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Google Chromebook
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Sniffle774
17-06-2011
Seems a lot missing from 'day one' to really make this an winner for alot of people. Knowing Google it will get better but for now, not sure I would spend any of my hard earnt cash on this product as is.

Is Google's Chromebook the future of computing?
ironjade
17-06-2011
I don't see any major advantage to it unless it's dirt cheap with a brilliant battery life.
It's one way of getting people to use Linux without actually letting on that's what's going on.
AJXX
17-06-2011
Can't see the use personally, it seems way to limited to do anything useful other than browse the web.

I haven't seen any pricing yet, but I certainly wouldn't pay more than £100.
rjmachin
17-06-2011
Ouch, it is expected to sell for between £350 and £400 in the UK:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13785546
AJXX
17-06-2011
Originally Posted by rjmachin:
“Ouch, it is expected to sell for between £350 and £400 in the UK:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13785546”

Too much, way too much. I could get a pretty decent laptop for that. Netbooks are only £200-ish these days!
Sniffle774
17-06-2011
Originally Posted by rjmachin:
“Ouch, it is expected to sell for between £350 and £400 in the UK:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13785546”

I cant see that shifting a lot at that price.
John Malkovich
17-06-2011
I watched the BBC's review on Chromebook.

From what I saw, it boots instantly and displays only a single internet browser with apps, such as Angry Birds.

There is no ability to customise the device, only to choose a time zone. Even the clock is set by the internet.

There is no file manager, no word processor, printing can only be done through the internet and most file types aren't recognised. The device is practically useless without an internet connection.
paulbrock
17-06-2011
Well strictly,there is a word processor in google docs. I can ALMOST see the advantage,but take this example. I have a camera full of photos to upload. will a chromebook even recognise it over usb? there arent chrome drivers available presumably. and if so, then what? Can i copy the photos to local storage, which is then difficult to access? or must i upload directly to picasa, and from there to my preferred service?

what is cool though is i can use someone elses chromebook and it loads all of my settings. sounds perfect for shared use - why not stick them in libraries and internet cafes? maybe even schools. i like the idea of having a chrome os account a lot more than paying for the hardware.
markrduk
18-06-2011
Originally Posted by John Malkovich:
“I watched the BBC's review on Chromebook.

From what I saw, it boots instantly and displays only a single internet browser with apps, such as Angry Birds.

There is no ability to customise the device, only to choose a time zone. Even the clock is set by the internet.

There is no file manager, no word processor, printing can only be done through the internet and most file types aren't recognised. The device is practically useless without an internet connection.”

It does have a basic file manager actually and as paulbrock says, you do get a work processor in the form of Google Docs - in the same way you get an email client in Gmail I guess.

I think it is actually a brilliant idea and I love the concept. Everything is synced to the cloud and you get the same experience from whichever machine you log into etc. We spend pretty much all our leisure time with computers on the web, so let's get straight to the point! The problem comes, like with the iPad, when you actually want to do some proper work on it!

The main problem for me is that it is a little before it's time. As soon as you have no internet connection, the device is near useless and we do not yet have a reliable, portable, cost effective always-on internet solution, such is city-wide Wi-Fi or 4G (but they are coming).

The price is definitely too high for what it is though.
LostFool
18-06-2011
Another potential use is as an ultra-thin client for the corporate world. As nothing is stored locally it is good for security.

If the prices drops then it might also be useful in education/training environments as it would be so easy to maintain.

But until "always on" mobile internet connections are available it is still a niche product - but it could be the shape of things to come.
rosetech
18-06-2011
Originally Posted by John Malkovich:
“I watched the BBC's review on Chromebook.

From what I saw, it boots instantly and displays only a single internet browser with apps, such as Angry Birds.

There is no ability to customise the device, only to choose a time zone. Even the clock is set by the internet.

There is no file manager, no word processor, printing can only be done through the internet and most file types aren't recognised. The device is practically useless without an internet connection.”

It a cloud device of course it needs an internet connection. It can work in offline mode, but you lose a lot of functionality. File manager, word processor are provided by GDoc & GApps which recognise most file types. Also in the states, Google rent these devices with an airtime subscription.
paulwillhappy
18-06-2011
Not one "Mind blowing" review...............

Tumbleweed.... Plus if your not online your Funned! No printer drivers you can only print by having a google enabled internet printer.......

