Google Chrome OS Netbooks to be $300 to $400
Makers of Chrome OS netbooks won't have to pay for the OS, but the hardware still costs money.
Google, with Chrome OS, plans to move into the operating system in a bigger way that its Android software is taking over smartphones not called the iPhone. Speaking at the Atmosphere Cloud Computing forum, company CEO Eric Schmidt admitted that Google is rewriting some of its software so that it'll work with Chrome OS – so that Google can sooner start using its own software and not rely on tools from Microsoft or Apple.
Google figures that any challenges the company must go through to switch software will be experienced by other businesses planning on doing the same. In short, Google is using itself as a test case.
"At Google we're getting ready to deploy these essentially Android and Chrome-based devices that are in development, so we want, of course, to eat our own dogfood which is how we sit here and build things. … We found applications that were part of our business; operations, sales, accounting so forth… even at Google we have this problem. I expect everyone faces this problem."
Schmidt also answered questions relating to how much a Chrome OS-packing netbook will cost.
"It will be up to the manufacturers who do it, but the price points you should think about are the current netbook pricings which are 300 dollar, 400 dollar price points. … Those prices are completely determined, by the way, by the costs of the glass, the costs of the processor and things like that, but in our case Chrome OS and Android are free so there is no software tax associated with all of this."
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So is the OS free!?
Schmidt, you're hilarious. Why can't there be more CEO's with a sense of humor like this?
So is the OS free!?
"but in our case Chrome OS and Android are free so there is no software tax associated with all of this."
FFS read the entire article.
Ubuntu is still king for netbooks... Or any computer TBH...
I can't wait to see how these things perform.
I like the idea of Chrome OS, but my biggest fear is that overtime it will turn in a advertisement supported OS, even if this will not be the case at first. Google will want to eventually make money from Chrome and they are in the advertisement business, so 2 + 2 ...
I am really looking forward to this promising alternative. I currently use a Mac with OSX and Windows 7, a PC with Windows 7 and Ubuntu, and am looking to purchase a netbook in the next 6 months. This could possibly it.
Provided the development stages of both in-house and third parties is up to par, I will not hesitate to pick one up. I could stand to lose my Macbook Pro.
"Google, with Chrome OS, plans to move into the operating system in a bigger way that its Android software is taking over smartphones not called the iPhone. "
This is a terrible use of the English language. I'm still not sure what it means, but in any case, it's very awkward, if it's even grammatically correct. I can't tell, I get dizzy every time I read it.
still waiting for Crome OS beta, the limited access alpha was a bore
I like the idea of Chrome OS, but my biggest fear is that overtime it will turn in a advertisement supported OS...
I don't think it will have to. Mainly, because the internet as it stands already is[heavily add-supported]. Chrome OS will just advocate Google's existing and future products. Unless I'm wrong, the OS will mostly be like tabbed browsing, encouraging the use of web-based apps...directly or indirectly facilitating more internet traffic and more google ad impressions/clicks/etc. *shrugs*
But can it run... you know what.
[citation]so we want, of course, to eat our own dogfood, which is how we sit here and build things. …[/citation]
[citation]Schmidt, you're hilarious. Why can't there be more CEO's with a sense of humor like this?[/citation]
While probably not the first to use it, Microsoft made that phrase popular a long time ago...
400 clams for a netbook with a OS where most of the Apps are on the internet? Pass.
A10" netbook with Chrome OS and a VIA CPU for $200 is something I'd be interested in.
I'd likely only use a laptop for reading Tom's anyways.
I like the idea of Chrome OS, but my biggest fear is that overtime it will turn in a advertisement supported OS, even if this will not be the case at first. Google will want to eventually make money from Chrome and they are in the advertisement business, so 2 + 2 ...
Maybe not. Google can collect money in other ways. Such like google account upgrade, payed services.. cloud computing fee.....
Damn I love free.
Wait, current netbooks (with paid Windows) are already $300-400. Aren't the manufacturers just making an extra $50-$100 profit from selling Chrome netbooks at the same price point?
bonezy, that's a very good point. maybe less from what you indicated but let's wait and see.
Is there any particular reason someone would have to but a netbook with Chrome OS pre-installed?
I'm sorry I don't see how this will be promising alternative. It is a alternative yes but comeon you know it will be ad ridden. And what about program compatibility? I don't know I think Reactos project should get more attention.
But can it run... you know what.
no... this time it's a good question...
how many games will I be able to run without any hassle?
I don't want to have to run this app, which in turn enables this other one which emulates windows (or runs windows under this OS) in order to be able to play a game... an actual game, not solitaire or facebook games
most probably that's out of the question given that they intend to use the OS for netbooks, so I think it should handle net surfing and video reproduction as it's most amazing features
I saw an article saying the google netbook will have 2gigs ram, a small ssd drive, and maybe touchscreen. This is well worth 300-400 and you can always put a different distro on it, like ubuntu.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/ [...] re-out.htm
Schmidt, you're hilarious. Why can't there be more CEO's with a sense of humor like this?
It's actually a common saying in tech, it means using the same technology and software that you're selling to everyone else.
Maybe not. Google can collect money in other ways. Such like google account upgrade, payed services.. cloud computing fee.....
Exactly and thats not even looking at the cash they'll get for selling you the hardware devices that run Chrome OS. While the netbooks won't have a software tax on them you know theres still going to be a piece of the pie that goes to them.
Do the masses understand that Chrome is a Linux OS heavily dependent on "cloud" computing? At least that is what it was started as.
Wouldn't these things cost just as much as a fully featured Windows Netbook? and with Chrome OS, it's nothing but cloud computing... it doesn't sound like a good deal.
"but in our case Chrome OS and Android are free so there is no software tax associated with all of this."
FFS read the entire article.
FYI i read the article and followed the links and that quote there doesnt mean its free. Generally there is no hardware costs to create software so of course that "tax" isnt there.
no... this time it's a good question...how many games will I be able to run without any hassle?I don't want to have to run this app, which in turn enables this other one which emulates windows (or runs windows under this OS) in order to be able to play a game... an actual game, not solitaire or facebook gamesmost probably that's out of the question given that they intend to use the OS for netbooks, so I think it should handle net surfing and video reproduction as it's most amazing features
It will probably support flash games at best, but gaming is not the main audience for the devices. Windows 7 is great right now (for gaming), so I would not change it even if there was another option. I use Linux for any other task, so in that sense, I already have the promising OS.
This might cause price reduction of Windows in future, which is good.