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Chromebook

google.com

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Re: Chromebook

#101

Post by Dobbs »

kenjackson wrote: post #45

I can't imagine anyone buying this and being happy unless they are already intimately familiar with the device ahead of time. Too many limitations, with virtually no big upside functionality or user experience (unlike the iPad that makes up for limitations with some huge upside). As I'd mentioned before I can buy an ASUS Eee PC with an AMD C30 processor for $289 and be able to use the browser of my choice, sync my iP…

If they have one in the $100-$200 dollar range I'll be seriously considering buying one for my Mother. All she uses is a web browser and google documents.

This would be perfect and would solve my issue of her randomly getting toolbars installed and somehow getting Firefox into a state of uselessness.

Re: Chromebook

#102

Post by far33d »

hammock wrote: post #34

It took me a long time of exploring to realize they were talking about a laptop. I was like "Chromebook?" Is it a kindle? Is it an online scrapbook? Is it online literature? edit: why am i being downvoted? because i don't read tech blogs 24/7? because nowhere on the website does it actually say what a chromebook is?

I too thought this would be a kindle or ipad-like device that browsed the web for cheap. I was excited. Then I saw it was a crappy netbook and was disappointed. The form-factor makes a big difference for me, since I already need a full-featured laptop for my work.

Re: Chromebook

#103

Post by cryptoz »

kenjackson wrote: post #84
cryptoz wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people don't want a choice of browser or to worry about syncing different accounts or running WoW on every single computer they buy . Most people want to browse the web without virusus or hassles or intrusive software updates. It's very very clear that this is not meant for full content creation and gaming and a giant desktop experience. This is meant for the web on the go. If you don't want it, that's fine. But…

Let me be clear. I'd love this device for free. Or like I said, even $100 I could see it being a fair price. But when you price at the same price of a netbook that performs really well (the new ASUS Eee Pcs are pretty darn impressive beasts for a $289 machine), with all of its limitations, it just doesn't make sense. This needs to be more like a Kindle. A device you get even if you already have a laptop and an iPad.…

sigh

Look, it's not about the hardware. What software is that $289 machine going to run? Windows? Right, so you'll be removing viruses for years after people continue to watch seedy porn sites? Sounds like fun.

This device is intriguing and useful because of the software; it stays out of your way and keeps you safe. That's worth the price to nearly everyone who isn't a nerd.

Re: Chromebook

#104

Post by jhamburger »

euroclydon wrote: post #55
tokenadult wrote: post #53

"* Obviously, you're going to need a wireless network, be willing to use it subject to the provider's terms and conditions, and be ready to put up with its real life limitations including, for example, its speed and availability. When you do not have network access, functionality that depends on it will not be available." http://www.google.com/chromebook/#features That's some very important information to put in a fo…

It's a little snarky sounding for corporate speak; kinda like someone at Google rolling their eyes at you.

When writing emails at work I often find myself starting sentences with 'Obviously,' and then taking it out later. I find it very rarely necessary.

Re: Chromebook

#105

Post by aj700 »

One big point about this, esp if it takes off. It answers a big question:

How do you get J. Random User to use Linux?

Don't call it Linux. Don't make it look like Linux. And Chrome for Windows synced over to an identical looking ChromeOS means he's escaped Microsoft lockin without even knowing it.

Re: Chromebook

#106

Post by drm237 »

kenjackson wrote: post #67
jonknee wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's quite obviously not targeted at you. There are people who use computers who don't even know what Emacs or Visual Studio are. They're also the ones who have major troubles keeping their computers working. Google's working on abstracting away the IT guy. I hope it works.

And those people don't know what Google Docs are either. And when they get an Excel document where charts don't render correctly, or comments are screwed up, or pivot tables don't work against their datasource, they'll be POed. Or when all their friends are playing WoW and they realize that this device doesn't play it. Or when they want to Skype with their grandkids they realize, they can't do that. Or when they take…

All of your points also apply to the iPad.

Re: Chromebook

#107

Post by wiredfool »

r00fus wrote: post #60
wiredfool wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not going to work for my kids till I can put some filtering on the web browser. They really don't need to be clicking on ads and whatnot yet.

Can't you filter at a higher leve (ie, the router or gateway?). A simple method would be to get the wifi version, NAT it through your desktop acting as gateway and put the filtering software there. Of course, that's a kludge and easily worked around. Compared to an iPad, currently the Chromebook is harder to filter.

I could, probably. Depends on if I keep the wrt router around, but then I'd need to muck with permissions for the adults in the family. They're not doing internetty stuff on the ipad, mostly garage band and angry birds.

Right now, they're just on safari whitelisting and mail.app's whitelisting, and that works well enough for nearly 7 and 4, but the PPC mini that they're on is not liking flash anymore, they're getting really frustrated when the little edutainment sites don't work because they're too flash intensive and something dies.

Re: Chromebook

#108

Post by aj700 »

cryptoz wrote: post #80
geoffw8 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your correct, but I think a LOT of users would be surprised they can't plug their iPhone/iPod in, or maybe use Spotify

> can't plug their iPhone/iPod Citation? The devices have USB ports...

Spotify (0.5) now supports ipods. If the browser is the OS, can't chrome/chromeos do the same trick with a music webapp.

Re: Chromebook

#109

Post by fragmede »

kenjackson wrote: post #67
jonknee wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's quite obviously not targeted at you. There are people who use computers who don't even know what Emacs or Visual Studio are. They're also the ones who have major troubles keeping their computers working. Google's working on abstracting away the IT guy. I hope it works.

And those people don't know what Google Docs are either. And when they get an Excel document where charts don't render correctly, or comments are screwed up, or pivot tables don't work against their datasource, they'll be POed. Or when all their friends are playing WoW and they realize that this device doesn't play it. Or when they want to Skype with their grandkids they realize, they can't do that. Or when they take…

I still have a recurring appointment to clean the crap-ware off my mom's Win7 computer. A system that I don't have to do that on is still a selling point.

Google's working on having me do even less as the IT guy for family and friends, and I fully support that.

Re: Chromebook

#110

Post by jahmed »

blhack wrote: post #82

Am I missing something here? It's ~$400 for a laptop, then $28/mo to use it? What are you getting from this that I'm not already getting for free from google? Or is it $28/mo and the hardware is free...?

You can buy one for $400ish.

For Google Apps for Business you can get them for $28 per user per month, this includes the hardware and periodic hardware refreshes.

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