Only 3 features work if not attached to the Net.......
Kerching £££$$$$
More Tumbleweed.......................
£350-£400 Google must think we are a bunch of C N U Ts????
Magic Cottage
18-06-2011
I've just seen the review on BBC Click. For that price, it certainly won't be getting across my threshold. Completely useless without an internet connection. No printing facilities and your docs stored in the cloud, which I'm still far from sure about security wise.

Also my OH and I have tried Google Docs for some spreadsheet work. Uploaded via the MS Office Google Cloud plugin. What a muddle. The cloud spreadsheet hadn't got any of the column widths right, dates were in U.S. format and there were other problems. It really isn't worth the extra hassle.
Warming
18-06-2011
Originally Posted by rosetech:
“It a cloud device of course it needs an internet connection.”

And only google wants that ( so they can show you advertising)
Matchu
18-06-2011
In 30 years time, people will marvel that their predecessors used hard drives. Carrying around data? What are you, insane?

Cloud computing, whether you like it or not, is the future. There's a reason there's been a noticeable proliferation in wi-fi, 3G etc. Though the UK is admittedly woefully behind.
emptybox
18-06-2011
Originally Posted by Matchu:
“In 30 years time, people will marvel that their predecessors used hard drives. Carrying around data? What are you, insane?

Cloud computing, whether you like it or not, is the future. There's a reason there's been a noticeable proliferation in wi-fi, 3G etc. Though the UK is admittedly woefully behind.”

Cloud computing doesn't mean the data is held in clouds you know.
It's held on hard drives. Just not your hard drives.
Matchu
19-06-2011
Originally Posted by emptybox:
“Cloud computing doesn't mean the data is held in clouds you know.
It's held on hard drives. Just not your hard drives. ”

Not being held on "your hard drives" is the point.
emptybox
19-06-2011
Originally Posted by Matchu:
“Not being held on "your hard drives" is the point.”

I honestly can't see the advantage at the moment?
Perhaps when the internet can run faster than wired connections in a computer, and teranytes can be stored for free?
Matchu
19-06-2011
It's accessible anywhere (no more traipsing films to friend's houses) and easily shared. Data is not lost (no damn viruses erasing your stuff) and can be uploaded/downloaded whenever, wherever. As Google are beginning to demonstrate, things like "programs" don't need to be installed, they can be run from the cloud.

The technology is there. The Western world, however is lagging behind. For example, for what 50MB costs here, in Korea you'll soon be able to buy 1GB internet speeds. That's 20 times faster. Give or take for latency.
Magic Cottage
19-06-2011
Originally Posted by Matchu:
“As Google are beginning to demonstrate, things like "programs" don't need to be installed, they can be run from the cloud.”

As I stated earlier in my reply, this doesn't work yet. Our spreadsheets were not correct in Google Docs.
ironjade
19-06-2011
As Sony and Nintendo have learned to their cost, even big companies aren't always able to keep all their data secure so why would anyone ever trust cloud based storage?
The only people who'll benefit from this are Google and their associated box shifters.
£400 for what is basically a crippled laptop? Who are they kidding?
LostFool
19-06-2011
Originally Posted by Magic Cottage:
“As I stated earlier in my reply, this doesn't work yet. Our spreadsheets were not correct in Google Docs.”

Google Docs has a long way to go to catch up with MS Office, but for many simple tasks it's perfectly usable. It's handy for accessing personal documents and spreadsheets when I'm at work or travelling.

Originally Posted by ironjade:
“As Sony and Nintendo have learned to their cost, even big companies aren't always able to keep all their data secure so why would anyone ever trust cloud based storage?”

"Cloud" is just the latest marketing buzzword but the principle has been around for years. Hotmail is essentially a Cloud email system and millions of people happily use it.
AxeVictim
19-06-2011
As the bbc review said might be ok for your granny who only checks email and browses the internet but way overpriced for what it is.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...SIN=B0052JBIPK
alanwarwic
19-06-2011
Originally Posted by Matchu:
“Carrying around data? What are you, insane?
Cloud computing, whether you like it or not, is the future.”

Something like the iCloud is very much 'sync software' which loads media onto a device.
So that iCloud benefits from more, not less memory.

And the Google could O/S has obviously held back their 'off-line' part for strategic reasons.
IvanIV
19-06-2011
The cloud will shut down once people start uploading there their porn, there's not enough disk space for that

Telecomunication companies must be ecstatic, constant data transfer back an forth. I'd say if this is all people want, consume data/media from various online sources, they are better off with smartphones and tablets.
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