While the One Laptop Per Child scheme may have once pushed to get a simple notebook into the hands of the underprivileged for $100 each, the entry-level laptop market is not far off achieving that goal for developed nations too. With the next release of its Chromebook 11 G4, HP is setting the bar by offering it for as little as $200, which is $40 less than where its previous G3 model started.
Users can’t expect a powerhouse system for such a low price tag, but they will net themselves 2GB of RAM, 16GB of on board storage and an Intel Celeron N2840 Bay Trail CPU. Those with a little more money and a lust for more power, will be able to opt for a 4GB model.
Other options will include a larger viewing angle IPS display and larger storage variants up to 32GB, according to Liliputing.
Since this is a Chromebook, that means it comes running Google’s Chrome OS, which is mostly based in the cloud, where users will receive 100GB of storage space, on top of whatever they opt for locally. While this laptop doesn’t come equipped with an Ethernet port to connect to it, it does have 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 LTE connectivity options.
Hardwire connectors include several USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, as well as an HDMI output and 3.5mm connectors for headphone and microphone cabling. For those without an external solution, there is also a built in webcam in the display’s bezel.
Marketed towards students and educators, HP talked up the new Chromebook in an address, where it also recommended some of the operating system’s extensions, like HP Print, which can help teachers create interactive systems for use in the classroom to better entertain and engage their pupils.
It also features noise suppression software to make VoIP and videoconferencing a cleaner experience.