14 DAY TRIAL // Google knows that it has a long fight in front of it to get people to warm up to the idea of Chrome OS and the Chromebook. While there are plenty of people who may end up liking them, the departure is quite big and the first step is hard.
Which is why Google is doing things like the latest marketing push, teaming up with Virgin America and Ace Hotel to give customers free Chromebooks during their flights or stays.
"A Chromebook makes a great travel companion, with its 8-hour battery life, light weight, built-in Wi-Fi and available 3G. So we’ve teamed up with Virgin America and Ace Hotel to give you the chance to experience a Chromebook on your summer travels," Google's Heaven Kim writes.
"When you fly Virgin America from San Francisco, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth or Boston, look for the Chrome Zone near your departure gate. Check out a Chromebook for free and browse away with complimentary Wi-Fi in the terminal and on your flight," Google added.
Google has a history of teaming up with Virgin America for promotions, but this has been limited to free WiFi, so far. This time around, along with free WiFi you get a Chromebook to use it as well.
It's actually a great marketing move and also one that a lot of people are going to enjoy. If you have a long flight ahead of you, a free Chromebook that will last you for the whole trip along with free internet is a very welcome perk.
It gets users to try the new devices and, Google hopes, to fall in love with them. It's not hard to imagine that at least some of the ones that get to use a Chromebook during a flight will then hit Amazon or Best Buy and grab one for themselves.
The same applies to the hotel promotion. If you're staying at the Ace Hotel in New York, you get a free Chromebook to use in the room, or carry around with you, for the duration of your stay.