According to the online retailer, one of the highest selling laptops is the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook. While this may come as a shock to many specialists, considering the netbook’s lack of offline support, as well many networks currently struggling to cope with the mobile data transmissions, the reality behind Google’s sound success simply boils down to price.
Considering the fact that the Chromebook sells for about $500 (half the price of a MacBook Air), some will find the idea of a cheap, easily accessible cloud-based laptop incredibly appealing. Moreover, although some might find the prospect of being tethered to the Internet as impractical, Web-only applications remove the need for antivirus tools as well as manual software updates.
Many small businesses, who do not have the luxury of a professional IT department, will certainly embrace the idea of having systems with no maintenance required, although some reports have suggested that large corporations cannot deny the advantages either.
Although not necessarily designed to be a competitor on the tablet market, some consumers will certainly see it that way. While many people would like the ultra-portability of an iPad, they also require a machine that is closer to a PC. Besides the obvious MacBook Air, the Chromebook is a very solid middle ground device. While it relies heavily on applications, and offers no on-device storage or software, it has that familiar laptop feeling with the built-in physical keyboard.
While the Series 5 by Samsung would range around an iPad in terms of price, the cheapest available Chrome OS-based device would come in at roughly $350, designed by Acer.
Regardless, although this generation of Chromebooks does have a modest success, not only is the interest and desire for this type of mobile device growing, it will certainly be appeased with news of new breeds on the horizon.
