"But, Sir, the kids in Indian rural schools can barely afford rice to eat, they can't afford $999"
Sir Tim: "Then let them buy iPads"
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Apple to Launch 'Low-Cost' MacBook Series Next Year to Rival Chromebooks
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Sir Tim: "Then let them buy iPads"
So while Apple has been doing whatever, has Amazon stepped up to the plate to challenge Google & chrome books, using an alternative thin client approach, that could be applied to the education market?
www.aboutamazon.com
AWS unveils new enterprise hardware to provide businesses with easy-to-use virtual desktops
One of Amazon’s most familiar consumer devices has been reinvented by AWS for the enterprise.
www.aboutamazon.com
So while Apple has been doing whatever, has Amazon stepped up to the plate to challenge Google & chrome books, using an alternative thin client approach?
AWS unveils new enterprise hardware to provide businesses with easy-to-use virtual desktops
One of Amazon’s most familiar consumer devices has been reinvented by AWS for the enterprise.
The Kindle.
Not exactly but a variation of the Amazon Fire TV Cube (a product I wasn’t previously aware of)
So while Apple has been doing whatever, has Amazon stepped up to the plate to challenge Google & chrome books, using an alternative thin client approach, that could be applied to the education market?
AWS unveils new enterprise hardware to provide businesses with easy-to-use virtual desktops
One of Amazon’s most familiar consumer devices has been reinvented by AWS for the enterprise.
Nah.
Too much extra hardware needed.
Amazon ain't "Stepped up;" they'ze barely catching up. This is old hat, with wyse terminals hitched up to local minis/mainframes, then to on-prem Windows terminal services (now called RDS), then racks of blades back in the late 90's, then to Oracle, vmWare, Microsoft (or many others) in cloud data centers. Heck, I ran a pilot program with an outfit called ClearCube back in the mid 2000s. Nothing new to see here.So while Apple has been doing whatever, has Amazon stepped up to the plate to challenge Google & chrome books, using an alternative thin client approach, that could be applied to the education market?
AWS unveils new enterprise hardware to provide businesses with easy-to-use virtual desktops
One of Amazon’s most familiar consumer devices has been reinvented by AWS for the enterprise.
However, something now makes sense to Amazon, that didn't before... Guessing that's general public awareness of terminal services due to degrees of success by Steam and Microsoft. Guessing amazon's offering won't be any more affordable or sustainable than Chromebook/iPad programs turned out. At least a chromebook/ipad enables study off line outside of school. Even first world government TLAs can't keep remote terminals services working right, let alone some poor, overburdened, short-straw-drawing IT staff out in podunk horse country.
So while Apple has been doing whatever, has Amazon stepped up to the plate to challenge Google & chrome books, using an alternative thin client approach, that could be applied to the education market?
AWS unveils new enterprise hardware to provide businesses with easy-to-use virtual desktops
One of Amazon’s most familiar consumer devices has been reinvented by AWS for the enterprise.
Wow. They've reinvented a modern VT-100 to connect to their big iron.
From TFA, it appears Amazon isn't interested in the education market; which makes sense for the reasons you mentioned.
For business environments where a computer is only used to connect to a central data processing unit these would offer a lower cost solution. Maintenance costs could be less as well. Keyboard break? Send a new one and trash the old one. No need to ship a computer both ways and Amazon could deliver it overnight or same day.
It might also be useful where an employee is in a hybrid work environment. Leave the PC at the work location and remote in via this device. No need to lug a computer around and the machine and data stays in a secure location less prone to theft and loss.
Of course, to be really useful Amazon can't tie it solely to their cloud services.
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If Apple is looking to achieve Chromebook level pricing, then I think we are looking at something that is a riff on an iPad rather than an M1 MacBook Air.
The current basic iPad is £369, so about the same price as a mid-range Chromebook. I could see them coming up with something that takes the basic iPad and does the following:
CUT
- TouchID
- Storage to 32GB
- Rear camera (poss front too)
ADD
- Laptop style form factor (plastic), including built in keyboard (could be non-backlit)
- 12 or 13 inch screen (middling resolution/quality e.g. 1080p)
KEEP
- A13 Chip
- 3GB RAM
- iPadOS
- 1 x USB-C port
- Headphone jack
- 10 hour battery
I think they could sell something like that for about £300 and have quite a few takers.
I would love to see something with MacOS, but then you are into M1 chip territory, with the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. etc. That starts to encroach on the Air's market or simply costs too much to be a Chromebook competitor.
The current basic iPad is £369, so about the same price as a mid-range Chromebook. I could see them coming up with something that takes the basic iPad and does the following:
CUT
- TouchID
- Storage to 32GB
- Rear camera (poss front too)
ADD
- Laptop style form factor (plastic), including built in keyboard (could be non-backlit)
- 12 or 13 inch screen (middling resolution/quality e.g. 1080p)
KEEP
- A13 Chip
- 3GB RAM
- iPadOS
- 1 x USB-C port
- Headphone jack
- 10 hour battery
I think they could sell something like that for about £300 and have quite a few takers.
I would love to see something with MacOS, but then you are into M1 chip territory, with the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. etc. That starts to encroach on the Air's market or simply costs too much to be a Chromebook competitor.
