Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
Home > Mobile > Mobile devices > Now Google is Selling Chromebooks Through its Web Browser

Now Google is Selling Chromebooks Through its Web Browser

Google is an online advertising firm, so this actually makes some sense
Feb. 20, 2013 Paul Thurrott

Just in case it wasn’t obvious that Google was all about advertising, now the company is advertising one of its products from within another one of its products. I feel like we’re going to wake up one day, surrounded by Google ads, and wonder how it happened. Folks, this is how it happened.

I use both Chrome (Google’s web browser) and Internet Explorer for my daily browsing needs. Both are really good at certain things, and neither can outright replace the other in my experience. But even I was surprised to see Google advertising a Chromebook in its own web browser.

This ad, which appears in the upper left corner of the new tab window, which I use as the default view on new windows and tabs in Chrome, is a bit insidious in that it’s subtle and doesn’t appear every time you view this window. But when you click it, the ad of course takes you to Google’s Chromebook web site, where you can spend $200 to $500 on a laptop-like device that’s wrapped around a web browser.

Why anyone would want such a thing is beyond me. Why is Google is advertising this junk in Chrome? Also beyond me.

Discuss this Article 16

shanepbrady
on Feb 20, 2013

They did this 2 years ago at least, so this isn't new. The obvious reason as to why they're doing this? Because it's worked as a way to sell Chromebooks.

Sterling
on Feb 20, 2013

I saw this ad the other day, I think after I updated Chrome. Google has used that space before for info about its products, but I think this is the first time, at least that i can remember, that Google used the space to sell something.

I remember when Chromebooks first dropped. People on Twitter were all "I want a Chromebook!" but they didn't realize that they were already using a Chromebook if they bruises p browsed the Web using Chrome!

shanepbrady
on Feb 20, 2013

Here is an article from just a little bit more than a year ago:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Look-Out-for-a-Chromebook-Ad-Inside-Your-...

Daelen
on Feb 20, 2013

I got this ad a few days ago and I agree with you that this is poor form from Google.

Not quite as bad as having ads in Windows 8 though.

pthurrott
on Feb 20, 2013

I'd say they're comparably bad.

PRyan0417
on Feb 20, 2013

I just bought the Samsung Chromebook for my wife. As someone who used to boot Windows, open Chrome, and then live inside of it, she loves it.

Even I, someone planning to build a PC because he's sick of the crap coming out of HP, Dell, and other OEMs, really like it for when all I'm going to do is web browse. I don't need a full PC to check my email and facebook, and the Chromebook does it a whole lot better and quicker iOS and Android.

TimG
on Feb 21, 2013

This is interesting. It indicates that the success of Chromebooks and products like the iPad are a good indicator of just how badly computer and OS makers have miscalculated the real needs of normal users.

Personally I would generally find a Chromebook pretty useless, but I can think of several friends and family members who would be much better off with one than with a PC or Mac -- and it would save me hours of unnecessary work as well. ;-)

Mark from CO
on Feb 21, 2013

Paul: No matter what we may think of Chromebooks, they appear to be winning the hearts and the minds of the lower end market. One might also argue that Google is closer to a unified three screen strategy than is Microsoft, and it has the much better ecosystem. Though a committed Microsoft user, Google seems to be in a much better competitive position, and has proven to be better at execution. This is particularly true given what you have been commenting on - Microsoft's inability to move their platform/ecosystem forward in a timely manner.

AlexKven
on Feb 21, 2013

Google is targeting the same weak spot in windows that windows used to target in the mac. Did you see the economy? While there exist frugal people that are smart with their money, there are not a whole lot of people that can simply afford to spend a thousand dollars on the computer. It saddens me that Microsoft hasn't totally gotten that message yet. These people who can't afford new Windows computers won't just stop computing, nor will they save up for months to eke enough cash out of their wallet to buy a "newly priced" windows machine (like I am doing). They will go to Chromebook instead. It's a shame. Paul, not everyone has an ultrabook budget. Sometimes, people need a computer for < $300, and while Microsoft used to dominate that market, they have thrown it away, and google picked it up out of the trash and made a whole new line of laptops out of it.

