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I think you are somewhat confused. (Edit: I had misunderstood the parent; see below.) The $250 model does not appear to be bundled with Verizon. In fact, I don’

by alanh 14y ago

I think you are somewhat confused. (Edit: I had misunderstood the parent; see below.) The $250 model does not appear to be bundled with Verizon. In fact, I don’t think it has 3G capabilities, just Wi-Fi. The higher-cost Chromebook 550 (Intel) does support 3G. So your entire argument is based upon a misunderstanding, is it not?

AYBABTME 14y ago
Sorry, I was refering to the 3G model (329.99$), but I forgot to make it clear in my comment. However, my perspective is that Chromebooks are meant to be used with a connection to the internet, which makes the 3G model sort of mandatory (for 3G/LTE access is more accessible - in my experience - in developing countries than full internet connections). It's in that perspective that I hold this argument. For the case I'm basing this opinion on, a basic internet connection (DSL) in Vietnam costs much more money than a basic 3G/LTE internet connection. Also, a DSL connection will only be usable from home. I know this DSL/3G relation is also the case in other developing countries.
- alanh 14y ago
  Ah, that does make a lot of sense, and jives with what I've gathered of developing markets, as well. One imagines some sort of tethering to be feasible, if not universally applicable, for those who want a computer form factor and already have 3G Internet on their phone.
- entropy_ 14y ago
  I don't know about Vietnam, but in the Middle East(at least in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt which is where I've been in the past few years) 3G is usually way more expensive than DSL due to low data caps. I pay 10$/mo[1] and have a 100MB/mo cap + 0.1$ for every MB over quota. DSL is ~30$/mo and a 12GB cap(this is Lebanon). So at least in this part of the 3rd world 3G is useless for anything other than checking your mail, chat and the occasional google search. [1] That is, over and above the 20$/mo for the phone line itself. So if I were to get a line just for 3G usage(so as to put it in a tablet or chrombook, for example) it'd be more like 30$/mo.
- ditojim 14y ago
  if your chromebook has 3g capabilities, you can connect to global 3g networks. chill. you have no basis for your argument. http://support.google.com/chromeos/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1059122 http://support.google.com/chromeos/bin/answer.py?hl=en&a...
- bencxr 14y ago
  Exactly. Tablets/Netbooks have been going down in price for some time, so while this is cheap by hardware standards, I would take into account the hidden costs - that many users will need to shell out ~$30 a month on data plans. So this $250 + ~$600-700 over 2 years for a total of almost $1000. I'd consider that instead of the "low sticker price" when comparing options.
  - Retric 14y ago
    Except the 250$ model does not have 3g so it really is 25$. It's the 330$ 3g model that's got the deceptive pricing.

by alanh 14y ago

AYBABTME 14y ago

Sorry, I was refering to the 3G model (329.99$), but I forgot to make it clear in my comment. However, my perspective is that Chromebooks are meant to be used with a connection to the internet, which makes the 3G model sort of mandatory (for 3G/LTE access is more accessible - in my experience - in developing countries than full internet connections). It's in that perspective that I hold this argument. For the case I'm basing this opinion on, a basic internet connection (DSL) in Vietnam costs much more money than a basic 3G/LTE internet connection. Also, a DSL connection will only be usable from home. I know this DSL/3G relation is also the case in other developing countries.

alanh 14y ago
Ah, that does make a lot of sense, and jives with what I've gathered of developing markets, as well. One imagines some sort of tethering to be feasible, if not universally applicable, for those who want a computer form factor and already have 3G Internet on their phone.
entropy_ 14y ago
I don't know about Vietnam, but in the Middle East(at least in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt which is where I've been in the past few years) 3G is usually way more expensive than DSL due to low data caps. I pay 10$/mo[1] and have a 100MB/mo cap + 0.1$ for every MB over quota. DSL is ~30$/mo and a 12GB cap(this is Lebanon). So at least in this part of the 3rd world 3G is useless for anything other than checking your mail, chat and the occasional google search. [1] That is, over and above the 20$/mo for the phone line itself. So if I were to get a line just for 3G usage(so as to put it in a tablet or chrombook, for example) it'd be more like 30$/mo.
ditojim 14y ago
if your chromebook has 3g capabilities, you can connect to global 3g networks. chill. you have no basis for your argument. http://support.google.com/chromeos/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1059122 http://support.google.com/chromeos/bin/answer.py?hl=en&a...
bencxr 14y ago
Exactly. Tablets/Netbooks have been going down in price for some time, so while this is cheap by hardware standards, I would take into account the hidden costs - that many users will need to shell out ~$30 a month on data plans. So this $250 + ~$600-700 over 2 years for a total of almost $1000. I'd consider that instead of the "low sticker price" when comparing options.
- Retric 14y ago
  Except the 250$ model does not have 3g so it really is 25$. It's the 330$ 3g model that's got the deceptive pricing.