Despite having been mocked because of its browser-only OS limitation, Chromebooks have seen an astonishing degree of success in certain sectors including education, mostly due to the combination of high efficiency and low costs.
But when MacBook enclaves Apple CEO Tim Cook‘s old high school start making “the switch” to Chromebooks from MacBooks, we take notice…
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A short while ago, Google and HP announced a brand new metal-clad Chromebook which boasted some impressive specs, including the powerful, efficient Core M chips from Intel, high resolution screens, generous RAM and more than one Type-C port. In a lot of ways, this is the more affordable laptop the Pixel should have been, and will give the Dell Chromebook 13 a run for its money. But how does it compare to the other Core M laptop; Apple’s latest 12-inch MacBook?
Update: There are now some even better prices available. You can grab the 6ft cable at $9 Prime shipped w/ code BUE2SL39, the 1ft cable at $8 Prime shipped w/ code OZIWJRGS, and the 10ft variant at just $10 Prime shipped w/ code OYDTW5TH.
If you’re on the lookout for some USB Type-C cables for your new Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X (or perhaps even a Chromebook Pixel or a 12-inch MacBook), this is a good opportunity to grab some at a great price. Amazon offers the iOrange-E USB Type-C 6.6 ft braided cable for just $10 Prime shipped w/ code NSUFTGQ3, and the same cable in its 10ft variant for $15 Prime shipped w/ code IBXAME3M. These are the lowest prices we’ve seen…
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Klipsch (Sub-12HG) Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer: $199 shipped (Orig: $499)
Acer Chromebook 15 Laptop: $259.99 shipped (Orig: $350)
Apple 12-inch MacBook w/ Retina display 1.2GHz/8GB/512GB in all colors: $1,500 shipped (Orig: $1,599)
Mackie CR3 powered speakers + Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Pro Headphones: $130 shipped (Orig: $199)
Today only, as part of its Gold Box Deals of the Day, Amazon is offering up to 80% off a wide selection of Back-to-School Essentialsincluding notebooks, binders, Sharpies, post-it-notes, scissors, tape, pens, and just about everything else you’ll need. One standout is the 3-Pack of Scotch 8-inch Precision Ultra Edge Scissors (1458-3AMZ) for $9.95 with free shipping for Prime members (free trial) or on orders over $35. That’s as much as $14 under some bloated listings and the best price we can find by $3+.
Perfect for going back to school or around the office, these multi-colored scissors are the best selling option on Amazon and have received a 4.7/5 star rating from over 1,600 Amazon customers. Here are some more of our top picks from the sale:
Apple and Google products don’t always play together nicely, but when they do, it’s normally because a third party has created an application or two to get them talking to each other. That’s exactly what Reflector 2 for Mac does (among many other things). If you’ve been wondering how you can get content from your Android smartphone or tablet mirrored or streamed to your Mac (and Windows PC, if you’re into that kinda thing), this is one really easy way.
Editor’s note: As noted in the graph above, the numbers in this article refer only to the commercial channel, as NPD does not measure direct sales. Some of the language below has been updated to clarify this point.
A new release from the NPD Group indicates that notebooks running Google’s Chrome OS have gained significant ground in the past year. According to the statistics, over one-fifth of all laptops sold in 2013 were running the free software. Of course, it should be noted that the numbers presented don’t take built-to-order machines or direct sales into account, instead relying on sales of pre-configured options, but even so, this impressive figure is still very good news for Google.
In fact, when considering all computer sales, including desktop and notebook form factors, Chromebooks have still gained a pretty sizeable chunk of the market. Last year Chromebooks took home a measly 0.2%. This year, however, the number comes in closer to one-tenth of the market at 9.6%.
While that may not seem like much next to the 34.1% of all computer sales held by Windows-powered notebooks, it’s over five times better than Apple’s sales for its entire MacBook lineup combined. It now seems that Google—not Apple—is in the best position to someday knock Microsoft from the top of the notebook computer market.
Just as Apple launched a plastic iPhone, Samsung is reputedly planning a switch to a metal case for the Samsung S5 due to replace the S4 next year.
Taiwan’s Taipei Times cites supply-chain sources as saying that Samsung has been making enquiries about an order for up to 30 million metal cases for the 2014 version of its flagship handset. To add to the irony, Barclays analysts suggested that one of the manufacturers which may be in line for the contract is the same one that makes metal cases for both iPad and MacBook Pro.
Our checks suggest Catcher has been qualified as one of the major sources on the total metal casing smartphone volumes at 10 [million to] 30 million next year from Samsung. The final order allocation is to be confirmed in early first quarter 2014, subject to price bids by approved vendors.
Interestingly, a metal case would seem to rule out any plans by Samsung to take full advantage of its flexible display.
Via Gizmodo
Long before the Chromebook Pixel was released, I, and surely many other Chromebook users, begged Google to create a high-end laptop that would allow technology professionals to use the Chrome OS to its fullest. To really give it a run against our high-end MacBook Pros and PC workstations, Google would have to throw more than the repurposed netbook hardware that OEMs like Samsung, Acer, HP, and others were giving this operating system.
Google’s Pixel is that high-end machine, but does it stack up where it needs to? First, the good:
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This Apple vs. Samsung trial is turning into a treasure trove of information on the two companies, with the latest bit of information being that Samsung is readying a 11.8-inch Galaxy Tab with an incredible 2,560-by-1, 600 pixel resolution. That is a 30-inch monitor brought down to the size of a netbook display, and it is somewhere between the screens on a retina MacBook Pro and a Retina iPad. This mega-tablet is labeled “P10” on slide 83 of Samsung’s presentation, so it has no one but itself to blame for this premature announcement.
A rough calculation on the size is just slightly bigger than the screen of the smaller MacBook Air. I will admit that I would love to try one of these out. And, before you go blaming Samsung for stealing Apple’s Retina invention, remember that Samsung makes the displays in Apple’s Retina iPad. Therefore, it has just as much right as anyone. As for the look and feel of the Tab, that is for the courts to decide.
(Cross-posted on 9to5Mac.com)
Just sayin’…
It’s a familiar scene. MacBook-toting journalists, bloggers and guests providing Apple with omnipresence and free advertising at rivals’ events, thanks in large part to the glowing Apple logo on the well-designed notebook family. Who knows, this time next year some of these folks might carry around machines with the Google logo on them if there’s any substance to the whispers of subscription-based Chrome OS notebooks. Check out seven additional Apple sightings below the fold and meet us in comments.
Check out the sticker: “My other computer is a data center”. Touche.
