Rumor: Chrome OS devices to be sold as a subscription

[Emil]

Google is reportedly planning on selling Chrome OS devices to customers using a subscription-based model. The search giant will first target Gmail users, though it's not clear if this refers to mainstream Gmail.com users or Google Apps premier customers.

Google plans to make the notebooks available for $10 to $20 a month per user, and will provide hardware refreshes as they are released as part of the package. The company will also replace faulty hardware for the life of the subscription, according to Neowin.

Google will also make the devices available for a one time payment, and will likely partner with retailers and carriers to do so. A price point has not been finalized, though devices in the US could cost between $250 and $600.

Since last year, Chrome notebooks from Acer and Samsung have been expected to arrive in the first half of 2011, and the most recent rumors say that Google will ship them in time for Q2 2011, possibly in June or July.

Chrome OS will only ship on specific hardware following deals struck between Google and the manufacturers. Chromium OS (the open source development version of Chrome OS) will be available as a disk image so that enthusiasts can put Chrome OS on any machine they please, though this won't get the same support from Google.

Chrome OS differentiates itself from Android by targeting devices with physical keyboards. Google's thinking is that many people already spend all their time in a browser, and that building an OS that is essentially a browser will make computers faster, simpler, and more secure.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/43409-rumor-chrome-os-devices-to-be-sold-as-a-subscription.html

 

[Kibaruk]

Adding more barriers to your "next-gen computing" is amazing. Good luck with Chrome OS subscription (And people thought microsoft was cheap (Not meaning in costs)).

 

[TrekExpert]

kibaruk said:
Adding more barriers to your "next-gen computing" is amazing. Good luck with Chrome OS subscription (And people thought microsoft was cheap (Not meaning in costs)).

I'm not sure you understood the article.

"Google will also make the devices available for a one time payment, and will likely partner with retailers and carriers to do so. A price point has not been finalized, though devices in the US could cost between $250 and $600."

The subscription is completely optional, and if you ask me $10 per month isn't that bad of a deal considering it includes upgrades to the latest version of the hardware.

 

[BrianUMR]

MS has wanted to make windows a subscription model for ever but hasn't ever been able to do it. Wonder if google can.

 

[Kibaruk]

Yes but it will (At least on rumor) require one of those "carrier partners" to have so, like new smartphones.

And still its pretty expensive if you ask me for such a basic computer experience.

 

[Xclusiveitalian]

This is going to fail so hard it's hard to watch... I guess google had to fail at something.

 

[captaincranky]

This is going to fail so hard it's hard to watch... I guess google had to fail at something.

I beg to differ. If it fails it will provide a great source of viewing pleasure, and the infinite joy of making it an object of scorn and derision.

They will find empty spots on store shelves where the "budget PCs" with Linux in them used to be.

I remember the great "you're forcing me to buy Windows in my new computer movement". That went down faster than the Titanic. And Heeeeere's you new PC with Windows 7.

Google is my favorite search engine and Email client. With that said, I use script blocking to deal with "goolgeanalytics". Half the time I block "googleapis". The net result of that is having to type in your own emoticons.

So, I don't think I'll be putting a laptop with Google Chrome on any known wish list or price alert.

 

[T77]

"Google's thinking is that many people already spend all their time in a browser, and that building an OS that is essentially a browser will make computers faster, simpler, and more secure."

I can't possibly figure out where all this is going....Building OS around a browser will make computers simpler,faster and secure.I don't really think so,first of all not everyone out there enjoys a 2Mbps connection, and since when has the web been secure....

 

[captaincranky]

Subscription ANYTHING is pretty much a really bad idea. In a few cases it's advantageous to a consumer. For example, a year's introductory subscription to a magazine for 10 bucks. Beyond that, not so much.

Google is starting to exhibit the megalomania associated with its being a monopoly.

A lot of corporations would like to worship the "bill every month god's" altar, but I have no intention of joining them in their rapture..

Hell, I won't even join a porn site that doesn't have one shot per specified term billing.