Chrome OS Notebooks

F

feverlax

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Messages
350
For those of you who haven't seen, Google announced/revealed Chrome OS today at their Chrome event. They are releasing a prototype device for beta testing with the following specs:
"12.1-inch screen.
Full size keyboard.
Oversized clickpad.
Qualcomm Gobi 3G chip for Verizon data in the US, your carrier of choice internationally.
802.11n dual-band WiFi.
8+ hours of active use.
8+ days of standby.
Webcam.
Flash storage."
http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/07/google-unveils-cr-48-the-first-chrome-os-laptop/

I think the most enticing part about this is the deal Google has struck with Verizon for free 100 MB of data (no contract). There are vary reports as to whether this is per day or per month, but either way it is nice. The data plans for unlimited start at 10 dollars (also varying reports about day vs. month). Either way it is exciting, but as always, the price of the device itself will either make it or break it.

Thoughts?
 
Back in Black!

kind of nice actually, in a subdued, utilitarian kind of way. 12" also allows you to be productive...the 10" netbooks - i've never been able to type properly with those things.
 
I signed up for a demo model so, I hope I get accepted. I've applied for these kinds of things for decades now, not once have I ever actually been asked to participate. Bleh... kinda sucks. :)

But it looks like a "black beauty" kind of thing. I honestly have no use for pretty shiny shit, it's always function over form for me. If it works, fantastic, that's what matters most.
 
The hardware is beautiful, yes. But I think the software could actually be amazing. From the demo's it seems like Chrome OS essentially runs as a Chrome Browser tab.

If I could have a Chrome OS netbook that synced with all my other computers so that if I opened a Chrome OS tab in my desktop Chrome Browser and had access to everything on the netbook, it would be amazing and I would buy one in an instant.
 
8 days of standby is weak? Lemme see you put most any other laptop into standby which unlike being powered off or hibernated (and powered off) requires power to stay in that state.

I've got a Dell E4300 (regular usage of about 6 hours on a single charge, 6 cell battery, Core 2 Duo powered) and if I put it into standby it'll stay that way for upwards of 3 days, maybe 3.5 but after that it'll die.

8+ days of actual standby? That's extraordinary...
 
My Pinetrail Netbook (Asus 1018pb) lasts nearly a month in standby, and about 8 hours active.

Yes I know the difference between standby and hibernate, I'm talking about standby. I think the biggest advantage of a netbook type device is the ability to just grab it and go, I leave mine in my car for weeks on end without charge and it's ready to rock whenever I pull it out.
 
Also, I never measured exactly, but my macbook pro used to last at least a week in standby, and apple claims the new Airs last up to 30 days.
 
From what I could gather, that Asus is rated for 150 hours of standby which is what, 6.25 days roughly so, if you're actually getting a month well, congrats to you 'cause that is also extraordinary. ;)
 
Interesting, so maybe they just didn't want to exaggerate their claim, I imagine since it's rated similar to the asus in terms of active time, standby is probably similar as well... hopefully.
 
The other thing to remember is that the CR-48 (The black notebook seen in the linked article) is only a beta test product, the hardware from the actual manufacturers (Acer, Samsung, etc) will be different.
 
Hence it being a rather valuable piece of computer history and so many people wanting one. ;)

I'm sure more than a few will end up on fleaBay and craigslist as soon as they start shipping out, sadly. If I do manage to get accepted I'll have a blast with it I'm sure, even though at this point I don't prefer Chrome as a browser.

I've done some mucking around with the ChromeOS itself (earlier this year when someone created a VM for it) but it didn't "do" much for me. I get the idea behind it, really - back in early 1995 before Windows 95 actually came out I had the concept notion (coming from using the original Netscape and Mozilla browsers) that someday the browser would be the primary interface of using a computer and not just an application.

Unfortunately I'm not a coder, never have been, or I would have done such a thing with a Linux kernel a decade ago. :p
 
None, from what I gather with chatting with a few people working at Google on the Pilot project. It's possible that people might get it installed but, from what I was told, the laptop will not boot from the single USB port so there goes installing off a USB stick or external optical drive. At least that's what I've been told, maybe someone will figure out a workaround. The BIOS is fairly well locked down in terms of not being able to alter much of anything including the boot priority

It would require yanking the drive out completely to get a Windows OS installed (and I don't think it even supports one since it says "Flash storage") and then it'll probably just BSOD like freakin' mad as soon as you attempted to boot the machine off that drive once you put it back in, who knows.

I can see someone putting a Linux distro on it since that OS is far more "portable" than Windows will ever be, but... we'll see what happens I suppose.

I really would like to be part of the Pilot so I'll keep hoping it happens.
 
Applied for several to use. I like the idea of cloud computing and having everything online. Useful for research collaboration and such.
 
great idea on cloud computing.. but i can see why Verizon was so generous to give you a free taste
 
heatlesssun said:
Why not?:D

But seriously I imagine that a lot of people will put Windows, Linux, OS X or whatever on it.:)
Click to expand...

If I'm given one to test, I will promise to use the Chrome OS for 99% of my computing needs. The other 1% will come from my Android phone.

