You might have heard Google's Chrome OS
will live entirely in the cloud, and that devices running the web-based platform will automatically back up your data on remote servers. You might think it will keep your private details safe -- as safe as anything else you trust Google to store, that is. But had you ever considered what the cloud meant for the hardware running it? CEO Eric Schmidt has. This week, he told the Atmosphere Cloud Computing Summit that Chrome OS devices will be "completely disposable" at
netbook-esque price points of between $300 and $400. That's pocket change for a large IT department perhaps, but we can't imagine tossing even the cheapest Eee PC in our dustbin. How about subsidized, though? Asked whether Google might give away devices on contract, Schmidt said "Sure," adding afterwards only that his company doesn't see
itself selling the data plans. We wonder what that means for the
thousands of enthusiastic towns now praying for
Google fiber. Hear Google's CEO for yourself after the break; info in question begins 13:33.
posted April 20th 2010 8:08PM
I find it interesting that Schmidt missed the memo that IE9 will support HTML5 since he said around the 13 minute mark that everyone except for Microsoft supports HTML5
@Omen "Supports" as opposed to, "Will support."
"Supports": present tense.
"Will support": future tense.
Wake up people, the deaths of the computer and smart phone will be here soon. The future is cheap web enabled appliances.
@Marbles
I hope your're joking!
@malibu1234
Why not? write programs to work in the browser then you're writing once and it can run on any system.
How is that not the future?
I buy shoes for $50 and I don't consider them disposable either. I mean, how low in price do you go before things are "disposable". I'd say $19.95 is the magical price point. Anything $19.95 or less you can kinda see under a car and you'll be sad...... for all of 10 seconds. You get over those $19.95 bridges really fast methinks. Either that or you are in a poverty stricken country. Which if that's the case, you wouldn't be on Engadget! lol.
Whoops *bang* i just ran over my netbook. Aah well. They are disposable after all. They should come in packs of 10 in a pez dispenser. Screwed one up? Hey sure, I got a packet of netbooks just take a few on your way out it'll be fine.
*rolleyes* well somebody pls tell Eric to have a Coke and a Netbook and STFU! -- to paraphrase the legendary richard pryor.
@buoy Disposable is based on your income. If I won the lotto tomorrow, please?, and got 250 million a $5,000 desktop would be disposable. But as it stands such a thing isn't.
@John Doe no it won't. disposability follows function/form not just price exclusively. for example, i am using a mouse which is $7. it's a nice mouse. it is a very small proportion of my income - obviously - but i do not consider it disposable. happy meal, sure. cup of coffee - yessiree. but i don't think i'll consider an electronic device with a screen, keyboard, internet connectivity, hard drive etc... erm "disposable". or at least, not yet. perhaps in 20 years when they are printing disposable computers on cardboard chips and when you open up your 75th birthday card you'll be greeted with an animating sound-playing multimedia extravaganza... ok. THAT would thus be disposable...
might go to the ritz and order up a $200 steak with some dom perignon qui est originaire d'alsace loreine but - BUT that is disposable in my mind because wine and food are, pretty much always - disposable. even if they are expensive.
So... back to the netbook. Traditionally netbooks or computer hardware in general is *not* considered disposable - and if even a lowly mouse at $7 is not disposable then nor would a netbook - no matter how much is in your bank account. just my take. i see where you're coming from so let both points stand as reasonable. cheers.
I think he's using disposable in reference to his audience which seem to be IT/enterprise individuals, not your typical tech consumers. And more so disposable in the sense that if it is lost you won't have to worry about finding it as the data will be secured on the cloud.
Way to be green, Google.
Like Sean said in the post, $300-400 products might be pocket change to a large IT department but I don't see that being what a average consumer would consider "disposable".
*sighs* Enough of this cloud computing BS. These dispshits all live in silicon valley where you can't walk 2 feet without getting 2,000 WIFI access points. Out in the real world always on internet, let alone high speed always on net, doesn't exist and where it does its another $40 a month. $80 for cell, plus $150 for TV and cable modem, plus this plus that plus that and that and that. Its called nickle and dimeing us to death. Schmidt may have more money then god and can afford all of these things. your average mortal can not. Until there is a universal wireless network in this country that everyone can tap into for cheap, which will never happen because *runs around in circles* OMG SOCIALISM! until that happens this shit that we can store everything on the cloud is BS. I'm heading to tettegouche state park next weekend. Internet? try no cell reception at all. sure I'm not going to be doing much on my netbook but I will probably access it at least a couple times over the weekend. Devices NEED to be usable without the cloud. Its really that simple.
@John Doe Usually people using a netbook are using it primarily to search the web. So in that case they are probably oonly going to use it when they are connected or have a wireless modem that connects to 3G or even 4G. Therefore, the cloud computing idea is actually very effective.
Also, that means that the hard drive for netbooks only have to be for music, which means 16-32 GB is enough. That means base prices are going to be really cheap (because the hard drive can probably be upgraded to at least 250GB for those people who have a ton of music).
Which means that netbooks may come under $100 ($99).
@cherryboom
Wow! so when are you guys going to grow up? You think, the 1 sec mentioned of the word "disposed" is the main reason why Engadget will spent time and resources to bring this article and video to you?
There is so much information on this video, one of the best I have seen so far, and well, as it is said, success favors the prepared mind!
You will surely continue to have sh*t left, if you cannot see the opportunities and mind openings in this video, and only come here to waste your time.
Uh I'll take that if you're throwing it out...
I love Eric Schmidt. He actually looks respectable and intelligent, unlike some _other_ CEOs.
@Johnny Rockets
"If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place"
Maybe you guys out in rural America don't get internet 24/7. But here in Dallas,Texas I get 4G everywhere I go. Gotta love Clear. I'll get one when a half decent lapton/netbook/portable comes out with Chrome OS.
Google, if you want disposable, sell the Nexus One for $20. Imagine the number of sales you would generate, and the sudden jump in marketshare.
That was a really good watch! Learned a lot, also he meant disposable in the sense of a company's budget not a personal one.
Clouds are in the sky ... the "Cloud" is an internet-based operating environment ... sky ... cloud ... network ... sky network ... Skynet ...
Anyone care to predict the year the Cloud becomes self aware?