Consumers and enterprises alike have mostly written off Chromebooks because the devices are based on using Web applications via the Chrome browser rather than locally storing apps like Microsoft Office on a laptop's large hard disk drives. Unlike a traditional laptop with Windows or OS X, Chromebooks come with the Chrome OS that uses Web apps in the browser.
That means instead of compatibility with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Chromebooks could use Google's Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides via the cloud. Chromebooks can use any browser-based software, not just Google's, such as numerous online MS Office clones and other enterprise software on the Web, including HTML5 apps.
Chromebooks are designed to save all files to the cloud, but the notebooks come with a 16GB solid-state drive (SSD) so users can save some files on the device. In addition, Chromebooks include an SD card slot, so the SSD storage can be supplemented with additional storage. Also, Chromebooks can read a variety of files that are transferred to the SD card from a regular desktop or laptop.
Contrary to assumptions, Chromebooks aren't completely useless when not connected to the Internet. Hundreds of Web apps have some form of offline access. For example, Gmail messages may be downloaded when online and then opened and edited when offline. Moreover, Chromebooks also can display another computer's files via Google's new beta Remote Desktop app. As ThinkerNET writer Maria Korolov discussed, Chromebooks can use more advanced virtual desktop software, too.
I'm typing this blog on my own $249 Samsung Chromebook with its 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 pixel display, a full size keyboard, 2GB of RAM, 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, and USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports.
These Chromebooks are in short supply. Although the price is certainly a big draw, there are other advantages for enterprises. When a Chromebook first boots up, it checks the integrity of the Chrome OS. If it's corrupted, a new version automatically downloads. Also, Google frequently updates Chrome OS, which is downloaded quickly and automatically. When turned on, Chromebooks boot up in about 10 seconds, and start almost instantly in standby mode.
Also, Google is offering 100GB of free storage for two years in Google Drive. That's a $120 value, although IT departments might cringe at the thought of employees storing large amount of data on Google's servers. In addition, GoGo, which provides in-flight Internet service, offers 12 all-day passes, currently $14 per pass, for two years. These two deals are worth more than $249.
But there's more than saving money for enterprises. Google also offers IT departments its Chromebook Web console for pre-installing applications as well as blacklisting or whitelisting types of apps that may be installed, configuring network settings, establishing user groups, and displaying employee usage reports.
For Internet-based computing, this cheap, lightweight (2.42 pounds) notebook does an excellent job. But it's certainly not perfect. It runs on a 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 chip that's typically for tablets and smartphones, and performance can bog down if dozens of browser tabs are open and multiple videos are playing. Also, although the Samsung Chromebook looks like the MacBook Air, it's plastic rather than metal, which can creak a bit. In addition, the display's viewing angle can't compare to more expensive screens.
For enterprises whose employees must use specialized software stored on a laptop's hard disk and any program requiring large amounts of RAM or a fast microprocessor, the Chromebook isn't the answer. But for enterprises that have standardized on Google Apps for Business and cloud-based software, the new Samsung Chromebook could be a great portable device. Before you exclaim that tablets can do the same job, tablets are terrible at multitasking, require touching the screen, and aren't bundled with a free external keyboard.
I have been paying close attention to all the latest and greatest notebooks / laptops that are coming out. The Chromebook looks great and the price is not bad at all. I recnelty purchased a regualr laptop, becuase there are just some things that you moight need to do that all these smaller devices can not handle. And the worst part is that right after I bought the laptop, all these laptops/tablets stated coming out. Anyeays, I have purchased some of these Chromebooks for my team of employess and they seem to be great so far. No complaints and can not complain about the prices. Just wnated to share this with everyone.
I assume Google wanted to offer an even cheaper laptop than the Samsung Chromebook, so Google agreed to Acer's product. Reviewers seem to think Acer's is based on a cheap, old, very mediocre existing laptop that Acer merely changed slightly for the Chrome OS in order to attain the $199 price.
There also are rumors that Google is working on other, more advanced Chromebooks -- developed to its own specifications and with its branding -- but there aren't any confirmations about this.
