used to carrying everything with me; hard disks are huge so why not?
Google did announce the price today: Samsung ($429 with Wi-Fi, $499 with 3G) and Acer ($349). Come June 15, you can get them direct from Google and or from BestBuy or Amazon. There’s also going to be a subscription plan. It’s cost you $28 a month ($20 if you’re a student). Hardware upgrades come free with the subscription.
I"m seriously thinking about getting one, but I’m not sure I can get past the size of the SSD. I suspect that it will be an issue for most people. How big is your music library? What about movies? All too many of us are used to being able to carry everything around at all times.
On the other hand, I’m used to using my laptops to death so a subscription deal for $28 a month might be a good idea. It’s not much more than my last laptop cost per month over its life
Comments
Mike Cane May 11, 2011 um 6:00 pm
I’m surprised to learn it has an SSD! I expected nothing but flashable ROM for the OS plus RAM to run programs.
Carrying everything with you? The pimp video for it pointed out that’s the Web’s job now. Stop trying to union bust, you scab.
curiosity killed the.. May 15, 2011 um 11:57 pm
i found out digging deeper into the i/o conference coverage by people that were there that someone went to an after announcement conference with the executives and they spilled the beans that you wont be getting that $28 a month deal w/o a 3 year contract. to me that changed the whole appeal to this internet only laptop even if you get a new device every year or so being stuck in a contract for 3 years is tough in this economy.
curiosity killed the.. May 15, 2011 um 11:57 pm
http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/editorial-google-clarifies-chromebook-subscriptions-might-have/
sorry forgot the link to it
Nate Hoffelder May 16, 2011 um 6:53 am
Thanks. I thought I’d updated this post. (Where did it go?)
curiosity killed the.. May 16, 2011 um 9:32 am
also the 3 year contract it says is only for the enterprise/school deals meaning a 10 order minimum to get those prices. the only option the average consumer has is the flat fee they mentioned early on in the announcement 350-500 depending on which model you buy and that doesn’t come with any support or option for a free upgrade like the contracts have.
Winzeyy May 25, 2011 um 11:12 am
Well, The 16GB SSD is probably for the OS only. The Chromebook uses the Cloud to store most of the things like pictures, music and etc.