The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook
Google has revealed that Samsung and Acer Chromebooks – the internet giant’s vision of computers for the cloud – will go on sale in Ireland later today. The Samsung Chromebook will be available for €279 (Wi-Fi version) and €379 (3G version) and the Acer C7 will cost €279.
The new Chromebooks will come with 100GB of free storage on Google Drive and provide hassle-free access to popular Google products like Gmail, Drive, YouTube, Play and Google+ Hangouts, as well as apps accessible via the internet in general.
The Chromebook is effectively a version of Google’s Chrome browser repurposed as Chrome OS which has been configured to work specifically with hardware like the Samsung and Acer notebooks.
The Samsung Chromebook is one of the lightest laptops on the market, weighing just 2.5 pounds, and is a mere 0.8 inches thick, with more than six hours of battery life for the typical user.
It boots up in less than 10 seconds and resumes instantly, and the touchpad promises smooth scrolling due to a hardware-accelerated user interface.
The Acer C7 Chromebook offers a full-size keyboard, fully clickable trackpad, an extra bright 11.6-inch display and more than four hours of battery life. Powered by an Intel Celeron processor, the Acer Chromebook is fast – boots up in 18 seconds, resumes instantly and high-definition videos play smoothly.
Computers for the cloud
The Acer C7 Chromebook
Caesar Sengupta, product management director for Chromebook, explained that in the US, the Samsung Chromebook has been No 1 on Amazon’s best-seller list for laptops every day since it launched 150 days ago, and in the UK, Chromebooks now represent more than 10pc of notebook sales at Currys PC World, the largest UK electronics retailer.
“A few years ago, we set out to build a computing experience that would be faster, simpler, more secure, and more affordable,” Sengupta said.
“With the Chromebook, we want computers, and the wealth of online content, to be accessible to everyone around the world. So today we’re pleased to announce that our latest Chromebooks from Samsung and Acer are now available in Ireland.
“Many people who live entirely in the cloud are already using Chromebooks as their primary computer,” Sengupta said.
In Ireland, the Samsung Chromebook will be available later today for €279 (for Wi-Fi version) and €379 (for 3G version) from Dixons and Amazon online, and the Acer C7 Chromebook will be available later today for €249 from Dixons and Amazon online.
Both devices will be available from Dixons in-store by the end of this month. These Chromebooks are also available to schools and businesses in Ireland. Google has an information page about the potential of the Chromebook for education and will be hosting a Google+ Hangout at 1pm on 26 March to introduce consumers to the new devices.
Stay tuned today for an interview with Caesar Sengupta and a review of one of the new Chromebook devices.
