Image by andysternberg via Flickr
On June 15, 2011, Google’s answer to the laptop was released. Named the Samsung Chromebook, this laptop runs Google’s Chrome operating system. This netbook is light, only three pounds, and thin at three-quarters of an inch thick. It’s available in two versions: Wi-Fi at $429 and 3G-enabled at $499.
What the Reviews Are Saying
There are definite limitations to this computer. For one, it must be connected to the Internet in order to work. In fact, the New York Times columnist David Pogue called the netbook a three-pound paperweight when you aren’t able to connect with it to the Internet. The idea is that this computer operates in the “clouds,” but the problem is that most of us just aren’t able to connect to the Internet anywhere we go.
Another is the minimalist operating system, which doesn’t seem to be designed well enough to perform simple tasks such as unzipping files and editing photographs.
Will Netbooks Continue to Sell?
The real question overall, though, is whether netbooks even have a market. Even with its slim and lightweight design, most consumers seem to be moving towards tablets, such as Apple’s iPad, which are sold within the same price range. With basically the same capabilities as a netbook, these tablets are sleeker in design. These tablets typically use the Android operating system, another OS designed by Google, or a Windows operating system.
Overall, it looks like this computer might be a flop for Google, though only time will tell if it’s a success. Maybe there’s an untapped market that Google can sell these stripped netbooks to.