Samsung is releasing two new "premium" Google Chromebooks that offer hardware and software improvements not available on most standard models. They borrow many features from Samsung's tablets, including a touch screen, a stylus and an Android app store to extend the app offerings.
The hope is that the new versions will attract a broader range of consumers than the K-12 students who mostly use Chromebooks now. Currently, Chromebooks are stripped-down laptops that don't function well in the absence of a Wi-Fi connection.
Samsung's Chromebook Plus starts selling Sunday for USD 449. The Chromebook Pro, with a faster processor, will come out in late April for USD 549. That's cheaper than MacBooks and many Windows laptops, but still high for Chromebooks. Budget models sell for less than USD 200.
Both new Chromebooks have 360-degree hinges so that the screens can flip over into a tablet mode. This makes them similar to "2 in 1" Windows offerings, which use hinges or have detachable keyboards to turn laptops into tablets. One oddity: With the screen faceup, the keyboard is on the back. Though typing is disabled in that mode, it feels odd in your hands.
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