Google Details Its Chromebook Subscriptions
Google this week announced an interesting deal for students and businesses looking at its new Chromebooks as computing options.
By now you’ve probably heard about Google's new Chromebooks. Manufactured by Samsung and Acer, they’ll cost you between $349 and $499 to buy upfront. However, Google also revealed that it will offer Chromebooks to schools and businesses on a subscription basis. The cost for a Chromebook subscription is priced at as little as $20/month for students and $28/month for business users.
This monthly subscription includes free software and hardware upgrades, as well as administrative support. The annual cost of such a program works out at $240 per student or $336 per business user. However, Google is also insisting on a three-year minimum contract for businesses and educational institutes availing of this deal, which drives the total cost for a three-year subscription to $1,008 per computer for businesses and $720 per computer for educational institutions. What's more, Google says a customer that wants out of the three-year deal must "pay out the rest of their contract." There's also a minimum of 10 computers per company/school, though it would appear there is no limit on the number of consumers.
Of course, as is the case with buying up front, going for the 3G option is more expensive, with the price jumping from $20/month to $23/month for schools purchasing the 3G version of either the Acer Chromebook or the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook. Enterprise customers purchasing the 3G Acer Chromebook will see the price jump from $28/month to $31/month, while the WiFi version of Samsung's Chromebook costs $30/month and the 3G model costs $33/month. Schools and business selecting the 3G models will get 100MB of free data per month.
Specs for the laptops announced this week are as follows:
Acer Chromebook
- 11.6" HD Widescreen CineCrystalTM LED-backlit LCD
- 2.95 lbs. | 1.34 kg.
- 6 hours of continuous usage
- Intel® AtomTM Dual-Core Processor
- Built in dual-band Wi-Fi and World-mode 3G (optional)
- HD Webcam with noise cancelling microphone
- High-Definition Audio Support
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- 4-in-1 memory card slot
- HDMI port
- Fullsize Chrome keyboard
- Oversize fully-clickable trackpad
Samsung Series 5 Chromebook
- 12.1" (1280x800) 300 nit Display
- 3.26 lbs / 1.48 kg
- 8.5 hours of continuous usage 1
- Intel® AtomTM Dual-Core Processor
- Built in dual-band Wi-Fi and World-mode 3G (optional)
- HD Webcam with noise cancelling microphone
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- 4-in-1 memory card slot
- Mini-VGA port
- Fullsize Chrome keyboard
- Oversize fully-clickable trackpad
Both of these computers will be up for preorder on June 15.

Now, I'll admit that these contracts are for businesses and education, and part of the contract for businesses requires a minimum purchase of 10, so this contract is for major establishments who can likely commit to the machines for 3 years. Still, the price seems to be insane for a machine that will be outdated sooner than the first year. Google used to be the good guy, but with every step they take, they seem to be getting closer to a worse corporate entity than MS or Apple. I have a feeling that contract will draw the attention of the feds into their business practices.
Atom cpu and an OS that is just a web browser. Those poor bastards!
I think in the case of businesses and education institutions the idea is to buy a 'fleet' of these for students/employees and then farm out each one to each employee/student, get the to pay the monthly fee either directly or charge it on, and then when a student/employee leaves they just give it back. UTS in Sydney, Australia already loans out notebooks, so here people will be able to have their 'own' and be covered if anything goes wrong. With 1000's of students there's always going to be someone to take it up if someone else gives one back. This model is already almost the preferred in industry, where people pay big monthly fees or $100 or more just for the notebook with added warranty. $28 in comparison is cheap, remember parts are made in China but services sometime need expensive western world labour.
Also google is probably just being a bit lazy by not giving people to many options. The last thing I'd want personally is a the scheme to get as complicated as the mobile phone industry is. Those complications are there to confuse people into not knowing what a good deal is and buying based on marketing BS. Keep in mind that we're the i1337 on this site and it's not really aimed at us necessarily, there are heaps of humanities students that don't want to know about the ins and outs.
And if you want a plain old laptop without a contract, who's stopping you? That's the system we've lived with for years. The fact of the matter is that this is the first time I can get any sort of notebook that comes with the software one might need for an up front cost of a mobile phone. Well done to Google for trying something different, and if it all tanks thanks for putting up the few million dollars to try (much better than the money going to booze and hooker like it does on Wall Street)
Outside of that it has very impressive hardware for the price. I know I know ChromeOS isn't exactly powerful and it may not interest you guys but you can just slap linux on there as soon as you get it. Its a great netbook for $240 so why the hell not?
If you're looking for a cheap, light, netbook to carry around, its the best value for the price. at least in my opinion.
otherwise just get a thinkpad or something.
The Chrome notebooks are still pathetic though.
Please, say one more stupid thing, I know you cant help yourself.
Not that you have anything to hide...