Isn't technology great when you simply push the power button and it's instantly ready for you to be productive? If you agree, then you have experienced the euphoria that results from the synergy of human and machine interaction. However, if you disagree, it is most likely due to a kink in the system anywhere between your fingertips and the Cloud. Fortunately, Google has introduced a product called the Even though this device may not be ready for enterprise-wide deployments in the accounting industry today, this compact 10-inch laptop has a battery life of over seven hours with built-in WiFi and optional 3G (100MB of free access from Verizon each month) for connectivity to business resources. This product is a great compliment to existing Cloud or Citrix clients as a laptop replacement that will reduce the overall cost of ownership by eliminating the variables associated with locally installed operating systems.
Thin-clients have been implemented in fortune 500 companies since the early 90s; however, the ROI was recovered only in large scale deployments of thousands of PCs since the cost of the terminals was rather expensive. The Chromebooks will be available from retail outlets for under $500 and Google will be offering a subscription that includes the Chromebook, a web-based management console and 24/7 support from Google starting at $28 per month for businesses.
Even though the upfront cost may seem higher than comparable netbooks or PCs on the market, it is considerably less expensive than an enterprise class thin-client device. We will be keeping a close eye on the future developments of this product and may potentially see the ability for ubiquitous access of accounting applications for the industry in the near future.
