Chromebook demand is plummeting as the pandemic eases

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/09/chromebook-demand-is-plummeting-as-the-pandemic-eases/

by pjmlp • 5 years ago

28 16 5 years ago

dheera3• 5 years ago

I mean, what do they expect? People already have their Chromebooks, they're set for a decade, it's not like power or utilities with recurring revenue ...

smorgusofborg2• 5 years ago

set for a decade

Not really, the normal support life is 6.5 years from first manufacture, I've seen chrome devices for sale with less than 2 years support remaining.

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

dheera3• 5 years ago

"support" is overrated. Who needs support for Google Chrome? People will use them until they can't use them anymore.

michaelt2• 5 years ago

If you're a school district, presumably a quarter of your users graduate every year and are replaced by new students. Which means new chromebooks.

Albeit not as many as they needed at the start of the pandemic.

Dma54rhs• 5 years ago

Students get to keep them in the US?

dheera3• 5 years ago

Which means new chromebooks.

They'll most likely reuse them for many years, OR have a student keep a single chromebook through many grades. Schools in the US aren't that well funded that they can give every student a free laptop every year.

AndrewOMartin• 5 years ago

And Alexander wept.

em500• 5 years ago

Best comment in the Ars comments:

Every article mentioning Chromebooks is followed up by a bunch of people who don't use or like Chromebooks commenting about how useless they are, followed by retorts from those who do own, use, and like Chromebooks pointing out how great they are. Isn't there the possibility that there are people in the world with different equipment requirements and preferences than yours?

As someone who did a lot of friends & family tech support for Windows XP and 7 era computers, I also agree wholeheartedly with:

My one piece of advice is to switch people you provide tech support to. Moving my father to a Chromebook has decreased my support requirements by 90%. Plus, I have much less worry about him doing something that completely locks the computer or requires a complete system install and wipe.

Though nowadays usually an iPad will also do fine.

izacus• 5 years ago

Though nowadays usually an iPad will also do fine.

iPads tend to cost about twice/thrice the price of a Chromebook if you want a keyboard with your computer.

Lenovo's great Duet comes with the keyboard for like 290EUR.

ladyanita22• 5 years ago

And ergonomically a laptop is better for writing and whatever purposes there may be.

dunnevens• 5 years ago

In the US, the Duet is frequently on sale for around $200 to $250. Has a great screen, all metal construction, and a passable keyboard. I'm rather fond of mine. End up using it more than the iPad.

Mindwipe• 5 years ago

This doesn't seem like a huge surprise. Demand for Chromebooks went through the roof due to children doing remote learning during Covid, and they, by and large, have the Chromebooks they need now, and are beginning to go back to school. That demand is going to tail off.

The jump in sales two years ago should have always been seen as a temporary spike due to circumstances, not the new normal. They've still sold a heck of a lot of Chromebooks and gained marketshare.

jsnell• 5 years ago

So Chromebooks are predicted to be 36M/240M = 15% of all laptop sales globally in 2021? And that's after "demand plummeting"?

Color me surprised, I thought they were at a couple of %.

Chromebook demand is plummeting as the pandemic eases

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