Google-Powered Chromebooks Overtaking Microsoft in Education Market

Chromebook: How to create and share a document (more Google Chromebook videos here)

Beginning next school year in the US, students in grades K-12 in most states will take tests administered by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (standardized tests) that are designed to be taken on computers. Because of the new tests, schools are thinking about new technology purchases and Google Chromebooks are the best solution --

Google-Powered Chromebooks Take Microsoft, Apple to School - WSJ.com: "Chromebooks have come from nowhere to grab nearly a fifth of U.S. school purchases of mobile computers, posing problems for Microsoft and possibly even Apple. The inexpensive laptops, which run Google software but are mostly sold by other companies, accounted for 19% of the K-12 market for mobile computers in the U.S. in 2013, according to a preliminary estimate by Futuresource Consulting. In 2012, Chromebooks represented less than 1% of the market, according to the research firm, whose estimate includes both tablets and notebook PCs but excludes desktop computers. Mobile computers running Microsoft Windows slid from 47.5% of that market in 2012 to 28% in last year's third quarter, said Futuresource, which isn't yet providing comparisons for all of 2013. Data from IDC analyst Rajani Singh that includes purchases by U.S. colleges and universities as well as K-12 schools shows a similar pattern, as well as signs of stagnation for Apple's iPad in the education market." (read more at Wall Street Journal wsj.com link above)

Google patents ad-powered taxi service that would offer free rides to shoppers | Ars Technica: "Advertisers would pay for your transportation in the hope that you buy something...."

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