Chromebooks have been technology’s best kept secret for some time, but that has changed dramatically in recent years. Because they are lightweight, versatile and forward-thinking, Google laptops are increasingly reaching schools, homes and businesses. Chromebooks really are for everyone – even presidents and karate committees.
Today, we’re seeing five occasions when Chromebooks appeared in pop culture outside of Google’s own commercials! We will revisit this frequently, as there are many examples of this occurring, so if you found a Chromebook in a movie, TV show, or any other medium outside of advertising, let us know in the comments!
Cobra Kai
In the first season, episode seven of Cobra Kai – “All Valley”, the City Council met to determine whether the team would be allowed to return to the tournament after being expelled. And right there on the table is what looks like a first or second generation Samsung Chromebook 3! In fact, this was the first time I saw one of Google’s laptops on the screen and I was really excited because, well, Chromebooks.
For a businessman who is doing simple data entry on the tournament for minors under 18 in All Valley, a durable, inexpensive Chromebook that can be used a little is a good choice. If Johnny Lawrence were buying a laptop, we would probably recommend an educational one, as they are so durable that you can stand or strike karate!
Designated Survivor
Everyone’s favorite fictional president – Tom Kirkman, played by Kiefer Sutherland, rocked what appears to be a Samsung Chromebook Plus v1 in an episode of Designated Survivor! What’s interesting here is that while a Chromebook is likely to be safe enough for web browsing, it certainly couldn’t run the specialized software often required of government officials – let alone the President of the United States – even if these states are united only by Netflix fiction.
Veronica Mars
In the popular program that started in 2004, featuring the intelligent and fearless private investigator, Veronica participates in a city council meeting in which she tries to arrest a serial killer who remains at large and has placed bombs around the city.
Two of the board women present are using the original Samsung Plus v2 – apparently a popular choice for TV shows, and for good reason – it is a slim device, two in one, of premium construction with a stylus. Mayor Mark Dobbins is sitting in the middle with his sturdy work machine on which he’s probably just handling data entry. In fact, if you see the second screenshot below, you’ll see proof that everyone is doing what appears to be exactly the same tasks – reviewing documents.
The funniest part is that, although it is in a context related to the story and not laptops, he says at one point “I don’t think I’m the only one…” and looks at Chromebook owners. Yes … yes, mayor, you are the only one. What’s up with city council members who use Chromebooks? These ladies clearly have good taste.
Geico Commercial
In a Geico commercial that began airing last year during Sunday Night Football, everyone’s favorite gecko can be seen talking to a company employee who has just finished a presentation on the company’s savings. When asking him to send the slides by email, the unidentified person is typing on an older Acer Chromebook 14 in what we assume to be an email body, although it looks nothing like Gmail. It looks a lot more like the Google Workspace Admin console to me, but I’m not sure. Maybe if this guy was using Google Contacts and started typing ‘M’, then Martin, the gecko, would have appeared at last.
Credit: Miguel Torres
Bull
In the episode “The Great Divide”, Danny James, played by Jaime Lee Kirchner, can be seen rocking Google’s Pixelbook 2017 while she sits looking pensively at the screen in her TAC (Trial Analysis Corporation) room. I really wish we could have more context in the tasks that these screen characters are doing with their laptops, but it’s mostly left to the imagination.
Chromebooks are inexpensive devices to purchase that are readily available anytime at your local Best Buy when you have to shoot, so it’s no wonder they go with them. Even the Pixelbook is within budget when you have the CBS budget. I personally have never seen this show, but you can watch the episode here if you want. It is an interesting program in which I will delve further, thanks to its focus on judicial drama and psychology.
