Cloudbook

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A cloudbook is a class of laptop computer, originally defined as any lightweight laptop with a small solid-state drive (SSD), built-in Wi-Fi, and a minimal operating system configured to prioritize web browsing, web applications, and cloud storage. The concept emerged in 2007 with the cancelled Palm Foleo. [1] In 2010, Google announced a reference design for a cloudbook running the company's ChromeOS; called Chromebook, the first models were released in 2011. [2] Chromebook was a massive success for Google and found widespread adoption, especially in educational markets. [3]

In the mid-2010s, the term cloudbook came to define a competing platform to Chromebook (a so-called "Chromebook killer"): [4] inexpensive, lightweight laptops, with 32- or 64-GB eMMCs, running a pared-down installation of Microsoft's Windows, prioritizing web apps while being able to run lightweight local apps. [5] This initiative for a new type of cloudbook was pushed by Microsoft starting in 2015; [6] the first such cloudbook released was Acer's Aspire One Cloudbook in 2015. [7] [8] Later cloudbooks were released by Asus and HP (HP Stream). [5] [9] Microsoft-partnered cloudbook manufacturers typically sold their machines with one-year free subscription offers for both Office 365 and OneDrive, cloud-based productivity software and file storage, respectively, from Microsoft. [10]

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References

  1. Markoff, John (September 4, 2007). "The Cloudbook Is Canceled". The New York Times: C5. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024.
  2. Staff writer (December 10, 2010). "Move over Android: Chrome OS and MeeGo are here". The Online Reporter. Rider Research via Gale. ... while Google held an event Tuesday where the first 'Chromebook' or 'cloudbook' debuted.
  3. Staff writer (February 18, 2021). "Chromebooks overtake Macs in market share for first time". BBC News. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024.
  4. Tofel, Kevin (August 5, 2015). "No, a Windows 10 Cloudbook isn't a Chromebook killer". ZDNET. Ziff-Davis. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Behrens, David (January 4, 2020). "Chromebooks and Cloudbooks – what's the difference?". The Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024.
  6. Lynch, Jim (July 30, 2015). "Chromebooks versus Cloudbooks: Will Microsoft beat Google?". ITworld. IDG Publications. p. 1. Archived from the original on July 31, 2015.
  7. Evangelho, Jason (July 16, 2015). "Microsoft Partners Prepare Low Cost Windows 10 'Cloudbook' Competitors to Chromebooks, Acer Leads Charge". Hot Hardware. Archived from the original on March 13, 2024.
  8. Paul, Ian (August 4, 2015). "Acer's insanely cheap Windows 10 Cloudbooks take aim at Chromebooks". PC World. IDG Publications. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023.
  9. Lu, Alan; Adam Shepherd (February 8, 2016). "HP Stream 11 review: A cheap and colourful 'cloudbook' laptop, but far from cheerful". ITPro. Future plc. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021.
  10. Wong, Steven (November 23, 2017). "Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 11 review". TechRadar. Future plc. p. 1.