Google on its ‘continued commitment to Chromebooks’ after Googlebooks

Following yesterday’s Googlebook announcement, the company released a post aimed at existing enterprise and educational Chromebook users.

Google says “Chromebooks remain a reliable, long-term investment” that customers can “continue to confidently purchase and deploy them to your businesses and schools.”

A “plan for the future” list has three bullet points:

• Continued support: ChromeOS will continue to receive 10 years of automatic updates.
• Consistent management: Manage your current fleet via the Google Admin console without needing new licenses.
• Flexible adoption options: When the time comes, we’ll provide multiple pathways to transition over to the new experience.

The company reiterates that it will “provide multiple pathways to transition over to the new experience.” Yesterday, Google said “many Chromebooks will be eligible to transition to the new experience,” with more details coming this fall.

It’s not clear right now if this migration will only be available for more powerful devices, especially given the Gemini Intelligence focus.

While no immediate action is required, you can begin working with Google or your partners today to map out the best plan for your organization.

It’s also worth wondering if new Chromebooks will continue to be released, even if it’s just for large fleet purchases. The “premium hardware” nature of Googlebooks is incompatible with the affordable appeal of ChromeOS hardware.

In talking about Googlebooks, Google says it is “building upon the core DNA of ChromeOS that makes it deeply secure out of the box.”

Additionally: “We’re making it easier for organizations to manage all their devices, including laptops, mobile, and Android form factors, with options across the Google Admin console and third party management providers.”

Google yesterday said it “absolutely intend[s] to continue investing in those experiences and supporting those users.”