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Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

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Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#31

Post by NumberFiveAlive »

jamesaguilar wrote: post #14
NumberFiveAlive wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not saying it will succeed (that remains to be seen) but: 1. Not if you don't have the money for a computer in the first place. My grandparents would really like to get online, and the difference between a $400 laptop and a $200 netbook is significant. 2. Not if all you need is the basic functionality this device offers. 3. This is just all sort of wrong if you don't live in a metropolitan area. 4. That's your op…

1 > I think the number of people in that position is relatively few. Specifically: the number of people who, when buying a new computer once in four years will consider a $100 difference in price significant, is small. 2 > Maybe, but there's also a question of the quality of that functionality. The cloud equivalents of almost any piece of software are significantly more limited even for non-power users. 3 > Meh? Do p…

3. Yup. I'm exclusively accessing internet through 3G right now, and I'm only 15 minutes from town. No DSL or cable options for me. 4. I agree it's been totally oversold. Those "To the cloud!" emails make me roll my eyes, even if that one does have April Oneal from TMNT in it.

Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#32

Post by takrupp »

I just got the CR-48 today (really surprised, no clue it was on the way). Happy surprised with the hardware thus far, and as commented above, it was the easiest setup I've experienced in an OS by far.

Need to figure out a way to get dropbox to somehow work and would like to get a command prompt to be able to SSH into the server.

Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#33

Post by bergie »

pedanticfreak wrote: post #28

ChromeOS is zero maintenance. As a technical person with a few gadgets, that's one less thing to worry about. For non-technical people I can only imagine it as revolutionary. Android, by comparison, is the Microsoft Windows of mobile operating systems. It requires customization, maintenance, and care. If I recommended an Android device to someone I am certain I would be paid regular visits as the designated mechanic.…

> ChromeOS is zero maintenance. As a technical person with a few gadgets, that's one less thing to worry about. For non-technical people I can only imagine it as revolutionary.

For many this has been a key selling point with the iPad. But this one also has keyboard and Google Docs...

Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#34

Post by Zaak »

takrupp wrote: post #32

I just got the CR-48 today (really surprised, no clue it was on the way). Happy surprised with the hardware thus far, and as commented above, it was the easiest setup I've experienced in an OS by far. Need to figure out a way to get dropbox to somehow work and would like to get a command prompt to be able to SSH into the server.

ssh is available via control-alt-T

You can also flip the developer switch in the battery bay for more control.

Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#35

Post by evilduck »

takrupp wrote: post #32

I just got the CR-48 today (really surprised, no clue it was on the way). Happy surprised with the hardware thus far, and as commented above, it was the easiest setup I've experienced in an OS by far. Need to figure out a way to get dropbox to somehow work and would like to get a command prompt to be able to SSH into the server.

I also got mine today (about a week from submitting my application). Hardware is great, imo. The trackpad take some getting used to coming from a Macbook, although it's no worse than any other netbook I've played with.

As for their OS, it's Chrome-the-browser with a login page and a few more hidden about:config style pages, no frills. I think my wife will love it when she gets home. All of her computing use cases are internet based, and we were discussing buying her an iPad, but she'll probably try to steal this for her couch computing usage. SD slot and file management seem a little iffy right now (downloading a PDF from google docs worked, uploading a picture from my digital camera didn't).

As for the command prompt, you can hit ctrl-alt-T to get to the console, but it's very limited. SSH is password only, not key based, which is practically a deal breaker for me.

The Verizon wireless setup was painless, and when connected it shows you how much data you have left in the context menu which is really nice (although you do have to create an account with Verizon and provide a CC number, even for the free service. I figure it's stored for immediate plan upgrade options since they don't have overage fees).

As someone else mentioned, I think a Google hosted VPN service would be really nice for this. More of the "no worries OS" since 100mb is very little wireless data and I'm not all that tempted to be daring and hop on public wifi and access any personal data.

Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#36

Post by rbanffy »

kenjackson wrote: post #25
NumberFiveAlive wrote: post #4

I think price is the real key. If it's around the $200 mark, I'll probably even pick one up for surfing while sitting on the couch or toilet. My grandparents need/want a laptop, and literally all they'll ever use it for is to google stuff. They'll possibly want to upload pictures from their digital camera they never use, but if that's made simple via USB and some cloud based service (existing or otherwise), then this…

But you could likely get a cheap Windows netbook for nearly the same price, as OEM Windows 7 Starter will cost ~$40 OEM. So rather than $200 you pay pay $240, but you also get the ability to run Office, iTunes, FireFox, hook up printers, scanners, cameras. etc... Is this worth an extra $40? It feels like it is, even if I rarely use any of these features. But there's probably also some value in being able to say, "Thi…

> But you could likely get a cheap Windows netbook for nearly the same price

And be their support guy forever?

Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#37

Post by takrupp »

Zaak wrote: post #34
takrupp wrote: post #32

I just got the CR-48 today (really surprised, no clue it was on the way). Happy surprised with the hardware thus far, and as commented above, it was the easiest setup I've experienced in an OS by far. Need to figure out a way to get dropbox to somehow work and would like to get a command prompt to be able to SSH into the server.

ssh is available via control-alt-T You can also flip the developer switch in the battery bay for more control.

Wow, thats awesome. I really like the fact you can tab through windows. Its very clean, and intuitive.

Thanks

Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#38

Post by iuygtrftghyujik »

samuel wrote: post #30
Qz wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'most people you know' aren't really ChromeOS's target market.

So it must be really tiny. Seriously, this thing is doomed unless gets really, really cheap, and I don't think how it could be.

Because it needs 3G connectivity to be usefull. The people charging you $40/month (really $100) for a 3year contract will be happy to subsidize a $200 unit

Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#39

Post by evilduck »

evilduck wrote: post #35
takrupp wrote: post #32

I just got the CR-48 today (really surprised, no clue it was on the way). Happy surprised with the hardware thus far, and as commented above, it was the easiest setup I've experienced in an OS by far. Need to figure out a way to get dropbox to somehow work and would like to get a command prompt to be able to SSH into the server.

I also got mine today (about a week from submitting my application). Hardware is great, imo. The trackpad take some getting used to coming from a Macbook, although it's no worse than any other netbook I've played with. As for their OS, it's Chrome-the-browser with a login page and a few more hidden about:config style pages, no frills. I think my wife will love it when she gets home. All of her computing use cases are…

I also just learned about the ctrl-alt-? combo, which is immensely useful in discovering other key combos.

Re: Why Google's Chrome notebook will succeed

#40

Post by ecq »

pedanticfreak wrote: post #28

ChromeOS is zero maintenance. As a technical person with a few gadgets, that's one less thing to worry about. For non-technical people I can only imagine it as revolutionary. Android, by comparison, is the Microsoft Windows of mobile operating systems. It requires customization, maintenance, and care. If I recommended an Android device to someone I am certain I would be paid regular visits as the designated mechanic.…

Zero maintenance. until your non-techie mom starts asking you why she can't run Excel, or why she can't play her favorite windows-based games and apps, or why it's taking forever to "save" a 800MB file in the "cloud"....
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