Google Chromebooks Now on Sale

Google marked its official step into desktop operating systems Wednesday by shipping the first Chromebooks. Both the Acer Chromia
and Samsung Series 5 are on sale today both through Amazon and Best Buy’s online shop. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK can get it as well but will have to turn to local retailers.

Just two models start off the range. The 11.6-inch Acer Cromia is the entry level and at $389 has a dual-core 1.66GHz Atom, 2GB of RAM, a 16GB SSD, and a six-hour battery. A 3G version is $450. Samsung’s Series 5 ups the size to 12 inches with a longer-running 8.5-hour battery to match for $430 in Wi-Fi only guise and $500 for 3G.

Every American 3G model comes with 100MB of free Verizon data a month and can add more for a fee.