Chromebook

[vi edit]

So they're basically marketing this as a disposable laptop

That's one way to word it. It's also an inexpensive laptop that is family friendly . That's another way to spin it.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I'll show you one that can run word, photoshop...yada yada

Chromebooks are not for everyone or even a lot of people.

But I'm gonna give it a try. I already have a big chunky laptop and desktop, so my life doesn't depend on the Chromebook.

What I like about it is that it's light and thin, has no fans, has a light OS. I spend a lot of time in Chrome browsing the web, reading forums, replying, writing, watching YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive.

And if I need to run Photoshop, or Microsoft Office, I can remote desktop to my desktop computer.

 

[Ns1]

Chromebooks are not for everyone or even a lot of people.

But I'm gonna give it a try. I already have a big chunky laptop and desktop, so my life doesn't depend on the Chromebook.

What I like about it is that it's light and thin, has no fans, has a light OS. I spend a lot of time in Chrome browsing the web, reading forums, replying, writing, watching YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive.

And if I need to run Photoshop, or Microsoft Office, I can remote desktop to my desktop computer.

this 100%

I'll show you one that can run word, photoshop...yada yada

but it won't have an SSD and weigh 2.4 pounds.

win some/lose some

 

[Red Storm]

I'll show you one that can run word, photoshop...yada yada

I've never used photoshop in my life. Why do people make it out to be some essential application when it's not?

Office web apps is free and I believe does work on the Chromebook.

but it won't have an SSD and weigh 2.4 pounds.

win some/lose some

SSD, light, thin, superior battery life, no Windows >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> photoshop

At least to me. :\

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Chromebooks are not for everyone or even a lot of people.

But I'm gonna give it a try. I already have a big chunky laptop and desktop, so my life doesn't depend on the Chromebook.

What I like about it is that it's light and thin, has no fans, has a light OS. I spend a lot of time in Chrome browsing the web, reading forums, replying, writing, watching YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive.

And if I need to run Photoshop, or Microsoft Office, I can remote desktop to my desktop computer.

ezacklee, iis gonna bee mo betta/cunveenyent fa 97% uv whacha do

 

[OBLAMA2009]

did any of you guys go to best buy and get one of these today???????????????

 

[Red Storm]

did any of you guys go to best buy and get one of these today???????????????

I will next week. Little brother has been using a crappy netbook to watch vids and troll forums before bed, I figure this would do a better job.

 

[Ravynmagi]

did any of you guys go to best buy and get one of these today???????????????

I called and they said they didn't have it and didn't know when they'd get it. So I gave up on Best Buy and just pre-ordered from Amazon.

 

[s44]

It's in the Play Store now.

 

[Ravynmagi]

It's in the Play Store now.

I pre-ordered my Nexus 7 from Google Play and that turned out to be a disaster, Google Play pre-orderers were some of the last to get the tablet.

So I decided to skip Google Play this time and order from Amazon. Bah, now Google Play seems to actually be shipping orders on time and Amazon still doesn't have them yet.

I can't win.

 

[cbrunny]

I'm curious if there is Android integration built into this, and if so, how extensive. One appealing feature of the Apple brand is that everything appears to be integrated together. I am aware that actual integration of Apple devices is pretty limited, but the appearance is there. This is probably something that Google can do better.

I am quite interested in the possibility of a ChromeOS/Android blend. Let's face it - the only reason that anyone uses Windows anymore is because that's where all the software lives. If Google can figure out how to blend ChromeOS with Android AND bring in high-quality software, I may be convinced without much effort to light my home computer on fire.

Of course, I don't see my work computer ever being replaced with anything other than a Windows machine.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I'm curious if there is Android integration built into this, and if so, how extensive. One appealing feature of the Apple brand is that everything appears to be integrated together. I am aware that actual integration of Apple devices is pretty limited, but the appearance is there. This is probably something that Google can do better.