The $249 Chromebook remains quite difficult to obtain, and perhaps Google underestimated the demand. It has been "out of stock" since it was introduced, although stores (such as Amazon) get shipments and will send them to people who are in the queue.
I have been pondering whether to keep or return the Chromebook. However, I spend almost all my working time on the Internet and with Internet applications. Also, Google updates Chrome OS about every six weeks, so there are continuing improvements. And for $249 it's nice to have a laptop that I'm pretty much assured won't be infected with malware, will turn on instantly and allow me to work if anything happens to my other computers. So, I'm keeping it.
I think it really does make sense for enterprises to consider the Chromebook.
Yes, I must have missed that comment. Going back and reading it, I'm glad that you agree with what seems to be a contradiction with the Chrome OS concept when Google is putting a 320GB disk drive in a Chromebook. The purpose of Chrome OS is to utilize the power of the cloud. It's also a way for Google to sell its services like Drive and Google Apps. But they must have come to some sort of concession with Acer in order to ship this particular device. I know that Acer has been an iffy partner in Chromebook at the same time they knowing that they are not going be able to rely on the Windows ecosystem as much as in the past with the changes that Microsoft is making in hardware stratgy. It will all be interesting to watch!
The day this blog was published, Google announced the new $199 Acer Chromebook, and I discussed it in a comment I posted. The reviewers now say it might be a bit faster than the $249 Samsung Chromebook, although the battery life is significantly worse and and it weighs more.
I find that $249 Samsunh Chromebook is fine for certain tasks and I assume the Acer Chromebook also will be good. The Acer isn't as good as a take-everywhere device because of its poorer battery life of perhaps three or four hours. But it's difficult to get any computing device for $199, so both the Acer and Samsung Chromebooks are priced well.
There certainly seems to be a demand for them. The Samsung is quite difficult to get, although the Acer Chromebook is still available, at least currently from Google Play.
Acer is going to be coming out with a $199 Chromebook. What is interesting is that in order to get down to such a low price they had to sacrifice certain components. Instead of a solid state hard drive that has come standard on Chromebooks, the Acer model has a regular platter drive. It also has an older Intel processor that will slow down performance and battery life.
But this is being done in an effort to get cheap Chromebooks into users' hands. I'm not sure it will work if the product and overall user experience is mediocre at best.
If you read to the end of blog, you'll see that I wrote about some of the problems, such as the performance bogging down, the construction and the lack of locally stored Windows applications.
For $249, many enterprises should take a look at the new Samsung Chromebook, if only as a spare computer.
It all depends on the use case, Even enterprises that typically use regular laptops might consider Chromebooks useful for specific applications, plus the security and lack of IT support. For $249, many enterprises could afford a Chromebook as a "just in case" laptop.
Samsung has announced a $329 version of the new Chromebook with a cellular modem, but I don't know if it's available yet. That's an okay price.
The older Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook comes with a cellular modem, but it costs $550 and I don't see that as a good price. Might as well get a cheap laptop and use tethering from a phone or modem.
I've had 16 or so tabs open at once in a browser window and another browser with a few tabs, but it's certainly not as snappy as with one or two windows with a total of a dozen or so tabs. I can certainly empathize with needing multiple browser windows with dozens of tabs plus other open apps.
As a wrote, Chromebooks aren't good for all situatiions, but they are useful. And I like the somewhat "fail-safe" aspect with a constantly updated and clean copy of Chrome OS that boots fast and is available if Windows or OS X machines have problems.
after reading the article i only found the pros . it may not be good for large and big organizations but for small SMBs and home-base companies offering solutions for IT it may be a good and cheap option.
It is for the reason that I do not see traction for this platform in the enterprise. With that being said, I can see it working in educational institutions and non-profits because of the overall cost savings it can have in hardware and IT services.
In the long run, getting it into schools may be the best strategy: students who use them will someday be in the workforce, and they will be familiar with the concept and may even champion the technology. But this is a very long-term view.
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