A computer Relevant Products/Services that's all about the browser. That's Google Relevant Products/Services's newest vision for enterprises as it unveiled this week two new Chromebooks that will soon be on the market.
The machines were shown at the Google I/O developers conference Relevant Products/Services, currently taking place in San Francisco. Samsung and Acer are each releasing a model next month based on Google's cloud Relevant Products/Services-oriented Chrome operating system.
Boot Time, Updates, Security
Google pointed out that Chromebooks can boot "in eight seconds and resume instantly," are always connected via Wi-Fi and 3G, and provide the same experience regardless of which Chromebook you use. This is because all apps Relevant Products/Services, documents and settings are stored in the cloud.
The company said other advantages include automatic updates, and "the first consumer operating system designed from the ground up to defend against the ongoing threat of malware and viruses."
At the conference, Senior Vice President of Chrome Sundar Pichai called the operating system "a new model of computing that I don't think was possible previously, even a few years ago." That model means forgetting about storing files or apps on your computer, since everything is in the cloud.
Google sees a key market for Chromebooks in businesses that emphasize managed Relevant Products/Services computing. Beginning June 15, when the models will be sold in the U.S. and several European countries, businesses can rent Chromebooks for $28 per user per month. This includes the computer, administration over the web, enterprise Relevant Products/Services support Relevant Products/Services, warranty and hardware Relevant Products/Services replacement when the subscription is up.
'Emptying the Guts'
A comparable subscription model is available to schools and governments for $20 per user per month. Google Apps would be extra. Purchase prices, from Amazon.com or Best Buy, start at $349 for Acer's model and $429 for Samsung's.
Industry observers have mixed reactions to the idea of cloud-only computing. Sarah Rotman Epps, an analyst with industry research firm Forrester Relevant Products/Services, said that, while the browser-only approach is innovative, "the hardware is not." She added that, based on the reference model from Google that she has seen, "it's like emptying the guts out of your computer." Epps said she doesn't "see a market for this product," adding that it is more of a "thought experiment than a product." She noted that Forrester's research indicates a very low use of cloud-based services by individuals, there are limitations like not being able to use a Chromebook on an airplane, and the price point is "overkill."
For about the same price, Epps noted, you could get "a pretty good netbook, a lower-end laptop Relevant Products/Services, or a basic desktop Relevant Products/Services computer." She understands why Google wants to present the concept of a cloud-only computer, since that's where the value of most of the company's products and services reside. She added that she could see a cloud-only device Relevant Products/Services realized in hardware that is as innovative as the concept, such as "a wearable armband" device.
Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for consumer technology Relevant Products/Services at the NPD Group, has a different take on Chromebooks. "There is a market in certain areas of managed environments for web-centric applications," he said. Rubin added that the appeal will be to those IT Relevant Products/Services departments who "value security Relevant Products/Services and don't want to risk Relevant Products/Services data Relevant Products/Services on a device getting lost or stolen."
Source: Barry Levine: www.toptechnews.com
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