Chromebooks for Schools Coming Out in April: HP Unveils Rugged Convertible
Google has just posted on its blog how "Sweden have made Chromebooks nummer ett (number one)!" In the middle of this proud announcement, Google also brought news of the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Chromebook x360 11 G1 Education Edition, which will be made available in the middle of April.
In its official blog, the Mountain View company has announced the results of a research study by Futuresource consulting that Chromebooks became the highest-selling device in Swedish schools last year, 2016. With this dominating performance, Google's Chromebooks now make up 38 percent of device sales for units that will end up in Swedish classrooms. This is a huge increase of 18 percent from 2015 figures.
According to the blog, the company plans to maintain its Chromebook momentum going forward by announcing a new line of Chromebook devices designed for classroom and education use. The highlight falls on HP and its latest Chromebook offering, the x360 G1 Education Edition. While no exact date for the availability of the device has been announced, Google estimates a mid-April appearance for the convertible laptop.
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The G1 Education Edition will be a more rugged device compared with the lightweight x360 consumer line, and will feature its usual multiple form factors: laptop, tent, tablet and stand modes. The laptop can also come with USB-CTM charging and an optional stylus. The new education line also appears to have a plain, uniform appearance and an easy-to-fix configuration, according to The Verge.
In its feature, The Verge also observes that Google's moves in the education devices market have been paying handsome dividends. In the publication's estimate, the Chrome OS devices now make up half of the classroom and education devices in use. Their numbers already supersede both that of the Apple iPads and Windows devices, and this success is attributed to aggressive pricing and a focus on ease of use.
