Google unveils $279 Chrome laptop made by HP [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20131008/DA9A81A83.html

By ANICK JESDANUN

NEW YORK (AP) - Google is introducing a $279 laptop that runs its Internet-centric Chrome operating system, borrowing many of the high-end features found in models that cost $1,000 or more.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) makes the new HP Chromebook 11. Although its price is in line with most other Chrome OS notebooks, the new model sports many design features found in pricier devices, including the $1,299 Chromebook Pixel.


A dozen HP Chromebook 11's, are displayed at a Google event, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013 in New York. The new $279 laptop, based on Google's Internet-centric Chrome operating system, borrows many of the high-end features found in a model that costs about $1,000 more. Speakers are tucked under the keyboard so that sound comes out toward the user, even when the laptop is used on the lap. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)


Unlike Windows and Mac laptops, Chromebooks rely heavily on continuous Internet connections to run Gmail, Google Docs and other online services. Many apps don't run directly on the device but over the Internet. The devices also have relatively little storage, as documents, photos and other files are supposed to be stored online.

Google promotes Chromebooks as affordable laptops for a wide range of people, including schoolchildren and merchants who can use Google's tools on the Internet without the extra expense and hassle of installing more sophisticated software such as Adobe's Photoshop photo-editing software or Microsoft's Office word processing and spreadsheet package. Chromebooks come with a lightweight photo editing package and Quickoffice, a Microsoft Office alternative that Google bought last year.

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