Comments on: Google expands Chromebook availability to six more countries while doubling down in U.S.

By: SPM

SPM — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:05:04 +0000

Windows is the OS for backward countries – I don’t think Chromebooks will be very successful there. The reasons are simple:

First, in developed countries, computer hardware costs are dirt cheap whereas labour – particularly technical and professional labour is very expensive. Chromebooks’ big advantage over high maintenance labour intensive desktop operating systems like Windows is that they are Zero Maintenance, Zero Touch Administration devices. The TCO of Chromebooks as determined by schools and businesses where they have been deployed was found to be less than 30% of the cost of a Windows setup. This is primarily due to labour cost savings. In backward countries, labour costs are dirt cheap (which is why we out source there), so the benefit isn’t as great.

Second, in backward countries, Internet and networking communications tend to be slow and primitive, so a legacy OS designed for disconnected operation like Windows is perfect. Just try using Chromebooks in most areas of Afghanistan, and you will soon realise why that is Windows country.

By: rudixeno

rudixeno — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 01:54:00 +0000

That’s been my experience as well.

By: Adam Greenblum

Adam Greenblum — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:27:04 +0000

It will be interesting to see how well the Chromebook does outside the US. I like the Chromebook concept – an easy-to-use, reasonably-priced (except for the Pixel) laptop that starts up extremely fast. The Chromebook pretty much does what most people need – web browsing, simple document editing, email, etc.

There are even solutions for accessing Windows applications. For example, Ericom AccessNow is an HTML5 RDP client that enables Chromebook users to connect to Terminal Server or VDI virtual desktops, and run Windows applications (like MS Office) or even full desktops in a browser tab. So even if you purchase a Chromebook for casual home use, you can also use it to connect to your work applications if necessary.

Click here for more information:
http://www.ericom.com/RDPChromebook.asp?URL_ID=708

Please note that I work for Ericom

By: kd

kd — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:21:20 +0000

I hear this from people all the time: who would want a Chromebook? Chromebooks are useless, etc., All From People Who Have Never Owned One. Use one for a week and it will become your main computer. Light, fast, secure, good battery life, does everything most people need–from an actual Chromebook owner :-)

By: Ric

Ric — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:48:03 +0000

This is the only real success the cloudy books have is in poorer countries where the inherent drawbacks of Internet based access makes sense for people that cant afford local storage.

Eventually, the local storage scene will have a resurgence when the US govt decides everything on the Internet belongs to them and good luck then.