The laptop market is changing, and with it our expectations of what a mobile device can do. Google (GOOGL +1.50%)(GOOG +1.39%) is already catering to this shift at the low end of the market with the Chromebook. Why not also add a convertible tablet? Senior tech analyst Tim Beyers explains the idea in the following video.
The ASUS Transformer running Android. Credit: ASUS.
Google is aiming to be a go-to provider of cloud services for both consumers and business users, but that won't be easy to achieve without also having a business-class device to put in users' hands. The Pixel helps, certainly. But at a minimum $1,299 price point, it's too easy for shoppers to simply opt for a MacBook Air.
Meanwhile, Microsoft (MSFT 2.17%) is already chasing the business market by offering a $650 rebate to those who trade in a MacBook Air for the new Surface Pro 3 convertible between June 20 and July 31. That's business that could go to Google, Tim says, which has not only a growing base of Chromebook users but also a financial interest in getting more users trying its apps suite. A well-designed, cost-effective "Chromepad" might win them over.
Now it's your turn to weigh in. Would you like to see Google make a robust convertible capable of replacing a laptop? Please watch the video to get the full story and then leave a comment to let us know your take, including whether you would buy, sell, or short Google stock at current prices.
