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Chromebooks Outsell Macs For the First Time In the US (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on from the get-things-done dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report on The Verge: Google's low-cost Chromebooks outsold Apple's range of Macs for the first time in the U.S. recently. IDC analyst Linn Huang confirmed the milestone to The Verge. "Chrome OS overtook Mac OS in the US in terms of shipments for the first time in 1Q16," says Huang. "Chromebooks are still largely a US K-12 story." IDC estimates Apple's U.S. Mac shipments to be around 1.76 million in the latest quarter, meaning Dell, HP, and Lenovo sold nearly 2 million Chromebooks in Q1 combined. Chromebooks have been extremely popular in US schools, and it's clear from IDC's comments the demand is driving US shipments. Outside of the US, it's still unclear exactly how well Google's low-cost laptops are doing. Most data from market research firms like IDC and Gartner focuses solely on Google's wins in the US.

6 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. Chromebook is great by halivar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The low cost with touch screen tells me all the other laptops are extremely marked up. My only disappointment is the lack of apps for it. But for simple Google Docs work, it can't be beat for the dollar.

    1. Re:Chromebook is great by captaindomon · · Score: 5, Informative

      Prices of products from large corporations that know what they are doing are not set based on cost+. They're set based on Willingness to Pay. Cost is only used to determine whether a market is viable for a product.

      --
      Just because I can hook a shark from a boat, I do no offer to wrestle it in the water.
    2. Re: Chromebook is great by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Come now. Anyone with an Internet connection is ALREADY brainwashed vis a vis Google. Except for us curmudgeons, the vast majority of the planet thinks that the Internet IS some unholy amalgamation of Google and Facebook.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    3. Re: Chromebook is great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's a website where you go to google stuff.

  2. Re:What a strange comparison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have spent several years as an IT guy in school districts. Chromebooks make sense for IT for several reasons:

    1. Replacing a Chromebook is trivial and inexpensive; there is no loss of data or backup worries.
    2. The malware worry is not there.
    3. Everything in modern schools is largely Web-based instruction or taught on SMART boards.
    4. Kids like them and are already Google savvy.

  3. Re:What a strange comparison by GezusK · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A neighboring school system, with more money than sense, did go all MacBook Airs. They are now getting rid of them, and going the Chromebook route. Easier to manage, no malware, and cheaper to replace.

    We see them as just another tool. No different than a textbook or other material. They provide access to resources. It's still up to the teachers to use the tools they're given in the most effective way.