Google's Chromebook Next Big Thing?

Google recently released their newest project, the Chromebook to the consumer market. For those of you who aren't familiar, the Chromebook is an economy notebook computer that stores it's data and runs programs through Google's cloud network. That means there is no memory in a traditional sense, and even the operating system is loaded from a Google server. Since there is an adequate amount of RAM, the notebook is running and ready to surf the web in 8 seconds. If you look at the current cost ($429.99+ tax) and the capability of the device, it's clearly not as good as a comparably priced laptop, and it's not as easy of a sell as an iPad. Still yet, I was surprised to see the mass sentiment on the Internet to be whole heartedly against the Chromebook.

Consumers doubt that the Chromebook is viable as an option against laptops and iPads, and analyst Michael Sansoterra went as far as saying "Google has been a 1 trick pony as far as earnings are concerned" . First of all, calling Google a 1 trick pony is short sighted. I can't figure out which thoroughbred people are referring to in that statement. Is it Google's search engine or the Android operating system that has come to dominate mobile devices. I really hate to play the devils advocate here, because Google has made Internet privacy a thing of the past. Even though I won't be buying a Chromebook personally anytime soon, I still see unlimited potential in the device.

Google believes that they will soon have a Chromebook in the hands of the majority of computer users. If your computer doesn't have a hard drive, you are left with barely any costs at all in manufacturing. All it takes is a wireless modem, some RAM, a display and keyboard. Since low end laptops go for $250 routinely, you will soon be seeing the Chromebooks cutting that price in half. After Google works the bugs out of their Chrome OS and figures out how they prefer to capitalize on a technology monopoly, they are going to be able to give these things away.

Analysts and consumers alike always forget that Google completed a hostile takeover of 2 of the most competitive and valuable markets in technology: search engines and cell phones. In getting to the top of these 2 markets, they beat out some heavy competition. Apple's iOS was the clear front runner on cell phone operating systems, and Google took the same approach Microsoft did in the 90s with Windows. Now every Apple competitor runs an Android OS on their smart phones, and Microsoft is a late entry in the game with their Windows 7 phone.

One of my co-workers realized Google's plan years ago, and as I see it take some hits while coming to fruition, I can't help but knock him on it. It's obvious it is coming, and even though I like running my programs on my CPU, I know hundreds of people that would gladly upgrade their Pentium 3 desktop to a future Chromebook for 100$. Google will mine data, and sell ads on it to recover the profits they lost in the initial sale. Their grip will tighten, and the analysts that laughed will be treating their ulcers with Maalox.