Google just announced that it is selling a line of notebook PC’s that run its Chrome operating system.  While that’s big news in and of itself, the biggest news is that businesses can buy them for $28 dollars a month – and that includes support:

Earlier today, Google announced June 15 as launch date for Chromebook, which will initially be available from Acer and Samsung with 11.6-inch or 12.1-inch displays, respectively. Prices start at $349, for notebooks with Intel Atom dual-core processors and limited local storage, running Chrome OS. But there is another acquisition option — a monthly subscription for business and education markets. School price is $20/month per student and for businesses the aforementioned $28/month per user. The subscription price requires businesses to make a 3-year commitment. Microsoft volume-licensing customers typically also license software for three years, although a 2-year option is available.

Source: Microsoft could lose billions in sales to Google’s Chromebook | Companies News – Betanews

Although there’s much speculation that this will put a serious dent in Microsoft’s core business, I’m skeptical.  And I’m downright sure that Chromebooks won’t displace Microsoft from law offices.  Here are three reasons why:

1: Google Docs is NOT Microsoft Office.  Sure, if all you’re doing is taking notes, writing letters, or the most mundane drafting duties, Docs will do it for you.  But try writing an appellate brief with Tables of Contents, Tables of Authorities, footnotes, special font & spacing requirements, and all of the other quirks that courts require.  The time savings that Word (or WordPerfect) offer here will more than offset any cost savings from not paying a licensing fee.

2: Law firm paranoia will prevent mass cloud adoption.  The Chromebook model apparently requires everyone to store their documents in the cloud.  I won’t do that, and neither will most law firms for a variety of reasons.  First, some firms fear that storing data in the cloud will (a) waive privilege, or (b) will be a target for hackers.  Second, lawyers want to have access to their electronic files even if there is no Internet connectivity.  Third, law firms sometimes store EXTREMELY sensitive information that they don’t want to risk being turned over because someone served a subpoena on Google. 

3:  Google’s support won’t be good enough. Imagine that it’s the Sunday before a trial starts, and Larry (or Lisa) the Litigator is preparing an opening statement.  Larry’s computer crashes and he needs to recover his PowerPoint.  Do you think Larry is going to want to (a) call a 1-800 number and patiently wait for Google to help him, or (b) call the firm’s IT manager in and demand he or she fix the problem NOW?  As a guy who used to do IT support for law firms, I can assure you it’s the latter.  Because deadlines are so critical in the practice of law, lawyers cannot and will not tolerate anything but the most efficient form of tech support they can find.  And the most efficient form is an in-house IT department.  If your firm has an in-house IT department, one of the biggest Chromebook selling points (free support) becomes irrelevant.

I’ll probably pick up a Chromebook to play with, but rest assured I won’t be running my law firm with it.