Googlebook laptop prices vary as launch approaches
Pricing for the upcoming Googlebook laptops from Dell, Lenovo, HP, Asus and Acer has shifted, with several models now listed below $1,300 ahead of the October 4 launch.
Google is finalising pricing for its new Googlebook laptops, which are slated to reach stores on Oct. 4. Initial estimates released by the company showed Dell, HP, Lenovo and Asus models priced near $1,300, while Acer offered a limited-time price of $899.
Subsequent announcements from the manufacturers have lowered several of those figures. Dell now lists its XPS Googlebook at $999, Lenovo’s 15-inch model at $1,099, and HP’s 14-inch version at $1,199. Asus’s price remains at $1,299, and Acer continues to advertise $899 for a short period before a planned increase.
Google and the OEMs have not commented on the reasons for the adjustments. The variations suggest a flexible pricing strategy as the company prepares to introduce its Android-based laptop platform.
"The XPS Googlebook is $999 at Best Buy," a Dell spokesperson told Gizmodo. "Lenovo’s Googlebook 15 will be $1,099 through Best Buy," a Lenovo representative said.
The launch timing and limited availability have raised questions about how easily consumers will locate the devices online, with some reports noting that searches for “Googlebooks” return results for Google’s e-book service instead of the hardware.