Best Buy retail stores begin stocking Samsung Chromebooks
updated 03:01 pm EDT, Thu June 28, 2012
Chromebooks also reaching Currys stores in UK
Google has revealed that Chromebooks will be headed to retail store shelves in several markets. In the company's day-two I/O keynote, an executive noted that 100 Best Buy locations throughout the US are set to stock Samsung's Series 5 550 Chromebook as of today, while UK shoppers will be able to purchase the device at local retailer Currys.
Google effectively rebooted the Chrome OS computer line recently, placing the Series 5 at the center of the push. Upgrades in memory to 4GB of RAM and a 16GB SSD for internal storage join a dual-core Intel Celeron processor running at 1.3GHz. The new Series 3 Chromebox, previously leaked in a TigerDirect promotional video and now available online, sports a faster 1.6GHz dual-core Celeron processor and carries a $329 price tag.
Google is likely hoping for better sales than the platform is believed to have achieved in the past year. The company suggests that it has released an automatic Chrome OS update every six weeks, adding offline functionality for utilities such as Google Documents, however the platform has yet to make a dent in traditional computer sales.
A page showing all Best Buy stores stocking the Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook has been put online, along with lists of online retailers stocking other Chromebook models and the Chromebox.
