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Chromebooks Rising, Windows 8 Not So Much By Barry Levine January 28, 2013 2:01PM     Acer President Jim Wong said Chromebooks are being purchased by educational institutions and corporations, and that a key selling point is that, as cloud-based, thin-client machines, they are more secure. Other advantages over Windows 8 include ease of updates, maintenance, backup and the ability for any user to use any Chromebook.   Related Topics Chromebook Laptop Notebook Google Acer Windows 8 Top Tech News Latest News Reality TV's New Stars: Small Biz Soundbars Up the Ante on TV Sound Google Glass Raises Privacy Concerns Pentagon Gives iOS 6 Security OK Should Enterprises Skip Windows 8? Are Chromebooks becoming the unexpected hit of the year? New reports indicate that notebooks based on Google's cloud -oriented platform are gaining traction -- possibly at the expense of Windows 8 notebooks. On Sunday, Acer President Jim Wong told Bloomberg News that Chromebooks accounted for 5 percent to 10 percent of his company's U.S. shipments since their release in November. Because of that growth, he said, the computer maker may offer Chromebooks in other markets. This trend is running counter to the tepid sales Acer is experiencing for its Gateway, Packard Bell and eMachine brands, which use the Windows platform. Wong told Bloomberg that "Windows 8 itself is still not successful," and that a simple way to judge that was if the PC market has come back after 8's launch -- which, so far, it has not. HP 's Chromebook In December, computers using Windows 8 accounted for 1.7 percent of computers in use, according to industry research firm Net Market Share. Windows 7 machines represented 45 percent, Windows Vista 5.6 percent, Apple's Mac about 7 percent and the venerable Windows XP 39 percent. Wong noted that Chromebooks are being purchased by educational institutions and corporations, and that a key selling point is that, as cloud-based, thin-client machines, they are seen as being more secure . Other advantages include ease of updates, maintenance, backup and the ability for any user to use any machine. HP is joining Acer and other major PC manufacturers such as Samsung and Lenovo in releasing a Chromebook. Recently, a spec sheet was apparently accidentally released on the HP Web site for an HP Pavilion Chromebook with a 14-inch display, 2GB of memory , HD webcam, Bluetooth, three USB ports, HDMI, Ethernet, a 16GB solid state drive and a battery with an estimated 4.25 hour charge. Except for the battery life, the specs are generally higher than many other Chromebooks have offered. Lenovo's ThinkPad Last week, Lenovo released its ThinkPad X131e, a rugged Chromebook designed for K-12 education. Its hardened case features a rubber bumper around the top cover, and hinges that are designed to last more than 50,000 open/close cycles. The model includes Google Apps for Education, plus a choice of thousands of apps in the Chrome Web Store. Schools are a key potentially large market for Chromebooks, and Google has said that they are being used at more than a thousand K-12 schools. Lenovo is also reportedly working on Chrome OS laptops and desktops for corporate markets later this year. The financial journal The Street has reported it is hearing from enterprises that are ready to have as many as 20 percent of their employees try Chromebooks. Some industry observers are suggesting that Chromebooks represent no more of a threat to Microsoft 's dominance of PC operating systems that did Linux-based PCs, which have not taken off. The key threat to Microsoft PCs, according to this line of thinking, is tablets, where Apple is king and Android has become the queen. On the other hand, the head of a major PC maker like Acer never touted sales of Linux machines the way Wong has touted Chromebooks.   Based on your interest in this article, here's something that may be of interest to you also: (Why?) This article relates to the following term(s) that also match our recommendation: Google. (Close) Recommended Reading: Search & Destroy: Why You Can't Trust Google Inc. Synopsis: This is the other side of the Google story. In Search & Destroy, Google expert Scott Cleland, shows that the world's most powerful company is not who it pretends to be. Google pretends to be a harmless lamb, but chose a full-size model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex as its mascot. Beware the T-Rex in sheep's clothing. Tell Us What You Think Comment: Name: Also Visit: iPad Info Center Billions of Bytes Mobile Device Now Apple Info Center TopTechWire.com Panasonic Toughbook® mobile computers are engineered to withstand drops, spills, dust and grime, and to perform in the harshest environments. Rugged reliability, low cost of ownership and accolades from reviewers are just a few of the reasons why Toughbook computers keep winning over the world's toughest users. Click here to learn more.  Microsoft/Windows 1.   Windows 8.1: No Cost, Big Pressure 2.   Should Enterprises Skip Windows 8? 3.   IDC: Windows Phone Now in 3rd Place 4.   Windows Blue Officially 8.1 and Free 5.   Uneasy Alliance for Microsoft, Google Windows 8.1: No Cost, Big Pressure Can update stem dislike, confusion? Average Rating: Should Enterprises Skip Windows 8? Interface makes IT cringe, analyst says. Average Rating: IDC: Windows Phone Now in 3rd Place BlackBerry OS quarterly share declines. Average Rating:

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Network Security Spotlight

Syrian Electronic Army Hacks Financial Times The Financial Times is the latest victim of the Syrian Electronic Army, a group that supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The U.K.-based newspaper said a blog and its Twitter accounts were hacked.   Patch Tuesday Hyper Focuses on IE 8 Microsoft on Tuesday issued 10 security bulletins that fix 33 vulnerabilities. These updates include MS13-038, which will address the Internet Explorer 8 issue described in Security Advisory 2847140.   Surge of Venture Capital Buoys Tech Security Sector With companies and governments spending billions to repel cyberthreats, a surge of venture capital is pouring into companies developing cybersecurity technologies, the front line of the conflict.

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight

U.S. Defense Department Gives iOS 6 Security OK In a vote of confidence for Apple's iOS devices, the Defense Department has given the all-clear for employees to use iPads and iPhones for work. But only those running iOS 6, and only if issued by the government.   Cisco Surges After Profit Exceeds Analysts' Estimates Networking equipment giant Cisco's net income jumped 14 percent in the latest quarter as revenue at all four of its divisions rose for the first time in a year and a half, as tech spending increases.   HP and SAP Team To Advance HANA Database Technology The two tech leaders are working on a system that SAP says could fundamentally change the database market. HANA is SAP's technology that keeps data in-memory, for super fast processing.

Mobile Enterprise Spotlight

Google Glass Raises Congressional Privacy Concerns The buzz around Google Glass continues, but it's not all good. Some in Congress have questions. "We are curious whether this new technology could infringe on the privacy of average Americans," their letter to Google says.   Windows Phone Now No. 3 in Market, BlackBerry No. 4 Has Microsoft Phone moved into a coveted though distant third place for smartphone platforms behind Google's Android and Apple's iOS? A new report says yes, while BlackBerry has slipped to No. 4.   Intel Going Mobile with Its New CEO In his first speech as Intel's CEO, Brian Krzanich said he plans to focus on beefing up Intel's presence in mobility. The next step: a world tour showing mobile devices based on Intel chips, from PCs to phones and tablets.

Enterprise Technology Spotlight

HP and SAP Team To Advance HANA Database Technology The two tech leaders are working on a system that SAP says could fundamentally change the database market. HANA is SAP's technology that keeps data in-memory, for super fast processing.   Cloud Computing Gains Another Competitor with Google Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure now have a full-on rival in Google, with its I/O announcement that it is opening its hosted Compute Engine environment for virtual machines to all comers.   Hackers' New Tool of Choice: Smartphones Smartphones are increasingly popular not only with consumers, but with thieves who see the devices as another way to tap into bank accounts and other sensitive information, experts say.

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