New generation Chromebooks ... the final nail for Android tablets (and iPads)?

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dafman

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# 207639 6-Jan-2017 12:05

The newly announced Samsung Chromebooks (Plus and Pro) will come with Google Play installed and will be able to run any Android app within the fully fledged Chrome OS environment.

They come packing a lightweight, thin, all-metal design that looks like a cross between a (Galaxy) tablet and a laptop.

With all the functionality of both Chrome OS and an Android tablet, in a convertible format, with stylus too boot, why would you choose an Android tablet over this? Or an iPad come to think of it.

Here are some YouTube links ...

https://youtu.be/GFq4Uf5P_18

https://youtu.be/6KUO6DvMTRc

PS. I didn't know whether to post this under Chrome OS, or Android, so flipped a coin (-:

Brumfondl

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# 1699323 6-Jan-2017 12:59

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Interesting, but since I have not heard anything good about Android apps running on Chromebooks I really doubt it will be the final nail in anything. Also, I have a laptop and I have an iPad. Why would I want something that is not great at being either of those things?

blakamin

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# 1699325 6-Jan-2017 13:02

Oh great, something else I want/need :(

mdf

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# 1699375 6-Jan-2017 13:58

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Pretty excited about the Chromebook Pro. ChromeOS is really coming along as a platform with the inclusion of Android apps, albeit that some run much better than others.

CES Day Two saw the official confirmation of the BlackBerry Mercury too (I know, I know. But my formative smartphone experiences were BB and the physical keyboard really works for me). Good day for Things I Want. Bad day for my wallet.

gzt

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# 1699378 6-Jan-2017 14:07

dafman: New generation Chromebooks ... the final nail for Android tablets (and iPads)?

Android is very strong today. That could be 'first nail' and then only if you are very very optimistic about it : )

d3Xt3r

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# 1699434 6-Jan-2017 15:43

Brumfondl:

Interesting, but since I have not heard anything good about Android apps running on Chromebooks I really doubt it will be the final nail in anything. Also, I have a laptop and I have an iPad. Why would I want something that is not great at being either of those things?

Exactly this. As of now, the Android functionality on a Chromebook is fairly limited and still feels like a hack-job. You can only run simple apps, apps are laggy, also, they don't scale very well for larger displays (eg, try running MS Word Android on the Chromebook). Also, Chromebooks still skimp out on features you'd normally find in a tablet (eg: GPS and LTE, which aren't present in these new Samsung Chromebooks either), which further limits the utility of these devices (so you can't use it for GPS navigation, work from remote locations or play GPS-based games like Ingress).

Of course, at the moment the Android tablet market isn't looking very good - there haven't been any good high-end tablets for a few years now which isn't a good sign... but I think the real nail in the coffin will come when Google introduces Andromeda. These Play Store-enabled Chromebooks are just a stop-gap arrangement until such time.

dafman

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# 1699489 6-Jan-2017 17:31

gzt:
dafman: New generation Chromebooks ... the final nail for Android tablets (and iPads)?

Android is very strong today. That could be 'first nail' and then only if you are very very optimistic about it : )

I meant final nail for Android tablets, not Android per se. The new Chromebooks should assist to further promote Android.

dafman

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# 1699494 6-Jan-2017 17:49

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d3Xt3r:

Brumfondl:

Interesting, but since I have not heard anything good about Android apps running on Chromebooks I really doubt it will be the final nail in anything. Also, I have a laptop and I have an iPad. Why would I want something that is not great at being either of those things?

Exactly this. As of now, the Android functionality on a Chromebook is fairly limited and still feels like a hack-job. You can only run simple apps, apps are laggy, also, they don't scale very well for larger displays (eg, try running MS Word Android on the Chromebook). Also, Chromebooks still skimp out on features you'd normally find in a tablet (eg: GPS and LTE, which aren't present in these new Samsung Chromebooks either), which further limits the utility of these devices (so you can't use it for GPS navigation, work from remote locations or play GPS-based games like Ingress).

Of course, at the moment the Android tablet market isn't looking very good - there haven't been any good high-end tablets for a few years now which isn't a good sign... but I think the real nail in the coffin will come when Google introduces Andromeda. These Play Store-enabled Chromebooks are just a stop-gap arrangement until such time.

The beta Android experience on Chromebooks to date may not be the same as the upcoming devices. Initial feedback from the floor at CES is that Android plays exactly the same as an Android tablet. We'll need to wait until release to confirm this.

As with most laptops, the lack of GPS or LTE in the Chromebooks will not be a major issue for many. Easy enough to tether to a phone from remote locations.

Andromeda is interesting. It has yet to be confirmed, so how long should we hold off purchasing a product in anticipation? And if the Chromebooks do offer a seamless user experience for both Chrome OS and Android, what extra can Andromeda offer? And as a new OS, it's likely that the first release will be buggy, so no need to rush in. I reckon two years out of my Chromebook Pro, then move to an Andromeda device if warranted.