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Chromebook

google.com

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Re: Chromebook

#181

Post by aj700 »

rryan wrote: post #138
aj700 wrote: post #105

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.

Richard Stallman wins again -- the question usually refers to GNU/Linux not Linux. Chrome/Linux and Android/Linux already have hundreds of millions of users. GNU/Linux is still in the millions and it's still an unanswered question of how to increase its growth rate.

Chrome/Linux, as you call it, is Chrome ON GNU/Linux. It's Gentoo with Chrome. It's not Chrome with nothing inbetween the browser and the kernel. People would understand ChromeOS better if wikipedia wasn't currently hosed.

Re: Chromebook

#182

Post by smackfu »

melling wrote: post #166
runjake wrote: post #123

- browses web? check. - runs the latest fad games, like Angry Birds (and more soon thanks to WebGL)? check. - can connect digital camera and upload photos? check. - can browse facebook, twitter, youtube, gmail, hotmail, etc? check - can play flash games & netflix, hulu, & other crap? check. This will satisfy the needs of all my immediate non-techy family members. And I won't get the monthly calls about malware anymor…

Weighs 1.5lbs? Nope. I'll probably get one after I see the first few reviews. However, the tablet (iPad/Android) isn't replaced by one of these. It's a different device.

?? That is nearly the same weight as the iPad.

Re: Chromebook

#183

Post by mbertrand »

I'd be interested to see if we'll see similar models emerge from other manufacturers biz in the near future. Is an interesting concept and with a feature set and price point that will appeal to the masses.

Re: Chromebook

#184

Post by cryptoz »

kenjackson wrote: post #151
cryptoz wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I guess our experiences are just fundamentally different. With the plethora of free good antivirus programs that you can download, I find viruses are largely a thing of the past. In the old days you had to pay $50/year for virus protection. And you had to go to a brick and mortar store or order it from Amazon. Cost and effort made it less common for end users to have antivirus. Now, I install it on every box I mainta…

Still, you're saying that when a user buys a computer, it is their responsibility to go searching on the web for a free, reputable and safe anti-virus company to download software from? Why? Why should they care? Why is it still necessary to do that? Can't someone build a computer where you turn it on and it works safely the first time?

That's what Google just did. Some people want that. Badly.

Edit: Surely you'll see this problem with your scenario. You, Ken Jackson, must use the computer before your friend/family does, in order to make it safe. That's pretty messed up, no? This stuff should just work, no need to go find programs to download before your computer is working properly.

Re: Chromebook

#185

Post by MatthewPhillips »

mxavier wrote: post #157
runjake wrote: post #123

- browses web? check. - runs the latest fad games, like Angry Birds (and more soon thanks to WebGL)? check. - can connect digital camera and upload photos? check. - can browse facebook, twitter, youtube, gmail, hotmail, etc? check - can play flash games & netflix, hulu, & other crap? check. This will satisfy the needs of all my immediate non-techy family members. And I won't get the monthly calls about malware anymor…

Not so fast on netflix. As far as I know (and I have a vested interest so I try to stay up-to-date), Netflix doesn't work on Linux nor Android because of silverlight's DRM stack not being available on those platforms. The rest are good but lack of Netflix support has definitely prevented me from purchasing a product in the past. This is not necessarily a problem that Google can fix right now, but hopefully it expedit…

Netflix will be supported via a plugin specifically for it.

Re: Chromebook

#186

Post by aj700 »

javanix wrote: post #178
aj700 wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://chromeos.hexxeh.net/ you can try it now you can try the whole thing on a compatible laptop when the chromiumos builds are the same as the chromeos these ship with.

Is there an official build planned though? Or is Google only planning on supporting "official" hardware?

ChromeOS (not "buildable", pre-shipped) I assume, ONLY on Chromebook and official google devices

ChromiumOS, (build or download built) on anything it runs on

You can't build the browser Chrome yourself, because that is Google's trademark. But you can build Chromium.

There is little difference between ChromeOS and ChromiumOS, so it doesn't matter. What's wrong with something built outside google? Chromium will have all the beta features first, so it'll be better.

Re: Chromebook

#187

Post by aj700 »

fragmede wrote: post #135
aj700 wrote: post #105

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.

> How do you get J. Random User to use Linux? Why do you want them to use Linux? Is it about the linux kernel? Is it about the GNU userland tools? Is it about Gnome/KDE, the configurability? Android is 'Linux', but it's missing most of the Linux bits that I want. (ChromeOS is also missing most of the bits I want too.)

To clarify. I want them to use Linux, because then they aren't using Windows.

Possibly you weren't using computers in the mid-90s when Microsoft was synonymous with evil. Yes, we are merely nursing meaningless old grudges, but victory is sweet.

I'm not going to say Linux is better. It's just spite. How dare you get so rich selling rubbish to idiots? - I'm European and a lot of us really are communists.

Re: Chromebook

#188

Post by PetrolMan »

arihant wrote: post #177
scott_s wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people don't create. You must be depressed by the wasted potential, because we're going from a world where most people don't create to a world where most people don't create.

"Most people don't create" ...and ChromeOS would change that? Availability of tools is not something that needs to immediately follow daily use. Not all my family cooks. We still have a kitchen.

Basic creation tools will still be there (Google Docs) and more tools are becoming available online to replace traditional desktop tools. I was actually just taking a good look at online IDEs...

Re: Chromebook

#190

Post by scott_s »

arihant wrote: post #177
scott_s wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people don't create. You must be depressed by the wasted potential, because we're going from a world where most people don't create to a world where most people don't create.

"Most people don't create" ...and ChromeOS would change that? Availability of tools is not something that needs to immediately follow daily use. Not all my family cooks. We still have a kitchen.

I'm confused by what your point is because I'm not sure if you understand mine. My point was that most people don't use their existing computers for creative purposes, so introducing a computer with limited creative potential won't change much.
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