New HP Intel-Based Chromebook 14 G4 Targets SMBs and Education Market

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) is targeting the SMB and educational markets with a new ultra-mobile laptop, the Chromebook 14 G4, which features integrated VPN and virtualization tools, along with Citrix Receiver “verification.”

The Chromebook 14 G4 is part of the next generation of HP Chromebooks that the company announced this week. The basic Chromebook 14 offering features a 14-inch screen, Intel Celeron N2840 processor and a battery that supports up to 9 hours and 15 minutes of runtime with the display active, according to HP. (Like most vendors, the company probably measures battery life under laboratory rather than real-world conditions, but circa 9 hours is a long time no matter how you slice it.)

HP is also offering several service bundles with all Chromebook 14s. Those include 100GB of cloud storage through Google Drive for two years, as well as 12 passes for Gogo’s inflight Internet service.

To attract SMB and educational customers to the Chromebook 14 G4, HP is sweetening the integration deal by adding virtualization and VPN connectivity tools that can be used in the office or classroom. It also offers built-in storage options of up to 32GB for G4 users who want local storage in addition to the Google Drive offering (which also comes with the G4).

Perhaps most importantly for SMBs and educational users, the G4 is certified for Citrix Receiver 1.8, a thin client virtualization solution that provides access to cloud-based virtual services. The G4 is “the first Chromebook to be verified for Citrix Receiver,” according to HP.

It’s unclear whether “verified” means the same thing in this case as “certified,” which would imply that Citrix has approved the G4 for use with its thin client software. But we’re betting most SMBs and educational users won’t worry too much about these nuances of language.

Chromebooks have already enjoyed significant success in the education market. HP appears eager to capitalize on that momentum and secure further gains.

The Chromebook 14 line is slated to go on sale in the United States beginning Nov. 8, with prices starting at $249.99.