The long-awaited Google Chromebook has finally stepped out of the ether and onto store shelves. A variety of models from Acer and Samsung ranging in price from $379.99 to $499.99 are now available for immediate purchase at Best Buy and Amazon.
Designed primarily for use with the Internet, the Chromebook also features a few limited offline capabilities. But make no mistake about it, this netbook replacement works best as a device for browsing the web. Of course that isn’t necessarily a bad thing given all the goodies such as Google Docs, Gmail, and the plethora of other online applications that populate the web these days.
One big advantage the Chromebook has over most netbooks and laptops is its native 3G connectivity which ensures that you’ll be able to access the web in many places where traditional wired Internet and Wi-Fi simply aren’t available. And if you’re a student on a budget, there is another huge plus: You can buy a Chromebook by paying a flat $20 a month on a plan that includes regular updates, a warranty and replacements as needed.
While these sleek new devices won’t be for everyone, I’m predicting that the Chromebook will help hasten the demise of netbooks, a market sector that has already been hit hard by the infusion of tablet PCs and ultra low price notebooks.
About the author: Rick Rouse is the owner and editor of RLROUSE Infoblog.