Is it? Do you think the HP can run for 8 hours? The Intel CPU cost money, so they save elsewhere. Since and ARM CPU costs close to 0$ the reason the price is that high is because other components are better, like the screen, battery, wifi antenna and so on. 150$ is low enough, i just miss more local storage, but you can always carry a large USB key in your pocket.
Agreed. I have a fully functioning and surprisingly fast tablet (Winbook 801) with 2GB RAM, 64 GB Storage, 8" tablet form factor but with both micro hdmi, USB3, and headphone out and a separate charging port all for $99.
I can hook this up to a KB/Mouse and any monitor in the world and have a Windows 8.1, soon to be windows 10, computer or I can use it in tablet mode without anything else. I could have a monitor at my house and at work along with a KB/Mouse combo sitting at each spot. When I get in I'd just plug both in and I'd not even be $400 out of pocket for 2 complete computer setups basically as well as all of my stuff on a tablet when I'm on the go.
At this point the standard is raised. If you don't offer hdmi out, USB3 (usb3.1 c would be better) and a headphone jack on a cheap device you just aren't worth the time anymore because other cheap devices do have those things.
Can't seem to find that product actually existing. They have a 32GB version of what you describe for more money though. Did you get something that was a limited run and on sale?
I still don't agree. Your tablet right now costs 150$ on amazon, it doesn't come with a keyboard and has a smaller screen. Also since the device is smaller it most likely has a smaller battery. Also since it runs Windows, does your AV slow the tablet down much? I am not mocking you, i would really like to know, as tablets don't run particularly fast as is.
The Winbook TW801 was selling for $99 over the holidays. The price has since jumped up 50% but it still is a far more compelling option when compared to Chrome OS-based devices. The HP Stream 11 laptop is also fairly competitive in price and offers capabilities that are more familiar to the end user. It means that, in order for Google Chrome products to compete with a feature reduced system, they need to be far below the cost of Windows hardware. In addition to the limited capabilities, I'm starting to see a lot more awareness among non-technical people about just how much data Google is mining about the end user from anything with one of their operating systems on it and how they're combining it with metrics collected from web browsers, YouTube usage, and Gmail (with nothing being sacred if you happen to use Google Wallet, an Android phone payment system, or have Google Fiber). The consumer backlash is looming over that and only narrowly avoided with their pulling Glass back from public testing. If nothing else Microsoft hasn't got as much of a monetary incentive to farm it's user community since their sales aren't advertising-driven so what little they do collect isn't vital to the survival of the company. Conversely, Google must monetize the end user in order to survive. As with Android, users of Chrome OS are the final product that are traded and sold by Google to other companies.
On those Tablets Microsoft gives away Windows for free, and Intel sells Atom under cost. Both, Microsoft and Intel, need to increase their market share on Tablets.
Don't expect the same deal on laptops, neither Microsoft nor Intel need to give for free or sell under cost there.
Even better, get a miracast adapter if your monitor has HDMI in. Then get a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Mirror the screen with Miracast and the only thing you'd ever need to plug in would be power(and that's only if you are getting low)
Ok, but that has Windows, so much more maintenance work and risk of viruses. Fine for you, I would replace it with Linux so I don't care but my parents would be better off with chromeOS. There simply is a big market of people for whom NOT having Windows is a plus.
The Chromebit sounds interesting. I can see a use for old desktops and laptops that Windows runs like crap on being repurposed for Chrome OS cheaply.
It is a USB boot disk for Chrome OS; no way in hell am I going to pay anywhere close to $100 for it though. It can go at most $20 over the cost of a USB stick of the same capacity. I can boot Linux off of a USB stick and have more capability.
"...the Chromebit is essentially a Chrome OS computer on a stick which can be connected to a display and other peripherals to be used as a computer."
This actually sounds like it's got an HDMI output and Bluetooth or some other wireless capability. It's a bit more than just a USB boot stick, since nowhere is it specified it requires a host computer but is itself the computer.
Obviously, it's not an USB stick preloaded with Chrome OS but a fully-fledged mini computer similar to Fire TV stick or one of the other HDMI sticks running Win 8.1 with Bing.
---
On a different note, I think $100 for one of these is almost too expensive. For the sort of applications I have in mind, the performance of the Fire TV stick ($39) is marginally OK. But the critical issue is if you can unlock the bootloader or root the device.
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RaistlinZ - Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - link
Pretty soon these Chromebooks will be stuffed into the bottom of cereal boxes.nerd1 - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
$150 is OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive, considering HP is making $199 bay trail laptop with windows license.dylan522p - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
Microsoft talked about the $150 quadcore with windows and 2gb ram or 200 for 4 and slightly higher clocks. Chromebook better get cheaper.mr_tawan - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
I wonder, how much each CPU would cost in these low-end laptop? $5-10 perhaps ?SleepyFE - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
Is it? Do you think the HP can run for 8 hours? The Intel CPU cost money, so they save elsewhere. Since and ARM CPU costs close to 0$ the reason the price is that high is because other components are better, like the screen, battery, wifi antenna and so on. 150$ is low enough, i just miss more local storage, but you can always carry a large USB key in your pocket.074geodude - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
The HP can't, but the Asus X205TA (another $200 Windows 8 laptop) can run for 12 hours.http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/asus-eeeb...
