Dell said it will join the Chromebook bandwagon with the launch of its school-exclusive Chromebook 11 next year.
A Chromebook is a personal computer running on the Linux-based Chrome OS. Chromebooks are mainly designed to be used while connected to the Internet and support applications that are on the Web, rather than traditional applications that are located on the machine itself.
The compact design of the Chromebook makes it attractive to customers who prefer portability and light weight devices. Only a handful number of companies such as Hewlett Packard (HP), Samsung, Google, Lenovo and Acer produce Chromebooks. However, the increasing demand for Chromebooks may have tempted Dell to dive into the segment.
Chromebooks usually do not have an optical drive but have a number of USB ports which allow a user to connect to printers, camera, keyboard, and more.
ASUS has recently announced that it is working on two Chromebooks, one 11-inch and the other 13.3-inch, and will launch them in 2014. Toshiba is also rumored to have a Chromebook in the pipeline.
Even though Dell has announced its Chromebook 11, it will not be available to average consumers; instead, it will first hit educational institutions. The company may later release the Chromebook 11 in the regular market.
"Dell believes that when implemented successfully, teachers, students and technology work together to enrich the learning process," said Neil Hand, vice president, Tablet and Performance PC Group, Dell. "The Dell Chromebook 11 will give schools and districts another tool to consider as they plan their digital content and curriculum strategies, and its competitive pricing will help open access to technology for more students around the country."
"Dell is no stranger to designing and building great computers, particularly in education," said Caesar Sengupta, vice president of product management, Google. "Adding Dell's first Chromebook to our stable of devices built for the classroom is a big milestone, and Dell has been a great partner in this effort. The Dell Chromebook 11 with Google Apps for Education will bring exciting new possibilities for learning and collaboration inside and outside the classroom."
Dell said its Chromebook 11 will feature 4th generation Intel Celeron 2955U processor, 11.6-inch screen (1366x768 pixels resolution), up to 10 hours of battery life and 16GB embedded SSD to allow fast boot-time of under 8.4 seconds. Other features include Intel HD Graphics, front-facing 720p webcam, 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi connectivity, 2 USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 4.0 and an HDMI port.
Chromebook 11 will come in two variants - 2GB DDR3 RAM and 4GB DDR3 RAM. The former will be available in the first quarter of 2014 while the latter will be available next month i.e. January 2014. Initially, the Chromebooks will be sold in the U.S. and the UK and will be priced below $300.
