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Chromebooks and all this 'cloud' bollocks.
pfgpowell
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From idle curiosity, I clicked on an ad for Chromebooks and was taken to a site selling three, two Samsung and an Acer. Looking at the rather sparse list of specs (the list was sparse, not necessarily the specs), I noticed that the punter who bought one was promised '100Gb of Cloud space free for two years'. Which leads me to assume that after that (as every **** on the planet now seems intent on separating us from our hard-earned shekels) you are obliged to start paying a sub to access those files you have uploaded to your Cloud space or you have no access.
I then googled Chromebooks to see whether they came with USB ports so that one might attach a freestanding hard drive, but I couldn't find any confirmation.
So is that the deal when you buy a Chromebook? After two years you are obliged to take a subscription so that you can access your files? Give me an SSD internal hard drive any time.
I then googled Chromebooks to see whether they came with USB ports so that one might attach a freestanding hard drive, but I couldn't find any confirmation.
So is that the deal when you buy a Chromebook? After two years you are obliged to take a subscription so that you can access your files? Give me an SSD internal hard drive any time.
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IMHO for a device with such restricted functionality, the price needs to be drastically reduced in order to be competitive.
I have the samsung series 3 chromebook. It also has a 16 gb SSD, SD card reader, 3 usb ports and a HDMI port. I also got thre 100 gb free storage in addition to the 5 gb.
The hardare is similar to the original netbooks but Linux compatible because Chrome OS is Linux, so could be a useful device, once you've installed Ubuntu obviously.
The other problem is that terms can be changed at any time and while you may be able to get 100Gb for $5 a month at the moment, what is to stop them for putting that up in price?
This seems to be the same with say Microsoft surface, very limited built in storage and the only way to expand is Sd cards that can be lost.
If you store all your files online then you have to have connection all the time. I know that chromebook did have some sort of cache, so they will update online next time you connect.
A chromebook is really just a browser and most are over priced for what they do.
Dropbox is ok for some things as you still keep the files on your computer, but I would not rely 100% on it or any cloud stuff.
They both seemed to be making a big fuss about it a couple of years ago but have since gone quiet about it again.
wifi and 3g are common place enough to allow cloud services to be viable
they are pushing it and so it apple. You have online version of office and you can do stuff like photo editing online and don't forget video and audio streaming
Don't see the appeal of the cloud myself, I have flakey 2MB broadband on a good day, going downhill with a trailing wind and can't see it getting better in the near future so even watching things on YouTube are a challenge at times!
MS is pushing it, look at windows 8, the Modern UI is geared up for cloud, and the newer Os for MACs are geared up for cloud type stuff.
Sure you are right help reduce software piracy, but since Google google don't really produce software apart from a browser and a couple of OS, what are their reasons?
the cloud is just another way to try and rip us off.
It's getting there and certainly viable in some places now - but why would you want to?
I can see why you may want all your files backed up on the cloud so you can access them from anywhere but can't see why you would want to reply on it 100% of the time.
The Chromebooks always seem a bit of a strange product with no proper market....with powerful Tablets below them and full size laptops above.
How does Google 'rip us off'?
Why do you think that?
I never said Google, I said the cloud is another way to rip us off. Look at it in the future, if this cloud stuff really took off and hard drives became just about large enough to run software and a Os, or the main Os and software is also done via the cloud. Not really practical at the moment but one day it may be. anyway, if that happens, you will be charged to to store your files.
I can understand where cloud storage can be useful , you got more than one machine and want to share files from one to the other, but I think we really need to go into this with our eyes open.
Maybe, but it don't mean it is a good thing. i also don't think it will be for a long time, try and do video editing on a chrome book?
I do wonder if that ancient movie "The Land That Time Forgot" makes an appearance on TV this festivities.
Surely Chrome OS is IOS taken a stage further.
Revolutionary and maybe even to become a small business essential. Safe browsing for all too.
Luckily you can also run full Linux to help curtail Google's business fees.
It is fast evolving system so stuff like 'Google Drive off-line' does not get a mention.
I only ever see the Cloud as a backup medium, allowing some convenience.
er?
I presume you can look at the Chorme Os as a early version of Windows RT.
Both really need the net to do anything with.
which is more than you can with windows RT and even some windows 8 machines.
i would love to know how many manufactures have put secure boot on their machines.
I love it and use it a lot.