Google has cut the price of its Chromebooks, but the savings are so far only for Americans.
The price for the Acer Chromebook will be cut from $349 to $299 for the Wi-Fi-only version. The Samsung Chromebook Series 5 was cut to $349 for Wi-Fi and $449 for the 3G version, down from $429 and $499 respectively. The 3G versions also come with 100MB of data from Verizon in the US for two years.
However, those price cuts are only at US retailers, with UK prices holding firm.
Google noted the Chrome OS has recently been updated to offer a new login page and redesigned tab layout. “By popular demand, we’ve added a few handy new shortcuts to the New Tab page: a shortcut to the File Manager on your Chromebook, as well as to music apps and games in the Chrome Web Store,” said Venkat Rapaka, senior product manager, in a post on the Google Chrome blog.
The consumer cuts follow discounts to the Chromebook subscription price for businesses and schools.
Google hasn’t said how many Chromebooks have sold, but recent reports have suggested sales numbers in the low thousands. However, retailer PC World, which recently opened a Chromebook pop-up shop in one of its stores, believes the system still has a chance.
“I believe that Chrome could be circa 10% of our computing business this time next year with the right mix of hardware partners and a much greater consumer push with regards to the benefits,” Mark Slater, head of computing at Dixons Retail, told The Telegraph.
“We’ve seen the rapid growth and significant share which Android has as an operating system in the smartphone and tablet space,” he added. “As such it’s not inconceivable for Google to push Chrome much harder before the arrival of Windows 8 next autumn.”
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