SleepyFE - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
Not bad. Thanks for the link.shadarlo - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
Agreed. I have a fully functioning and surprisingly fast tablet (Winbook 801) with 2GB RAM, 64 GB Storage, 8" tablet form factor but with both micro hdmi, USB3, and headphone out and a separate charging port all for $99.I can hook this up to a KB/Mouse and any monitor in the world and have a Windows 8.1, soon to be windows 10, computer or I can use it in tablet mode without anything else. I could have a monitor at my house and at work along with a KB/Mouse combo sitting at each spot. When I get in I'd just plug both in and I'd not even be $400 out of pocket for 2 complete computer setups basically as well as all of my stuff on a tablet when I'm on the go.
At this point the standard is raised. If you don't offer hdmi out, USB3 (usb3.1 c would be better) and a headphone jack on a cheap device you just aren't worth the time anymore because other cheap devices do have those things.
cygnus1 - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
Can't seem to find that product actually existing. They have a 32GB version of what you describe for more money though. Did you get something that was a limited run and on sale?SleepyFE - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
I still don't agree. Your tablet right now costs 150$ on amazon, it doesn't come with a keyboard and has a smaller screen. Also since the device is smaller it most likely has a smaller battery. Also since it runs Windows, does your AV slow the tablet down much? I am not mocking you, i would really like to know, as tablets don't run particularly fast as is.BrokenCrayons - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
The Winbook TW801 was selling for $99 over the holidays. The price has since jumped up 50% but it still is a far more compelling option when compared to Chrome OS-based devices. The HP Stream 11 laptop is also fairly competitive in price and offers capabilities that are more familiar to the end user. It means that, in order for Google Chrome products to compete with a feature reduced system, they need to be far below the cost of Windows hardware. In addition to the limited capabilities, I'm starting to see a lot more awareness among non-technical people about just how much data Google is mining about the end user from anything with one of their operating systems on it and how they're combining it with metrics collected from web browsers, YouTube usage, and Gmail (with nothing being sacred if you happen to use Google Wallet, an Android phone payment system, or have Google Fiber). The consumer backlash is looming over that and only narrowly avoided with their pulling Glass back from public testing. If nothing else Microsoft hasn't got as much of a monetary incentive to farm it's user community since their sales aren't advertising-driven so what little they do collect isn't vital to the survival of the company. Conversely, Google must monetize the end user in order to survive. As with Android, users of Chrome OS are the final product that are traded and sold by Google to other companies.Marc GP - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
On those Tablets Microsoft gives away Windows for free, and Intel sells Atom under cost. Both, Microsoft and Intel, need to increase their market share on Tablets.Don't expect the same deal on laptops, neither Microsoft nor Intel need to give for free or sell under cost there.
NXTwoThou - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
Even better, get a miracast adapter if your monitor has HDMI in. Then get a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Mirror the screen with Miracast and the only thing you'd ever need to plug in would be power(and that's only if you are getting low)cygnus1 - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
You realize MS gives away the version of windows on that $199 bay trail laptop for free right?Marc GP - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
And also Intel sells them Atom under cost. Both, Microsoft and Intel want to increase their market share on Tablets.You'll never get the same deal on a laptop.
Kraszmyl - Saturday, April 11, 2015 - link
Last I was aware ChromeOS is also free so what does it matter?jospoortvliet - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
Ok, but that has Windows, so much more maintenance work and risk of viruses. Fine for you, I would replace it with Linux so I don't care but my parents would be better off with chromeOS. There simply is a big market of people for whom NOT having Windows is a plus.erple2 - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
Is the Chromebit the evolution of the Chromecast?eanazag - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
The Chromebit sounds interesting. I can see a use for old desktops and laptops that Windows runs like crap on being repurposed for Chrome OS cheaply.It is a USB boot disk for Chrome OS; no way in hell am I going to pay anywhere close to $100 for it though. It can go at most $20 over the cost of a USB stick of the same capacity. I can boot Linux off of a USB stick and have more capability.
VoraciousGorak - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
"...the Chromebit is essentially a Chrome OS computer on a stick which can be connected to a display and other peripherals to be used as a computer."This actually sounds like it's got an HDMI output and Bluetooth or some other wireless capability. It's a bit more than just a USB boot stick, since nowhere is it specified it requires a host computer but is itself the computer.
Marc GP - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
This is not an USB stick, it's an HDMI stick that you connect directly to your TV/Monitor. The processor/memory/storage ... is all within the stick.jasperjones - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
Obviously, it's not an USB stick preloaded with Chrome OS but a fully-fledged mini computer similar to Fire TV stick or one of the other HDMI sticks running Win 8.1 with Bing.---
On a different note, I think $100 for one of these is almost too expensive. For the sort of applications I have in mind, the performance of the Fire TV stick ($39) is marginally OK. But the critical issue is if you can unlock the bootloader or root the device.
kranjan - Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - link
This is excellent - finally we don't have to pay the premiums for Intel CPUs and get a high performance yet low power ARM CPU!DIYEyal - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - link
The chromebit has more ports than the new macbook.. Well playedsimard57 - Wednesday, April 8, 2015 - link
Obligatory, can it run Linux? /s