Chromebooks started to make real inroads in the laptop market in 2013. Not only did they capture about 20% of preconfigured laptop sales in the U.S. commercial segment but they also landed in Microsoft’s sights when it came to consumer ads, confirming that they were a real threat to Windows-powered laptop sales. Samsung, one of the earliest supporters of the Chrome OS platform, now looks set to launch a new model at CES 2014.
According to Business Korea, the new Samsung Chromebook will come with an octa-core Samsung Exynos 5420 processor (the same as in the international variant of the Galaxy Note 3), a 12-inch (or less) WQXGA (2560×1600) display, 3GB of RAM, and either 16 or 32GB of onboard storage. A USB 3.0 port is also likely as is a battery good for about 7 hours of operation. With a price expected to fall between US$250 and US$300, it could well prove popular among budget-conscious consumers ready to hop on the Chromebook bandwagon.
While the report expects that Samsung will unveil its new Chromebook at CES 2014, the company denied this, saying only, “We are planning to unveil no laptops during the CES 2014 period.”
Those looking to buy a Chromebook in 2014 will find unprecedented selection. Along with Samsung and Acer, HP and Dell jumped into the fray this year and ASUS is also expected to offer a Chromebook sometime next year.
Sources : Business Korea // SamMobile