Rather than getting into a Windows XP situation where it had to continue expanding upgrade support, the support page says Google intends to upgrade newer Chromebooks to the Googlebook OS. It doesn’t have details on the timeline or what models will be included, but the company notes that in many cases it will be a “straight migration.”
Googlebooks are launching at much higher prices than Chromebooks.
Credit: HP
Googlebooks are launching at much higher prices than Chromebooks.
Credit: HP
It’s understandable that Google doesn’t want to make this clearer: Chromebooks may not have been a hit with consumers, but they’re important in schools and businesses. Googlebooks will not have comparable management tools for a year or more, according to the support page. If Google is more open to ditching ChromeOS, its Chromebook business could go under before Googlebooks is even theoretically in a position to take over.
In their public statements, Google representatives have only said that Chromebooks will continue to exist. However, this guide certainly makes it seem like the platform’s days are numbered. This can present problems for organizations like schools, which have become accustomed to purchasing capable, easy-to-manage PCs for very little money. As Google has explained on numerous occasions, Googlebooks are intended to be a premium product.
Maybe Google partners will eventually explore budget Googlebooks, but the starting lineup starts at $899. It’s impossible to spend that kind of money on a Chromebook these days.