SoundersFan
on Feb 21, 2013

Microsoft never dominated the low PC market. I think what you mean is that some of Microsoft's hardware partners dominated that market. As Paul has pointed out in several articles on this site this race to the bottom was a mistake. A mistake which still affects the PC market today. Some Microsoft partners still dominate this market. I expect that customers will get the Chromebook see what is missing and wish they hand bot an inexpensive laptop and put Chrome on it. It's the little things that it doesn't do that will get you. Can it open a zip file? Do browser plug-ins work? Flash? ITunes? Remote desktop? What devices are supported; printers, webcams, phones, ...? I expect that answers to many of these are no and customers won't think about it until it is too late.

aras
on Feb 21, 2013

It does make sense for a lot of people. Not for Paul, me, or majority of this site's readers. Just yesterday I spent 4 hours cleaning Windows Vista machine from, viruses, "PC doctors", registry fixers, Norton, McAfee scanners, etc, etc. It's hard to believe how much crap people put on their computers when all they really use is Facebook and email.

As in regards to the ad I don't really see any issue here. When their start putting pop-ups or half page banners I will be first to protest, but I don't think Google would ever do this. One of the reason I initially chose Gmail over Yahoo and Hotmail was that with Gmail you had subtle unobtrusive text ads with other two flashing banners and animations.

BGBrereton
on Feb 21, 2013

The joke was that Windows has just become a host for your web browser of choice. The Chromebook is just the logical conclusion to that. While I wouldn't buy one, I can well imagine that there is a market for people who never take their laptop out of their home, and so Wi-Fi range, and for whom all of their computer usage is satisfied by a web browser, so being able to get that from a device that gives them a saving on price is going to be attractive.

While it's a stretch, you could argue that Windows RT, as it is right now, is also not much more than a platform that hosts a web browser.

Craig
on Feb 21, 2013

Why hasn't Google put out a chrometab? I can get a $200 Android tablet that runs chrome (which is better than a chromebook), but why not dedicated chrometab? And maybe it could be sold for $100.

A $100 crometab with WebRTC. That is when the browser only device makes sense to me!

SoundersFan
on Feb 21, 2013

So much for cheep alternative. Overpriced if it were running a real OS like Windows or even OS X. Even the Apple crowd is all a twitter criticizing Pixel for being over priced. Check it out: https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=chromebook_pixel_wifi

SteveCr48
on Feb 22, 2013

Paul, you're so funny. I can say this because I'm just like you! "Why anyone would buy such a thing...
Junk" You took the words out of my mouth. Until...

I dare you: buy a Samsung ARM CB, use it for a month and see for yourself why it's the best seller on Amazon laptop list. Who knows. You might like it so much that you order a CB Pixel with LTE! I did.

pthurrott
on Feb 22, 2013

I have a Chromebook. It's confining, sorry.

Please or Register to post comments.

Related Articles

IT/Dev Connections

Las Vegas
September 30th - October 4th

Paul ThurottYou'll have the opportunity to experience:
• 120 Technical
Sessions
• Networking with Peers
• Expert Speakers


Come See Paul Thurrott & Mary Jo Foley in Person!

Register Now

Office 365 InfoCenter

Get the latest insight and info from Paul

Read Now!

What I Use
Apr. 18, 2013
Article

What I Use: On the Road 21

Every so often, I publish an updated version of my “What I Use” document, which details the technology products and services I actually use day-to-day. Since I’m currently on my third business trip in five weeks, this is perhaps an ideal time to discuss the technology products I rely on when I travel and a few related points....More
Mar. 6, 2013
Article

What I Use: March 2013 35

Lots of changes since November, including a new PC-based home server running Windows 8, several new smart phones, new PCs and tablets, new cloud backup, Office 365 Home Premium and a nice doubling of my Internet speeds courtesy of Verizon FIOS....More
WinSuperSite.com
Related Penton Sites
Copyright © 2013 Penton Media, Inc