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Chrome OS devices to cost under $400

updated 09:30 am EDT, Tue April 20, 2010

 

Google CEO promises Chrome OS devices inexpensive


Google CEO Eric Schmidt during the Atmosphere Cloud Computing Forum revealed that Chrome OS devices should be relatively inexpensive when they go on sale (video below). He estimated that they will cost between $300 and $400 and that all the cost will be associated with the hardware, since the OS itself is free. The most expensive part of the software is simply developing the web apps, Schmidt said.

Some strict requirements exist for Chrome OS, such as the need for a solid-state drive instead of a rotating hard disk, but the very low footprint of the platform will allow small drives that won't incur a cost penalty.

The early Google executive added that he viewed Chrome OS as one of the first operating systems in the past 20 years that could significantly challenge the current state of the market, where Windows and Mac OS have largely gone unanswered.

Such low prices could be instrumental to Chrome OS, which is expected to reach not just netbooks but also tablets because of its low demands. It will be relatively limited compared to a platform like the iPad as it will only have partial support for offline content, but significantly lower prices could reduce the cost of entry for those who would use such a device almost exclusively for the web and related tasks. [via TechRadar]

(Note: full video is 42 minutes)


By Electronista Staff

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computers, gadgets, Google, tablet, Apple, Chrome OS, iPad

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Previous Comments

  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    +4
    04/20, 10:09am | report spam | reply

    I guess this platform will have to use

    low price as a draw. You've got people saying how the iPad platform is weak because it doesn't run a full desktop OS. The Chrome platform would seem to be even weaker since it's mainly going to be used for online connections. It seems like it will be a cheaper JooJoo type of platform. I'm not entirely sure I see the advantage of a mostly online type of platform, but it would be OK if there was always plenty of cheap wireless connectivity. I could find use with that type of platform if New York City had lots of free WiFi.


  1. imactheknife

    Junior Member

    Joined: Jul 2003

    0
    04/20, 10:25am | report spam | (1 reply) | reply

    google sucks

    I have lost all respect for google as they are the new MS and their products are equally as bad. It seems they can't just focus on making 1 or 2 things good so they instead make 100 things lousy. If I could avoid google everyday I would.


  1. qazwart

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2001

    +9
    04/20, 10:30am | report spam | reply

    How would this be different from the JooJoo Pad?

    The Chrome platform will be a Linux kernel based OS that mainly runs a WebKit web browser. The JooJoo pad is also a Linux platform that runs a WebKit based web browser. Both the Chrome platform and the JooJoo pad will run Flash. Neither platform allows you to save files or download apps onto the device.

    Yet, the JooJoo pad is just as expensive than the Apple iPad. Nor is any Android premium phone any cheaper than an iPhone.

    What makes Google think the Chrome pad will be 20% to 25% cheaper than an iPad?

    I remember when Apple came out with the original "SDK" for the iPhone. Apple said that developers can create webapps (just like the Chrome platform would use) and use those. That there was no need for native applications. The developer community rose up in arms, and Apple came out with the current SDK just a few months later.

    Is Google sure that people will be happy with mere webapps?


  1. JulesLt

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2005

    +7
    04/20, 10:58am | report spam | reply

    25% cheaper

    Simple - less RAM - a significant part of the iPad price is RAM. Lower margins (Google aren't interested in making direct money from sales, the hardware sellers are likely to be lower-margin sellers than Apple). Inferior industrial design and manufacture (plastic casing, exposed screws - all the usual small things that can be used to shave dollars off the unit cost - and therefore tens of dollars off the retail).

    Slightly slower CPU and GPU, if the focus is on 2D web content.

    I can see the point in a pure web tablet, for use around the home - our laptop is largely used that way. I'm more likely to get an iPad as that tablet, but there's going to be room for something cheaper (it's like TVs or stereos - once homes had one - now we have many)


  1. WiseWeasel

    Junior Member

    Joined: Apr 1999

    +6
    04/20, 11:50am | report spam | reply

    Failure Waiting to Happen

    I am highly skeptical that an OS that can't run native apps, nor play locally stored media, can compete with iPhone OS and Android OS devices. Why would a consumer want to buy a Chrome OS tablet when an Android tablet will be around the same price, and so much more capable? It just seems like it's too soon for a web-only OS like Chrome OS to have popular appeal faced with the competition it has.


  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -3
    04/20, 02:35pm | report spam | reply

    Re: 25% cheaper

    Simple - less RAM - a significant part of the iPad price is RAM.

    No, it isn't. It's flash memory. BIG difference.

    Lower margins (Google aren't interested in making direct money from sales, the hardware sellers are likely to be lower-margin sellers than Apple).

    This is no different than Apple and software. iLife, iWork, OS X, etc, all sell below what a pure software company would sell them for because they use their hardware to supplement the cost (as in "When you buy a Mac, you get OS X and iLife, so it's part of the price").

    Inferior industrial design and manufacture (plastic casing, exposed screws - all the usual small things that can be used to shave dollars off the unit cost - and therefore tens of dollars off the retail).

    OMG! Exposed screws! Say it isn't so! Sure, the MacBook Pros have tons of exposed screws, but they're sunk in. Those PC laptops just leave them hanging out, scratching up everything in site.

    And plastic! Not plastic! Everyone knows if its plastic, it must be c***! (except for those plastic MacBooks, which is a really superior plastic).

    Of course, I'm not sure what the big deal is of plastic and screws. Probably that vain and egotistical "Oh, I look good because my computer looks good!" sort of thinking. Of course, I can't say I've ever actually seen anyone sneer at someone because of the type of computer they were carrying. OK, except some mac users. But apparently they seem to think it's all about 'style' and nothing else.



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