Maybe, but it would be very unApple to release a low end machine with marginal specs. They'd likely be panned in reviews and risk undercutting higher end model sales. Apple's focus is on education using current iPads and what can be done with them.
This rumor sounds like someone heard about possible plans for a lower priced MacBook and ran a little too far with it.
Apple is not going to design and build something that actually gets close to the price of a Chromebook. Even if they tried to do it, they don’t have the benefit of all of the educational device management tools that Google has built up. They also don’t have the cloud-first data model that lets a student lose their Chromebook, get a new one, and have everything back ready to go immediately. Even with iCloud backup and restore, it’s a much more involved process.
What Apple might do is put out a MacBook that is low enough in price to attract a larger install base that is primed to spend on Apple services like music, Apple TV+, and games.
Apple is not going to design and build something that actually gets close to the price of a Chromebook. Even if they tried to do it, they don’t have the benefit of all of the educational device management tools that Google has built up. They also don’t have the cloud-first data model that lets a student lose their Chromebook, get a new one, and have everything back ready to go immediately. Even with iCloud backup and restore, it’s a much more involved process.
What Apple might do is put out a MacBook that is low enough in price to attract a larger install base that is primed to spend on Apple services like music, Apple TV+, and games.
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Some Chromebooks are starting to get pricey along with 8GB RAM and 128-256GB storage. Strikes me as a lot of money for a stinking Chromebook.
In Canada we see the M1 MacBook Air go on sale with $200 knocked off. That suggests to me Apple could release a new entry MacBook in the sub $1000 (CAN) price point. That would be about $799 US. I think there are a fair number of folks who would opt for such a Mac over Windows options near that price point.
Seriously, an M1 MacBook with good performance, decent build quality, no fan noise and 16 or so hours of battery life for regular $799 US—that could sell.
In Canada we see the M1 MacBook Air go on sale with $200 knocked off. That suggests to me Apple could release a new entry MacBook in the sub $1000 (CAN) price point. That would be about $799 US. I think there are a fair number of folks who would opt for such a Mac over Windows options near that price point.
Seriously, an M1 MacBook with good performance, decent build quality, no fan noise and 16 or so hours of battery life for regular $799 US—that could sell.
I'm wondering. Could this new cheaper MacBook be an iPad with a built in keyboard/ trackpad? It should hit the mid-range Chromebook price range.
Good luck with longevity. I know schools have issue with Chromebook reliability but (to be fair) kids are really hard on electronics they don’t own
Thank you for warning
Are they less durable than a MacBook? Are there any figures or other proof of this? I want to keep my devices for at least 10 years.
Are they less durable than a MacBook? Are there any figures or other proof of this? I want to keep my devices for at least 10 years.
Schools bought millions of Chromebooks in 2020 — and three years later, they’re starting to break
A new investigation calls out Chromebooks for their short lifespans.
www.theverge.com
I don't think "I want a low-cost laptop" and "I want it to last ten years" are going to be a good match.
My general rule of thumb, excluding sale prices, is if a computer device is under $500 CAN ($400-$450 US) you’re likely buying a rent-a-computer. Not the best components in every respect. Should be avoided whenever possible.
I’ve seen enough Chromebooks crap out within 2-3 years. Cheap Windows S laptops fare little better in addition to being brutally slow.
But I don’t think you can equate a sub $1000 CAN laptop from Apple with a pos Chromebook or Windows S device.
I’ve seen enough Chromebooks crap out within 2-3 years. Cheap Windows S laptops fare little better in addition to being brutally slow.
But I don’t think you can equate a sub $1000 CAN laptop from Apple with a pos Chromebook or Windows S device.
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How many times does it have to be said that IPad OS is unsuitable for many users, they need MacOS in a 12" MacBook that weighs less than an IPad with Magic Keyboard. Finally realise that the iPad is not enough for many people.
Who's the target audience? If it's general users, iOS won't be good, but if this is targeted towards elementary and secondary schools, iOS would be perfect.
My school district opted for Chromebooks rather than iPads. Every student grades 6-12 gets one. I think this is the direction most school districts have gone. I suspect the reasons are cost and system control. My understanding is that the school district can remotely control what apps and security are available on the Chromebooks.....perhaps this can be done on iPad OS with thousands of units.....not sure. Also, iPadOS is still primarily a one app at a time operating system. Not a big deal in the lower grades, but more of a limitation when writing reports and papers in high school. In our district, a fair number of students are taking AP classes that are basically college level.
BTW - While our district provides Chromebooks, many upperclass students own and use regular laptop computers......largely MacBooks. I should say that this is a fairly affluent school district, so many families can afford to buy laptops for their students. A high percentage are college bound, and these laptops will probably be used for several years after high school, so families might view the investment as worthwhile.
Could it make sense in Apple product line to discontinue Macbook Air M1 and release smaller $700 Macbook in size of 2015-2017 Macbook 12” with 8GB RAM, 128 or 256 GB SSD with screen size let’s say 12.5” with notch focused on schools?
In that case I think they should upgrade baseline M2 Air / M3 Pro to 12 GB RAM to justify their price.
Would you expect full featured Mac OS in that kind of machine or limited one?
In that case I think they should upgrade baseline M2 Air / M3 Pro to 12 GB RAM to justify their price.
Would you expect full featured Mac OS in that kind of machine or limited one?
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