Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizen OC_Formula for clue delivery! CTOnews.com Chromebook is a laptop computer that uses Google's Chrome OS operating system, mainly aimed at the education market and low-cost consumers. Chromebooks have the advantages of free software, rich applications, and fast system updates. According to Taiwan Economic Daily, Google recently changed its strategy and began charging licensing fees for Chromebook software, which has a certain impact on the cost and price of laptops.

Google has reportedly notified HP, Lenovo and other Chromebook brands to charge for software from July 1. Depending on the price and specifications of the laptop, high-end models charge tens to tens of dollars, low-end models charge single-digit dollars, which is equivalent to 1% to 2% of the total cost.

In order to avoid paying extra fees, the brand accelerated the pace of procurement and shipment before July 1, resulting in market demand exceeding expectations in the second quarter. According to statistics, global notebook shipments in the second quarter increased by 20.9% compared with the first quarter. Chromebooks are a big part of it.

But in the third quarter, demand for Chromebooks will return to flat as new fees are implemented and the epidemic eases. CTOnews.com notes that global Chromebook shipments reached 37.5 million units in 2021, a record high, according to research agencies. However, in 2022 and 2023, shipments will fall to 19.5 million and 20 million units, respectively.

How much influence does Google have on Chromebook charges? Industry insiders believe that although the cost has risen a little, Chromebooks are still very competitive in the global education market. North America is the largest market for Chromebooks, and the U.S. government offers huge subsidies and procurement programs to support online education. In addition, Chromebooks do not have many alternatives, and brands can reduce costs by looking for cheaper hardware solutions.

Chromebooks, however, face some challenges and problems. For example, software support has a very short shelf life, and some websites cannot be updated or accessed after a few years. Maintenance costs are also high, and sometimes it's more cost-effective to replace a new one than to repair an old one.

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