I am quite interested in the possibility of a ChromeOS/Android blend. Let's face it - the only reason that anyone uses Windows anymore is because that's where all the software lives. If Google can figure out how to blend ChromeOS with Android AND bring in high-quality software, I may be convinced without much effort to light my home computer on fire.

Of course, I don't see my work computer ever being replaced with anything other than a Windows machine.

Maybe I'm not understanding the question right.... but Chrome OS integrates into the same Google cloud services as Android does. Some your Chrome bookmarks, tabs, and extensions are synchronized, Google Docs/Drive, Google Now. One example someone showed was they searched for a resteraunt on the Chromebook and it showed up automatically as a card with directions in Google Now on their Nexus phone.

Android and Chrome OS both use Google services/cloud, so should blend together nicely.

 

[cbrunny]

Once these do roll out widely, I'd really like to hear about user experiences with them. I just realized that these aren't available in Canada yet.

I'm interested in the cloud functionality as it relates to internet speed. We have pretty crappy internet, coming in at a whopping 5mbps (theoretical max - actual speed probably closer to 2 or 3, on a good day - so yes, 3G is faster than my home internet). I'm wondering how badly that would punish the Chromebook's functions, if at all.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Still waiting on mine from Amazon. Someone said they heard from Amazon that they aren't shipping until October 31st. Hope that's not true.

Main thing I worry about is the screen brightness. 200 nits doesn't sound very bright. Hoping it's still bright enough I can use this outdoors in the shade.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

so no one had tried one of these yet???????????

 

[destrekor]

Once these do roll out widely, I'd really like to hear about user experiences with them. I just realized that these aren't available in Canada yet.

I'm interested in the cloud functionality as it relates to internet speed. We have pretty crappy internet, coming in at a whopping 5mbps (theoretical max - actual speed probably closer to 2 or 3, on a good day - so yes, 3G is faster than my home internet). I'm wondering how badly that would punish the Chromebook's functions, if at all.

If you want opinions on Chromebooks, you can find plenty of them everywhere. This is hardly the first one to launch. The most affordable model, yes (previously they all contained x86 Intel processors, likely contributing to the unrealistic "expensive netbook" entry costs)., but hardly the first one to hit the streets.

In fact, some site had a comparison test with an older Intel-based Chromebook, and proved that this newer but cheaper version does sacrifice some performance.


As for integration - if it's data that's available from a Google web service, it can be integrated/"blended" with the Chromebook. But you won't be finding anything remotely like Android on these things, not at the moment at least. It's more like Google Chrome (the browser) meets simplified desktop environment. But Google data, like contacts, email, saved preferences across services, and anything else that's rooted in your Google account and gets synced to Android devices, that can be had.

 

[3chordcharlie]

This thing sounds like a classic case of a solution in search of a problem:

- relatively useless without network connection
- small form factor can't compete with laptops for productivity
- 'large' form factor can't compete with tablets/phones for mobility
- no significant price advantage compared to laptop or tablet
- completely cut off from windows, linux, and android software

I literally can't find a niche market tiny enough to pigeon-hole this as "Oh!, that's who this was made for". There is no single purpose for which this thing is 'best' and no combination that wouldn't be better managed with a proper laptop, or *maybe* a tablet.

I can therefore only assume it will sell many millions.

 

[Red Storm]

Um, it does have a pretty big price advantage compared to other laptops. Show me another laptop that's thin, light, and SSD equipped for $250. There are millions of people out there who don't need a full powered laptop just for email, YouTube, and general browsing (who also don't want to spend more money on a tablet that has no keyboard).

My uncle and his wife have a first gen chromebook that they use as their main laptop. Not everyone wants to deal with Windows and updates and malware and anti virus software.

 

[Ravynmagi]

This thing sounds like a classic case of a solution in search of a problem:

- relatively useless without network connection
- small form factor can't compete with laptops for productivity
- 'large' form factor can't compete with tablets/phones for mobility
- no significant price advantage compared to laptop or tablet
- completely cut off from windows, linux, and android software

I literally can't find a niche market tiny enough to pigeon-hole this as "Oh!, that's who this was made for". There is no single purpose for which this thing is 'best' and no combination that wouldn't be better managed with a proper laptop, or *maybe* a tablet.

