Chromebooks go on sale in the U.S to mixed reviews

The first official "Chromebook" has gone on sale in the United States today, via Samsung.

ChromeOS-based netbooks do not have standard operating systems like Windows or Mac, but instead run on browser-based apps via the Google Chrome browser.

Google has long claimed that ChromeOS will revolutionize portable computing as it eliminates the need for possibly resource intensive apps like anti-virus software and physical hardware like optical drives.

Currently, however, many developers have yet to create apps that are popular for Windows, Mac and Linux for Chrome OS, as the operating system is still in its infant stage.

The Samsung Chromebook sells for $429 (Wi-Fi-only) or $499 (Wi-Fi/3G).

Samsung's model will have a 12.1-inch display, 1280x800 resolution, 8 second boot time and 8 hour battery life. The device runs on a dual core 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N570 processor, has an HD webcam, a mini-VGA port, 2 USB ports and will weigh just 3.3 pounds.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Jun 2011 11:47

Ryoohki

This is going to seriously fail. I can't see people going for this thing when they can just buy a laptop with windows or linux for around the same price and have all of the apps they are use to available.

16.6.2011 15:48 #1

KillerBug

Quote:
Google has long claimed that ChromeOS will revolutionize portable computing as it eliminates the need for possibly resource intensive apps like anti-virus software and physical hardware like optical drives.
I hope they are not that dumb...
It won't be virus free; it is based on Linux...and Linux had viruses even before google wrecked the security by making it into Chromium. The only chance it has is a low adoption rate and early abandonment...that way, maybe no one will bother to write viruses for it.

As for optical drives, you don't need them for windows, linux, or OSX, so I am not sure how they think that chrome OS makes any difference. I haven't used an optical drive in a PC for anything except movies in over a year...and I don't understand why the inability to play DVDs would be considered a good thing by anyone.

I CAN see the space and power advantages of not have a drive in the system (thus all the Windows/Linux netbooks), but it isn't like Google invented that idea; I have a 1984 IBM Personal Portable Computer that does not have an optical drive in it.

http://killerbug666.wordpress.com/

17.6.2011 04:17 #2

LordRuss

Seeing as I'm the first of the old farts to comment on the multiple OS gambit issue, hopefully someone else will chime in as well...

Back in late 80s when M$ really started hitting the shelves hard with the GUI software there used to be 3 maybe 4 other contenders for a similar GUI as well. Sans Apple or Amiga, I can only remember one other that a retired military friend tried to get me to revive, I think it was Geos. Anyway, other than business applications, the aforementioned were about the only other ones used at the time for consumers to get into using computers at home. Which has produced the wonder hell that we all share today.

What am I trying to say? I suppose... do we really need to prove the old adage about "history repeating itself" by going down that road again from 25+ year ago? Sony has been choking & gagging on the elephant steak of 'proprietary' ass for years & still won't learn that sharing will make them more money in the long run. Now we have Google trying it.

Or at least that's the "impression" I'm getting. I know the Linux kernel (or whatever) is open, but what you do with it after that ends up being copyrightable.

But, did I hear that right? Linux is now virus ridden too? Damnit!!! What happened to porn saving the day. What good is it being destructive if you can't see the damage being done? Crap throwing little monkeys, that's what they are...

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

17.6.2011 12:40 #3

DVDBack23

I have the beta CR-48 Chromebook and absolutely love it, however, with that being said, I believe this Samsung Chromebook will fail miserably due to its price and that alone.

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17.6.2011 13:39 #4

LordRuss

Originally posted by DVDBack23: I have the beta CR-48 Chromebook and absolutely love it, however, with that being said, I believe this Samsung Chromebook will fail miserably due to its price and that alone. After having such a whine-fest earlier about price points on tablets rolling over the $500 mark I'm glad to hear someone enjoying something that fit the target price range of one I might purchase. Plus, I thought I'd take this opportunity to again mirror your sentiments over Samsung's offering.

If their offering came with a 3 night high roller stay at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas (with a complimentary hooker) instead of the customary corporate "sodomy delight", then yeah, it might have been worth it.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

17.6.2011 15:33 #5

KillerBug

Originally posted by LordRuss: After having such a whine-fest earlier about price points on tablets rolling over the $500 mark I'm glad to hear someone enjoying something that fit the target price range of one I might purchase. If you want a $350 chromebook, buy a better netbook with windows for the same price and do dualboot to chromium OS (it is free...other than the time you waste installing it and later removing it when you find that it is useless).

http://killerbug666.wordpress.com/

18.6.2011 02:33 #6

LordRuss

Originally posted by KillerBug:
If you want a $350 chromebook, buy a better netbook with windows for the same price and do dualboot to chromium OS (it is free...other than the time you waste installing it and later removing it when you find that it is useless). That was pretty dense of me... A couple of clicks of the mouse & a Google search could have told me that Chrome OS was free...

Hopefully you didn't take that as me being a smartass. It wasn't meant to be. If it did it was because it was a natural reflex brought on by years of experience...:)

Edit............

The Chrome you speak of is not the same as Google's. To use a 'true' version would to gain access of a real copy from somewhere and I don't have anyone with a purchased copy of the software with which to test drive that quite yet. So we'll have to get back to you on this.

So much for a product review. How about movie pre-reviews?

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

18.6.2011 14:01 #7

Mez

All points well taken. I do love the virus invincability. Like Apple's invincability, not worth waisting your time writing a virus for it.

I do believe viruses started on the Apple or probably the Franklin. You have to be an old timer to recognise that name. It was a cheap Apple clone of the early 80s. It looked like sh1t but it ran and was less than half the cost on an Apple. A friend had one, he built his own case out of plywood to save some money. I had my own wacky IBM clone that I needed 3 OSs to run all the apps I wanted. The RAM had 8 DRAM chips soldered piggy backed on top of one another. That increased its memory to a whopping half meg. Nothing needed more than that back then.

23.6.2011 13:07 #8

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