History of Computers - Chromebooks
By Davis Rae
Chromebooks are budget laptops that use Google’s proprietary operating system. The laptops are manufactured by a variety of Google’s hardware partners and are primarily used for Google Drive applications.
Contents
Overview
The first Chromebook was released in the United States in June of 2011. The laptop launched at $429 and was manufactured by Samsung.[2] It could be configured with wifi only, or with 3G capability for an extra charge of $40.[3] The Google operating system was called Chrome OS and is still used today on all Chromebooks. The laptops were built with the purpose of being constantly connected to the internet, and offer little functionality offline. Additionally, the Chromebooks only allow for the downloading of apps that are in the Google Chrome store. Some of Google’s hardware partners today include LG, Asus, Acer, Dell, Samsung, HP, and Toshiba.[4] The variety of manufacturers allows the Chromebooks to target the budget market as well as the high end. Some of the machines can sell for as much as $800 while the low end reaches $200. [5]
Significance
Chromebooks target an extremely low price point, and made laptops much more affordable. Because they are easily affordable, Chromebooks are frequently used for student purposes. In addition, the Google Chrome philosophy of storing all data in the cloud has driven the PC market more in that direction. Programs like Microsoft Word have had to adapt to Google’s new services. Because the Google programs are stored in the cloud, someone can go on any computer with an internet connection, and access all of their files.
Links
- ↑ upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Cr-48_Chromebook_cropped.jpg/220px-Cr-48_Chromebook_cropped.jpg
- ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-13785546
- ↑ ibid
- ↑ http://time.com/4474181/what-is-a-chromebook/
- ↑ https://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/laptops/best-chromebooks-top-5-chromebooks-in-the-us-1233696
References
https://www.wired.com/2014/01/toshibas-first-chromebook/
