In schools, Chromebooks have the market pretty much tied up.
They’re cheap, they’re built for central control, and they’re cheap.
Mostly, though, they’re cheap.
Students using computers.Alexander Grey / Unsplash
Especially when compared to Apple’s laptops, which start at $1,000.
Accordingto a new rumor, Apple is planning a new, low-costMacBookspecifically for theChromebook-saturated education market.
But Apple never, ever makes cheap computers, right?
Kids using a MacBook.John Schnobrich / Unsplash
And once, it even made a special, education-only Mac.
“Yes, a competitively priced Mac could challenge Chromebooks in schools.
Price has been a significant factor in Chromebooks' dominance.
Apple eMac.Evan-Amos / Wikipedia
What’s In It For Apple?
But college isn’t school.
Whereas college students may bring their own computers, many schools will supply computers.
John Schnobrich / Unsplash
Apple’s already tried to crack the school market withthe iPad.
But iPads require extra keyboards.
They’re not particularly tough.
And thanks to their locked-down nature, they can be a pain to administer.
The result is that Chromebooks won.
And Apple will have to do more than make a cheap laptop to get back in the game.
“I don’t believe MacBooks will beat out Chromebooks, despite their attractive price.
It’s pretty simplemany schools are already married to the Google Suite of products.
I just don’t see it happening on a large scale.”
It was pretty neat, but that was it for education-exclusive computers.
For Apple to make a cheap Mac, it would have to lower the cost of making them.
Evan-Amos / Wikipedia
But even that might not be enough.Chromebooks are not only cheap computers.
“Chromebooks are a big hit in schools, not just because they’re cheap.
Historically, Apple seems unable to bend itself to the needs of this kind of customer.
It doesn’t court game developers with investment and support, for example.
Apple prefers to invest in the factories that make its computers.
So, while a cheap MacBook might happen, it’s not going to be enough to beat Google.
And in that case, one might ask, what’s the point?
