Google Chromebook not coming to Canada right away

by Stephen Hui on May 11, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Acer Chromebook.

Google's first Chromebooks—Chrome-based, web-focused notebooks—are coming on June 15.

The launch models are from Samsung and Acer. But they won't be available in Canada next month.

Google's Chromebook FAQ states:

Chromebooks will be available in the US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Italy. They will be available in other countries over the next few months -- stay tuned.

But that's okay. With a laptop, tablet, and smartphone, I don't have room for one in my life—yet.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

Comments (14) Add New Comment
Jack123
May 11, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Why is Canada the last to get everything? They can sell them right away in Spain but not Canada?? We're right next door to the US. Is the handful of consumers north of the US border really going to make a difference in their marketing strategies? Why not just sell them to Canadians at the same time then?

Amazingly this hasn't changed in the 40 years I've lived in Canada. Always last, always overlooked, consistently invisible. There's your reason. The dorks at Google actually forgot about Canada. There's no other logical reason.
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ExpatMark
May 11, 2011 at 6:47 pm
The reason Canada is always behind is due to the control mongering CRTC and other regulatory agencies that block any non-Canadian company!
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VZ
May 12, 2011 at 12:05 am
The reason that Google "actually forgot" about Canada is that they can't strike a deal with the terrible Canadian telecom companies. Canada is one of the worst countries for wireless coverage due to the monopoly of selected companies over our networks. This is why we can't have nice things. Ask Rogers why their plans are consistently twice as expensive as those in the US, and then you can ask them why Canada is "always last, always overlooked, " and "consistently invisible".
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Jean
May 12, 2011 at 7:25 am
Yes, Canada's always last, but we're used to that now, eh? :) I know someone who got off party line in the last couple years: they now have this "modern technology" called pulse dialling, and I'm not joking.

The reason our plans are so expensive is because there isn't any competition. The reason there is no competition is because it is really expensive to set up towers (400,000$ to 800,000$), and Canadians are spread far and wide. We need way more cell towers per capita. With technology changing so fast, Canadian companies can't afford to sell service for less and still keep up to the latest technology, and potential rivals can't afford to start.

So what do we do? We sit and wait and watch our neighbours down south get lots of cool things, and think, "Just imagine: in 100 years, we'll have that, too!" Just like my friend upgrading to pulse dialling...
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Lost Boy
May 12, 2011 at 7:48 am
These cloud-sucking-clunkers are like disposable razors that you change once a year. More junk for the landfill, not to mention Google will have ALL you information at hand. Better read the small print.
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Michael Castanaveras
May 12, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Lack of good marketing to properly frame its limitations will kill this device. They should have plated it in chrome to brand it as Google, as opposed to the Samsung/Acer logos.
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miguel
May 12, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Use the time delay to decide if it's worth pissing your pants over it.
Miguel
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greggron
May 13, 2011 at 1:41 am
Despite all it's problems, the USA is the most creative, diverse and powerful economy in the world...still far larger than China. Canada, despite all that is well here, is little more than a source of raw materials. It is painful but unsurprising that again we are reminded just how minor our place is in the whole scheme of things.
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unknown sample
May 13, 2011 at 2:16 pm
this device MAY appeal to some small businesses who may not have dedicated full-time IT staff. the savings on software licensing alone might justify it. high resistance to malware also a big plus.

don't think this would appeal to joe six-pack who uses his laptop to store his spank bank or granny who probably couldn't wrap their head around cloud computing in the first place, let alone the different environment and GUI.

better hope anyone who uses this has a fast solid pipe to the internet though...
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aples
Jun 24, 2011 at 8:31 am
This is a terminal. Not a computer. Comparing this to a computer is like comparing apples to oranges. No fuss no muss. Turn it on and surf, email, or watch a movie. You could write a book if you prefer. Save it all in the cloud.
Works for me.
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BO SONG
Jul 20, 2011 at 11:41 am
I want to say screw CRTC. we don't need them!
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Dave Smith
Oct 12, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Cheap? Its the same price as an entry level notebook??? Cheap would be $250 CANADIAN. The only way I can see buying one is IF the keyboard is much, much better than the typical 500 dollar notebook, which is horrible. I expect the Chromebook's keyboard to be typical but I'd like to be surprised.
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Hakuta Mutata
Feb 17, 2012 at 5:19 pm
The only logical reason is because Canada has a little population compared to the rest of the world, and the regulations here are much more strict. Look how long it took Kindle to get to Canada.
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Steve S.
Feb 25, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Availability in Canada is irrelevant. If you live in Canada and want a Chromebook, get a chomebook. Try one of the options here: http://www.chromebuff.com/articles/still-no-chromebooks-for-canada/
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