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1
Samsung Series 3 Chromebook launches @ £229! But...
Oct 19 2012 01:00 PM |
PaulOBrien
in Android
Samsung and Google have announced their first ARM Chromebook, the Series 3, priced at £229 in the UK and $249 in the US. Great price right? But there's good reasons you might want to pick up it's Intel Series 5 sibling instead.
The machine, available today from Currys features ChromeOS (of course), an Exynos 5250 Processor, 2 GB DDR3 RAM, a 1366 x 768 11.6" display, 16GB SSD, a memory card reader, 1 x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB 3.0 ports, 802.11 a/b/g/n wifi and HDMI output. Boot time is said to be only 7 seconds while the battery should be good for over 6 hours of use.
As well as the base machine, a 3G equipped model is available from PCWorld for £279. Seems like a decent deal right? Well, it's kinda complicated.
If we look at the UK supplier of Chromebooks with the largest range, PC World, we can see that the Intel equipped Series 5 550 Chromebooks (the latest and greatest) are much more expensive at £379.99 for the WiFi version and £429.99 for the 3G version. For the original Intel devices though, the Series 5 Chromebooks, the WiFi only model is £199.99 while the 3G equipped variant is £279.99. The Series 5 machines have a higher resolution 12.1" screen (compared to the 11.6" panel on the Series 3 Chromebook) as well as a few extra ports. They're white too.
Tough call right? Now factor in that there is currently £50 available by redemption on all Series 5 Chromebooks. You can also save 5% if purchasing from Currys using the 'cur5' discount code. Couple that with 2.52% cashback from Topcashback and the Intel equipped Series 5 Chromebook comes in at £135.20 which is quite ridiculous.
The ARM equipped Series 3 will certainly offer good performance, a fanless chassis, great battery life from a smaller battery than in the Intel devices and maybe even in the future an ARM Android hack but, well, it's a tough sell today.
The other question is... Chromebook or Android Tablet? What would you choose?
The machine, available today from Currys features ChromeOS (of course), an Exynos 5250 Processor, 2 GB DDR3 RAM, a 1366 x 768 11.6" display, 16GB SSD, a memory card reader, 1 x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB 3.0 ports, 802.11 a/b/g/n wifi and HDMI output. Boot time is said to be only 7 seconds while the battery should be good for over 6 hours of use.
As well as the base machine, a 3G equipped model is available from PCWorld for £279. Seems like a decent deal right? Well, it's kinda complicated.
If we look at the UK supplier of Chromebooks with the largest range, PC World, we can see that the Intel equipped Series 5 550 Chromebooks (the latest and greatest) are much more expensive at £379.99 for the WiFi version and £429.99 for the 3G version. For the original Intel devices though, the Series 5 Chromebooks, the WiFi only model is £199.99 while the 3G equipped variant is £279.99. The Series 5 machines have a higher resolution 12.1" screen (compared to the 11.6" panel on the Series 3 Chromebook) as well as a few extra ports. They're white too.
Tough call right? Now factor in that there is currently £50 available by redemption on all Series 5 Chromebooks. You can also save 5% if purchasing from Currys using the 'cur5' discount code. Couple that with 2.52% cashback from Topcashback and the Intel equipped Series 5 Chromebook comes in at £135.20 which is quite ridiculous.
The ARM equipped Series 3 will certainly offer good performance, a fanless chassis, great battery life from a smaller battery than in the Intel devices and maybe even in the future an ARM Android hack but, well, it's a tough sell today.
The other question is... Chromebook or Android Tablet? What would you choose?
About the author
10 Comments
Zarch1972
Oct 19 2012 01:32 PM
But I can see myself getting frustrated by the lack of true apps and being confined to the cloud.
Also, do all video playback sites work? If SKY Go worked I think i'd get one in a shot, but it uses Silverlight, so probably not.
Finally, with only "Chrome" apps available on the ChromeBook, an Android device gives you far more choice etc for apps with the Play Store etc.
An interesting concept, but i'm wondering if an Android tablet with keyboard would allow you to be more productive?
andybarker
Oct 19 2012 01:43 PM
Zarch1972
Oct 19 2012 01:48 PM
"The lightweight 2.5lbs computer runs on Google's popular Android software and revolves around the internet search engine giant's Chrome web browser."
mmmmmmmmmmm, nice research Metro.
todoleo
Oct 19 2012 02:10 PM
Christian Edwards
Oct 19 2012 06:39 PM
They've been left behind by the low power consumption of ARM so they fired this plan from the grassy knoll.
hecatae
Oct 19 2012 09:37 PM
Zarch1972, on 19 October 2012 - 01:48 PM, said:
"The lightweight 2.5lbs computer runs on Google's popular Android software and revolves around the internet search engine giant's Chrome web browser."
mmmmmmmmmmm, nice research Metro.
I like that, must write a letter of complaint, Dear Metro, based on your chromebook announcement I went and purchased one, imagine my disgust that it does not run Android, I have now purchased a Microsoft Surface.
Yours
Disgusted of Bognor Regis
KaterM
Oct 21 2012 01:38 PM
Zarch1972
Oct 23 2012 06:43 AM
http://www.google.co...&utm_medium=hpp
Zarch1972
Oct 23 2012 06:44 AM
Greater visibility perhaps to the non-Google/Android community?
oo03sjw
Nov 12 2012 06:43 PM
Google announces Acer C7 Chromebook, available tomorrow for $199http://vrge.co/SXfjX5