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Topic: Google

Google begins selling Chromebooks in Australia

Summary: The cloud-based laptops are now available in Australia, but at a slightly higher price point, and not via Google Play.

Michael Lee

By |

Google's Chromebooks have finally gone on sale in Australia, with two of the web giant's three models now available in retail stores.

The Acer C7 and Samsung Series 3 Chromebooks are now being made available at select JB Hi Fi and Harvey Norman stores. While the HP Chromebook is not yet available, the company has promised that it will be on its way.

Australia has missed out on several iterations of the Chromebook since the first purchasable Samsung Series 5 and Acer AC700 Chromebooks went on sale in the US in June 2011. Google created a prototype Cr-48 Chromebook prior to this in 2010, but it was never sold to the public. Samsung refreshed the Series 5 in May last year, before releasing the current Series 3 in October. Acer released the current C7 in the US in November last year.

While in the US, the Acer C7 Chromebook is priced at US$199, it will retail in Australia for AU$299. Likewise, compared to the wi-fi-only US$249 Samsung Series 3 Chromebook, pricing for the Australian Chromebook is billed as "starting at" AU$349.

Buying either Chromebook will also provide owners with 100GB of storage on Google Drive, free for two years.

The devices are yet to show up in Google Play, and while the Acer C7 and wi-fi-only Samsung Series 3 Chromebooks are listed on Harvey Norman's site, they are not yet listed in JB Hi Fi's online catalogue.

Topics: Google, Cloud, Hardware, Laptops, Networking

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Talkback

21 comments
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  • nope

    Well that's f**ked. A $100 extra. No way. Was excited for a milisecond.
    simon@...
    Reply Vote

    • Probably Australian Government tax.

      Everything seems to be more expensive in Australia. Must be something to do with your IRS department.
      Mah
      Reply Vote

  • Wonder if sales will be like some Netbooks1

    The Linux ones proved not so popular, oh people bought them ok but latter started to find out the didn't work with what they though it would. A few returns or delegated to kids as a toy and some times just left on a shelf?

    Trouble is a lot of consumers don't know the difference, may do alright in the cities with high speed internet but be a big failure in remote country areas.
    martin_js
    Reply 1 Vote

    • Huh?

      They have quite a few offline options.
      slickjim
      Reply Vote

      • I know that!

        But the whole idea of the Chrome OS is to use the cloud. If you have no or very limited access on a permanent basis what is the point buying something designed for the cloud?
        martin_js
        Reply 2 Votes

        • Not true

          The cloud is one option, the Acer has 320 Gigs of local storage and I have movies, music, and images on mine.
          slickjim
          Reply Vote

          • Not sure why your trying to say black is white!

            From Wikipedia
            "Google Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system designed by Google to work exclusively with web applications."
            I am not saying or have ever said Chrome OS is rubbish or should not be used, simple saying is if you buy a Chrome for it's primary job as in what it is designed for (ie: Cloud based storage and work) then it's not a GOOD IDEA to use or own it in remote areas that have little or no web access.
            martin_js
            Reply 1 Vote

          • Stupid Profanity filter Part 2 (I hope)

            It's a bit like a using a Ball-Peen hammer for pulling nails out, not a good idea. Although I'm a PC tech now about 20 years ago now I trained as a Fitter and Turner with a fluid power certificate. We were taught where possible to always use the "Right tool for the Right job"
            martin_js
            Reply 1 Vote

          • Windows is like using a ball and pein hammer for pulling nails.....

            ....if you just want to get onto the Internet, and and want a zero maintenance, no fuss device. That's who Chromebooks are aimed at.
            Mah
            Reply Vote

          • Part 3

            So tell me why would I buy a machine designed to work in and with the cloud when I can't access the cloud? Any Basic laptop running Windows or Linux would do a lot better job and not cost a great deal more. If your so inclined spend a bit more and get a MAC with OS. ALL of which would suit better in the situation I'm talking about.
            martin_js
            Reply 1 Vote

          • I think Google is aiming this at people who can access the Internet.

            If you can't, then it isn't for you.
            Mah
            Reply Vote

          • Please note ZDnet

            The following word is NOT a swear word

            circ_mstances U belongs in the space.
            martin_js
            Reply 2 Votes

  • Lobotomized notebooks for sale

    Just what is the point of Chromebooks? $300 buys some pretty decent recent-model notebooks on eBay that will do everything these intentional cripples do, plus a lot more.
    csomole
    Reply 1 Vote

    • Unfortunately Windows netbooks and budget laptops......

      .....aren't decent at all - they are painfully slow and unber spec'ed for Windows. Neither are the painfully slow $650 Atom powered Windows Surface netbook class rubbish, which run about half the speed of the Acer C7 and run out of disk space repeatedly when you use them.
      Mah
      Reply Vote

  • Chromebook big Failure in the US

    http://www.androidauthority.com/chromebook-sales-rumor-174350/

    According to article above, Chromebook is one big FAILURE in teh
    olivetyson
    Reply 1 Vote

  • Slightly higher price point?

    "While in the US, the Acer C7 Chromebook is priced at US$199, it will retail in Australia for AU$299."

    That's not 'slightly higher', on the current exchange rate, that's more than 50% higher. I'm calling that a massively hiked up price point. Once again the Australian consumer is ripped off.
    rdean-376ac
    Reply 2 Votes

    • Yes

      Considering you can buy full size Toshiba Laptop from $389 and a Compaq from$348.00 why buy a cut down one?
      martin_js
      Reply Vote

      • A Toshiba with an AMD E-300 CPU....

        ....is very slow compared to the Acer C7, and sticking Windopws on it makes it even slower.
        Mah
        Reply Vote

  • Questions questions

    What happens after two years with that free storage? What happens to all that data that I've stored? I assume they'll ask me to download it if I wont be using their cloud. But how long have i got to do this before they zap it? Not to mention how long it'd take to download 100gig.

    Also, do I get a discount on storage options because I've been using it for two years? Or would it be simpler and more cost effective if I just buy a new Chromebook and start all over again?

    So many questions. Chromebooks are an interesting idea but we'll see how they travel over the next few quarters.
    costa k
    Reply Vote

    • I suggest after 2 years

      If you want to keep your online storage it's "Pay UP" time.
      martin_js
      Reply Vote
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