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Google gouges as Chromebox hits NZ
Google's Australian-written "New Zealand" blog gushes about the company's Chromebox for meetings which is officially on sale from today.
The product includes Asus Chromebox hardware, a camera, a microphone and a remote control. It uses the Chrome operating system, Google Hangouts and Google Apps.
Google tries to convince New Zealanders the product
is good value:
...That means for the same price that companies have typically paid for one meeting room, they'll be able to outfit 10 rooms.
Which may be true if you usually splash out on gold-plated kit. However the New Zealand deal is nothing like as good as the one Google gives its American customers.
Google's New Zealand price for Chromebox is NZ$1700. This compares with the US price of US$1000 — NZ$1160. Even allowing for 15 percent GST, that means there''s a mark up of nearly 30 percent.
Video conferencing is set to take off in New Zealand as fibre rolls out around the country, would you choose Google's Chromebox over the alternatives at this price?
Bill Bennett
Freelance journalist.
Auckland-based Bill Bennett writes technology and business stories that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers.
His emphasis is on telecommunications, but he also covers other aspects of technology and business. You can find his features in the New Zealand Herald and hear him regularly on RNZ Nine to Noon and the NZ Tech Podcast.
Bennett's The Download Weekly newsletter is published every Friday. You can sign up for it here.
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