Posted on 07/15/2014 4:52:43 AM PDT by dennisw
Microsoft's plan is tout Windows value, the ability to run native and Web apps, Office, desktop apps and work with existing peripherals in battle with Google's Chromebook.
Microsoft operating chief Kevin Turner said the company and its partners won't cede the low-end PC market and will sacrifice Windows licensing margins to do it.
Turner, speaking at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner conference, put meat around the company's plan to focus on platforms and productivity. As Mary Jo Foley noted Microsoft is going for a suite of experiences across multiple devices.
Here's the problem: Microsoft has the share in the PC market, but smaller screens and cheap devices are a bigger challenge. After all, Microsoft lacks smartphone share and Google's Chromebook is nibbling at the lower end of the market. Microsoft will even allow its Nokia unit to launch an Android smartphone to keep visible in the low end of the device market.
Microsoft's plan is to tout Windows value and the ability to run native and Web apps, full Office, desktop apps and work with existing peripherals. Acer has a $249 laptop and Toshiba another version coming at the same price point.
The big question is why Microsoft wants to duel in the race to the bottom. The short answer is Microsoft has to play ball where profit margins don't exist to remain relevant. Google doesn't care about hardware revenue---all the money is made on advertising---because the goal is to get engagement. Chromebooks are merely a Trojan Horse to get you to use Google more.
Microsoft is adopting a similar move. With low-end PCs, the aim isn't necessarily to wow laptop buyers as much as get them using OneNote, Office and buying storage from the company. The risk is that Microsoft's ecosystem will have to deliver something better than the next-gen netbook.
(Excerpt) Read more at zdnet.com ...
Chromebooks are a great lightweight value that get thouasnds of good revies at Amazon.
The drawback is they strongly hook you into the google eco-system with all its data collection on you. I suppose Chrome is the only browser you can use on a chromebook which....all of them are light, sleek and longer battery life than many comparable screen size laptops say at 12.1 and 14 inches
Competition is always a net gain for the consumer, but the race to the bottom, where the profit margin is so very, very low, seems wasteful when looking at the move in isolation. I think in Microsoft’s case, this is more about keeping the users of low-end systems in the ecosystem, because they’re going to be tomorrow’s mid-end system users.
Its all about keeping your brand visible, pervasive and taking up part of peoples minds. Google and Apple are beating MS at this. And MS was such a dominant force 6-10 years ago. That would never be dethroned
Its about the eco-system as you say!!!!
If a device has Microsoft software, a royalty payment to Microsoft has been paid.
Seems like ongoing cash flow to me.
This low-end market is interesting...hook ‘em on your OS then have ‘em keep buying your products...
I do not like the ‘yearly subscription’ model that Microsoft has adopted for the Apple OS -— there are several good apps that open, edit and create Word, PowerPoint and Excel files all for less than $20.00. Why charge $100.00 per year?
Microsoft needs to woo new users in to their ecosystem, but I feel as if they are alienating them.
I bought a Chromebook recently. I really like it.
You are being tracked. See the google tracking.
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http://www.pcworld.com/article/2450480/10-amazing-data-driven-websites-that-will-change-the-way-you-see-the-world.html
I tried a chromebook at work. What a piece of crap. Try setting up printing from one.
My printer works poorly - so I haven’t tried to print from the Chromebook. I use it mainly for e-mail and web surfing. If I’d needed more functionality, I probably would have waited and bought a “real” laptop.
Just got one for $200 at Walmart; “boots in seconds”...good for travel etc
But yes that’s the only browser and picture this: suppose you want a program or app that will allow you to record streaming audio. Something like Audacity or Audio Record Wizard 5.
They won’t let you. OK so look on the Google store or whatever. No such program is offered.
Storage—there’s some, not much; you can store a lot in a “cloud” but after a couple yrs you have to pay. But indeed light, long battery life etc.
If you sign in with your google ID (@gmail etc) you get the Web plus access to files you have stored. Or browse as a guest and no access to files.
...the only way to rec streaming audio would be to have a portable mp3 voice recorder and attach a cord (1/8” at each end) to record off the headphone jack into the voice recorder.
Also, you’re being constantly tracked and monitored by Google to an even higher degree than normal. You’re not their customer, you’re their product. Never forget that.
Can the Chrome books be wiped and reimaged with Linux or have Linux installed?
copy.com by barracuda networks gives 15gb free cloud storage
Sigh...yeah that’s the way of the world these days...
thanks, will check out. This is more for web surfing on the go, etc. And maybe just transfer some files to flash drives.
Yes, but they also need to keep their product happy or it goes away.
I don’t know if that’s possible, but remember that these are very low-end machines, with hardware designed only for really running a web browser and nothing else.
Good point. I’m not really familiar with the platform...having no need for such a thing.
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