Google To Offer Chrome OS Notebooks For $20/month

An anonymous reader writes "Hot on the heels of the $25 ARM computer, Google is to offer a $20 per month package for students, which includes a Chrome OS laptop (like the Cr-48) and an online component, which will likely include a storage bump for a user's Google Docs, Gmail, Picasa Web, and Google Music files. This would serve two purposes for Google: first, Google will be able to expand its existing user base for Chrome OS. For half the price of a typical cell phone contract, students will be able to pick up a netbook with 3G connectivity. Second, Google will be able to test the package offering publicly prior to eventually adding an enterprise version for Google Apps users."

Re:And for Canada?

[Capt.DrumkenBum]

What's Canada?

The second largest nation on earth.

Is that near China?

Canada is above the US in every possible way.

Does it have money?

Yes, and it is worth more that US currency.

I know you were trying to be funny... Try harder next time.

Re:I just bought something better

[Necroman]

I think you're missing something important with this.

It's $20/month/user for K12 and College, and $28/month/user for businesses. With this you get an auto-upgrading OS, warrenty and support, and hardware upgrades as the hardware gets old. So in 2-3 years when your current laptops are old, they will send you new ones for all your users. Because everything is stored online, the upgrade is nearly seamless for the users.

As well, this includes "domain" management for all the laptops you buy this way. As an IT admin, you manage all the laptops you get this way, setting up users, policies, and other junk that IT admins have to deal with.

This is a lot more than a stand alone laptop.

(Note: I'm at Google IO right now and I'm getting one of these things for free, so I may be influenced by the magic).

Re:And for Canada?

[blair1q]

>The second largest nation on earth.

How much of it habitable? By bikini models?

>Canada is above the US in every possible way.

I'll inform Alaska of your Northocentrist worldview.

>I know you were trying to be funny... Try harder next time.

If Woody Allen can say he's not an artist, then I'm comfortable saying I'm not a comedian.

Re:And for Canada?

[clang_jangle]

What's Canada? Is that near China?

Sara Palin can see it from her front yard.

Re:And for Canada?

[element-o.p.]

Since I live in Alaska, I was about to argue with our Canadian friend until I looked at Google Maps. Canada doesn't have much population located farther north than Anchorage or Fairbanks, but they've got a boatload of land further north than us Alaskans. Go take a look at the Northwest Passage. They're waaaay north of Prudhoe Bay, which is about as far north as we get over here on the west side of the continent. <shrug>