I can therefore only assume it will sell many millions.

1. A lot of us are connected to wifi most of the time.
2. The small form factor may be a key reason for purchasing this.
3. The low price and keyboard give it some perks over a tablet.
4. The quality is pretty nice for it's price, probably won't find a $250 laptop this light, then, and fanless.
5. You can remote desktop into Windows and Mac OS.

Laptops are great, but I'm just tired of the big chunky heavy laptop with hot and noisy fans. I realize Chrome OS's limitations, but they very low price, the thin, light, fanless, and silent form factor is hugely attractive to me, and I believe I can probably get much of the things I want to do done through the browser or remote desktop. So this sounds pretty awesome to me.

 

[SithSolo1]

If I didn't already own a Touchpad and Bluetooth keyboard I'd be all over this.

 

[3chordcharlie]

1. A lot of us are connected to wifi most of the time.

2. The small form factor may be a key reason for purchasing this.

3. The low price and keyboard give it some perks over a tablet.

4. The quality is pretty nice for it's price, probably won't find a $250 laptop this light, then, and fanless.

5. You can remote desktop into Windows and Mac OS.



Laptops are great, but I'm just tired of the big chunky heavy laptop with hot and noisy fans. I realize Chrome OS's limitations, but they very low price, the thin, light, fanless, and silent form factor is hugely attractive to me, and I believe I can probably get much of the things I want to do done through the browser or remote desktop. So this sounds pretty awesome to me.

Like I said, I assume it will sell millions.

I always underestimate how happy people are to sacrifice productivity for 'cool'. Other than the ssd it isn't difficult to find a laptop that competes with this on price. And I do like quiet.

For me, I think the lack of local software is a deal killer.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Like I said, I assume it will sell millions.

I always underestimate how happy people are to sacrifice productivity for 'cool'. Other than the ssd it isn't difficult to find a laptop that competes with this on price. And I do like quiet.

For me, I think the lack of local software is a deal killer.

I have a $1,000 Dell E6420 with a Core i5, 240GB SSD drive, and 8GB of RAM. But my main computer is my desktop. And generally my laptop is used for light tasks and remoting into my desktop. A powerful laptop is really overkill for my needs. And I am hopeful this $250 Chromebook can probably replace my need for the expensive heavy laptop. Not trying to be cool, just trying to be practical.

 

[Red Storm]

Like I said, I assume it will sell millions.

I always underestimate how happy people are to sacrifice productivity for 'cool'. Other than the ssd it isn't difficult to find a laptop that competes with this on price. And I do like quiet.

For me, I think the lack of local software is a deal killer.

That implies you need Windows (and x86) to be "productive" which is simply not true unless you use an application that requires Windows, which is not the case for the majority of users. Even excluding things like the SSD and fanless operation, please show us this $250 laptop that's as thin and light as the Chromebook with 6 hours of battery life. This thing not having Windows is a big reason why I'm interested in it.

Many Chrome apps can work offline. Honestly though, outside of my work related stuff, I can't recall the last time I used a computer that wasn't connected to the internet, and aside from games, everything I would use it for needed internet access.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I tell you what though. Google/Samsung better start shipping these Chromebooks soon (other than the dozen or so that got it from Play *exaggerating a bit*).

I see that Best Buy and Amazon are no longer taking anymore orders and seems neither has gotten any laptops yet.

With a new iPad, iPad mini, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, Surface, dozens of Windows 8 laptops, tablets, and phones, and other gadgets all coming out at once, I'm libel to run out of money and have to cancel my pre-order.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

The beauty of this chromebook is it's a cheap laptop that doesn't sacrifice size or quality like so many of the budget Windows laptops do.

To me it's the perfect second laptop, something that you can leave in your bag 24/7 so you have a laptop ready when you need it without having to lug your main laptop around all the time.