(just in case google is watching :D)
 
Geezus, that was fast. I'm doubting they sent out any kinds of email notices ahead of time like "Hey, lucky you, keep your eyes on your email or shipping soon for an early Christmas present!"

Oh well, maybe someday I'll get into one of these limited programs. Whenever I see them I'm either too late to apply or I just don't have that luck to get chosen.

Crap that was fast... :(

EDIT:
Apparently they did some kind of sign up special on Facebook last week at some point, so that could be the reason some folks are getting them in the apparent "fast" manner. Those of us that signed up on Tuesday could be completely out of the running, who knows. :( :(
 
Last edited:
Bahamut said:
Geezus, that was fast. I'm doubting they sent out any kinds of email notices ahead of time like "Hey, lucky you, keep your eyes on your email or shipping soon for an early Christmas present!"

Oh well, maybe someday I'll get into one of these limited programs. Whenever I see them I'm either too late to apply or I just don't have that luck to get chosen.

Crap that was fast... :(

EDIT:
Apparently they did some kind of sign up special on Facebook last week at some point, so that could be the reason some folks are getting them in the apparent "fast" manner. Those of us that signed up on Tuesday could be completely out of the running, who knows. :( :(
Click to expand...

Really? A couple of the comments on Engadget made it seem like some people signed up on Tuesday for them
 
Yah, I know, but there are already 3 or 4 videos on YouTube from other people that just got them this morning, and when asked about when they signed up, two of them said last week because of some Facebook special or tie-in that I had no clue about, so I really don't know. They could be flat out lying, of course.

If I get one, great, if I don't, I'll live. Just another disappointment I suppose. :p
 
ShadowStriker said:
Sleep (and hybrid sleep), standby, and hibernate are different things...
Click to expand...

Gee, thanks for clearing that up for me.

Most people refer to the ACPI S3 Power State as standby or sleep, regardless of how the OS handles the function (hybrid etc..) it's still the same state of power consumption once it's in S3, S4 is considered hibernate, which is why I said I understand the difference between the two, because ultimately - they are the only two forms of low power modes for 99% of PCs.
 
If anyone happens to get lucky enough to get one of these, do please run the Peacekeeper benchmark which should provide at least some technical information about the hardware in the laptop (hopefully) and run the Sunspider one as well 'cause I'd love to see how Chrome performs on ChromeOS. ;)
 
i signed up on the day of application launch.. here's hoping i get one
 
I feel kinda bad that they're destroying products in order _JUST_ to make a more popular advertising video.

If they said the 25 computers were destroyed, but it was done for useful testing purposes at the same time (and not just for a video ad), I'd feel better.
 
When you take the video for what it actually is - a demonstration of the benefits potential from cloud computing - it's pretty clear that they went to extremes in a pretty amusing way to show that even if your laptop just gets hosed physically in ways that many wouldn't ever dream of, the data is safe, safer than "having a backup" or copy on the hard drive which, by the way, just got itself hosed too.

I give it high marks for getting the point across pretty much point blank.
 
It is a good point, but like all technologies there's also draw backs and always having an internet connection even in this day and age isn't always viable. I have every form of broad band there is from two different carries and even for me there's often places there's there's just no WiFi, the broadband doesn't work well or at all and you're SOL.
 
I got one yesterday and I like it. It's not perfect (can't disable mouse acceleration), but it's better than I expected. Really nice keyboard and above average matte 16:10 1280x800 lcd.

If any one wants to know more just ask, I don't feel like writing a review right now.
 
I was in a rush earlier but now I have some time to tell you guys more. I LOVE the all matte black look. No shine and no stickers. No google branding anywhere on the packaging or the laptop. I like the keyboard more the more I use it, wish it was backlit. The touchpad is almost as good as a macbook. I read the os is based on linux but the font rendering looks lightyears better than any linux distro I have seen or OS X. Not sure if it's a dual or single core Atom but if it's a single, I am impressed. On our Atom netbook Chrome browser in W7 Starter runs significantly slower than here, I have 10+ tabs open and it's very snappy switching between them and rich pages like Engadget load much faster.

If anyone figures out a way to RDP into Windows please let me know, using LogMeIn or Team Viewer inside my own lan is kind of stupid. I found a Web VNC client but it also unnecessarily transmits the connection over the internet. I get the cloud computing push but there is no need to add latency and I should be able to keep a remote desktop connection to my pc inside my lan.
 
Last edited:
I love how people are basically spending all their time with their new toys (and no I didn't get one, probably won't) focusing more on either a) trying to use it with Windows/Linux with some kind of network connection or b) focusing more on trying to not use the ChromeOS it comes with and instead install Windows or a Linux distro on it. :D

Does nobody actually get the purpose of this device? I gotta wonder...
 
Bahamut said:
I love how people are basically spending all their time with their new toys (and no I didn't get one, probably won't) focusing more on either a) trying to use it with Windows/Linux with some kind of network connection or b) focusing more on trying to not use the ChromeOS it comes with and instead install Windows or a Linux distro on it. :D

Does nobody actually get the purpose of this device? I gotta wonder...
Click to expand...
You love it? Sounds like it bothers you...

All my time? How would you know? What is wrong with being able to remote into windows on my own lan for the few times web based apps don't cut it and get the best of both worlds?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top