Chromebooks now available

Don't these things seem overpriced? What am I missing?

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of this, I just don't understand that price point. The cheapest model there is $349. I just bought a 15" Acer laptop for a client (in a pinch) for the exact same price. Obviously, the specs destroy the Chromebook, and that price also includes the Windows 7 license (which isn't really free). If it's portability and mobility you want, then you're approaching the price of an iPad, with some of those Chromebooks at ~$500.

I could be out to lunch, but I think that price is a mistake, a mistake that's been repeated by players in this space: you can't sell an iPad competitor that's worse than the iPad for the same price. It seems basic, but no one has figured that out yet.

There's also the fact that the idea of running on Chrome (web only) is cool, but not for the mainstream yet. In other words, it will probably appeal to hackers. Hackers likely are not going to buy a Chromebook, but instead will do it themselves on a $200 netbook.

This is an interesting step towards the future, I hope they don't mess it up.