Chromebooks have gained more traction than most probably expected, a trend that Google is hoping will carry over to the workplace. The latest entry in its enterprise push comes from Dell in the form of the Chromebook 13.
Dell's newcomer joins the Asus Chromebook Flip and the Chromebook Pixel in the Google for Work program, doing so in impressive fashion.
The system packs a 13.3-inch FHD IPS touchscreen display, a fifth generation Intel Core processor, a carbon fiber cover, backlit keyboard, magnesium alloy palm rest and a glass trackpad. Battery life is rated at a full 12 hours.
These are the kind of amenities that certainly grab one's attention but it'll take more than some nifty hardware to even gain consideration from enterprise clients. Fortunately, Google and Dell seem to have that taken care of as well as the Chromebook 13 includes a number of security-minded and productivity-focused features.
For example, it is supported by Dell's unique IP from Dell KACE which provides inventory management and service desk support. The Dell SonicWALL Mobile Connect (VPN) app provides secure access to company resources, access reporting and tracking while optional content filter subscription services available with Dell firewalls provide URL filtering and browser protection to ensure employees aren't using the notebook for productivity-killing purposes like checking Facebook.
The Dell Chromebook 13 starts at $399 and will be available for purchase as of September 17.