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Google To Offer Chrome OS Notebooks For $20/month
An anonymous reader writes "Hot on the heels of the $25 ARM computer, Google is to offer a $20 per month package for students, which includes a Chrome OS laptop (like the Cr-48) and an online component, which will likely include a storage bump for a user's Google Docs, Gmail, Picasa Web, and Google Music files. This would serve two purposes for Google: first, Google will be able to expand its existing user base for Chrome OS. For half the price of a typical cell phone contract, students will be able to pick up a netbook with 3G connectivity. Second, Google will be able to test the package offering publicly prior to eventually adding an enterprise version for Google Apps users."
Sure, if you believe you're losing nothing of value by granting Google access to all of your data, as well as a transferable, non-revokable, worldwide license-in-perpetuity to exploit all of your data as they see fit, it'll be totally free.
But honestly, with this plan, you're already granting Google a frightening level of control and access into every facet of your data... and paying them $20 a month for the privilege. I suspect Google will keep charging people a nominal fee, simply because they can.
Wait, no, I meant to say, "Yay Google, everything Google does is for the benefit of mankind because they mouth trite platitudes about not being evil. If they say it, they MUST mean it!"
i have a beta cr-48 and haven't used it in months. even my wife rarely uses it anymore unlike her iphone.
it's OK and pretty fast but completely useless unless you have a network connection. ipad runs rings around it in hardware quality and functionality.
I think this has the most value in K12. A lot will depend on support contracts and additional costs, but for a 1:1 program this is a reasonable structure. Many people will compare this to buying a laptop for under $400 that can be used anywhere versus a $240 dollar annual cost for a device that only works over the web. What most people will miss and what will be important for this to work, is reducing the management and maintenance costs of the devices. If you combine the $240 appliance with wireless access at school, administrative control of the device, replacement structures for broken and stolen devices, and the ability to integrate with an LMS, this could be a valuable reduction in costs.
A $300 netbook that I can use for $0/month! That's right, ladies and gents, zero dollars per month!
And that's not all. It's even capable of storing up to 320 GB of data INSIDE the device itself! How amazing is that? You can carry your data right along with you, and not have to depend on "the cloud" or have problems with their data breeches.
If I keep it for 5 years, that's $1200 saved compared to a $20/month plan. And since I have both 802.11 and a cell phone anyway, I can still get network connectivity anywhere.
It's a damn amazing thing, I tell ya what.
What's Canada?
Is that near China?
Does it have money?
No. Canada does not need flying moose.
But Moose needs Flying Squirrel!
Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
The second largest nation on earth.
Canada is above the US in every possible way.
Yes, and it is worth more that US currency.
I know you were trying to be funny... Try harder next time.
If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
I think we're forgetting the fact that while not all students can afford an $800 lump payment many can afford to drink $20 less in beer a month. Basically Google is offering free financing on a laptop with a $20/mo payment. That's a pretty killer deal.