Google steps up Chromebook push for Black Friday shopping rush

Samsung and Acer cutting prices for notebook models in time for holiday season

Google is hoping for a holiday season surge in Chromebook sales following the introduction of cheaper models by Samsung and Acer.

Both vendors are cutting the starting price of their systems to $299, while for customers in the US, Samsung also plans to offer a black Wi-Fi only version of its Chromebook Series 5 notebook.

The price cuts come as Google is looking to update and simplify the user interface for its notebook platform. Google said it would be updating the Chromebook log-in screen and application tab interfaces to provide a smoother, more simplified screen presentation.

Additionally, Google said it would be updating the user interface for its Chrome Web Store application download service.

"We've heard from many of you that one of the things you enjoy most about the Chromebook is its hassle-free simplicity," Google senior product manager Venkat Rapaka said in a company blog posting.

"If you are someone who is often called upon to provide tech support when you are home for the holidays like I am, you will be happy to know that the Chromebook gets your loved ones up and going on the web quickly, without the usual pains of computing like seemingly endless boot times and setup manuals

The push comes as many vendors are gearing up for the holiday shopping season in the hope of capitalising on strong interest in tablet and ultrabook models.

Google last week overhauled another of its retail operations when the company announced an effort to combine its Checkpoint and Wallet platforms.