Google announced on Tuesday that it is releasing two new Chromebook $50 cheaper than its previous line of laptops.
The upcoming Haier Chromebook 11 (available via Amazon) and the Hisense Chromebook (available from Walmart).
The Chromebooks will only cost $149.
The devices will use Chrome as their operating system and feature an 11.6-inch display, 2 gigabytes of RAM, and Rockchip 3288 processors.
Caesar Sengupta, a Google vice president of product management, said:
“At $149, it changes what users expect for their money,”
According to the market research company IDC, last year around 6 million Chromebooks were shipped.
The firm expects this number to increase to 8.3 million this year.
Google’s Chromebooks will compete directly with tablets such as the iPad and other lower-priced Microsoft notebooks.
According to Google, the Chromebooks are fast, lightweight, and have long-life batteries.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip
In an official blog post the company said that it is also excited about the ASUS Chromebook Flip.
The “premium, all-metal convertible” Chromebook is “ultra-portable”, only 15mm thin, and weighs less than two pounds.
“The Chromebook Flip has a great keyboard and a touch screen for immersive experiences like gaming and educational apps. It will be available later this spring for $249.”
A new type of Chrome device: the Chromebit
A new type of Chrome device, called the Chromebit, will be launched this summer by ASUS.
Google said:
“The Chromebit is a full computer that will be available for less than $100. By simply plugging this device into any display, you can turn it into a computer. It’s the perfect upgrade for an existing desktop and will be really useful for schools and businesses.”
