00:57
Laptop Trouble Tips
Two years after the announcement, Google has finally unveiled a couple of Netbooks running on Chrome OS, known as Chromebook. The Chrome OS is a cloud-based Operating System, which means that all the data will be stored online on a remote server, rather than on a local hard drive. Google claims that this will help users get their work done instantly as their server would process the data faster than the processor onboard any Netbook. The OS will update itself automatically when you turn it on. And since the entire user experience is built around a browser, it boasts of an impressive boot-time of just 8 seconds.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin said "The complexity of managing computers is torturing users, and is a flawed model. Chromebooks are a new model which doesn't put the burden of management on yourself". That's a nice thought. On the official Chromebook page, Google has written off the use of Anti-virus. They have also promised that the users will be ensured of the 'latest' and 'greatest' version of the OS, as the OS automatically updates itself without an update prompt.
Silicon & Metal for the 'Chrome':
Samsung and Acer are going to be the first ones to hop on the Chrome OS bandwagon. In general, the Chromebook follows the suit of Notebooks with 11-inch screen. The onboard processor is an Intel Dual Core Atom, coupled with 2 GB RAM. Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n is going to be a standard for all Chromebooks. Variants with 3G module would also be available. Chromebook would usually sport 2 USB 2.0 ports and a memory card reader. Unlike the Samsung s line up, Acer will have a Chromebook with HD-out feature. Both companies will be releasing two or more variants with minor differences.
The least expensive Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is set to cost US$429, while the Acer Chromebook would cost US$349 for the Wi-Fi version. The 3G version would be slightly dearer.
On a Cloud No. 9:
Price seems to be pretty fair considering the hardware involved. Both the manufacturers are offering a Dual Core Atom processor and 2GB RAM, which would be more than enough to run the Chrome OS. But at the back of our minds, a question lurks. Why get stuck in a browser, if the device actually has some decent specs?
Chromebook will boot in just 8 seconds, which is amazing; but what next? We'd be forced to stick to a browser for hours. Is it not worth to wait 15 to 20 seconds for Windows 7 to boot on Netbooks and have the flexibility to work with any application? Microsoft came under heavy fire for taking advantage of its Windows operating system to promote Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer, even though you can download any browser using the IE. Now how about sticking to the Chrome browser for the entire life cycle of your Netbook! That's really not a good Idea. People often criticize 'Apple' for crippling their devices off the features and for controlling the third party applications to generate more and more revenue. If that is bad, then have a look at Google's business model. They have outdone Apple in terms of crippling the usability. Google wants you to buy a Netbook with nothing but a Chrome Browser onboard. All the applications you'd run would be within the browser; all your family photos and videos would be directly saved on Google's server, multitasking is out of question (yes, there will be a new tab but that doesn't count as multitasking), and it will update automatically without giving you the option to decide whether or not you wish to download and apply the update.
Interestingly, Google is trying to get leads from enterprise users. Here we strongly believe that the IT department of any company would feel uneasy in keeping all the data on Google's cloud. Even a normal user may find worrisome, the prospect of seeing personal photographs getting listed in Google search. While we don't claim that Google would actually do that, but there has been a general loss of trust in Google after the Wi-Fi information theft scene in the U.K. And even if we trust Google unconditionally, do we really know how safe will be the safe? We have just witnessed Sony's online service getting hacked into.
Not allowing the installation of any standalone software means that companies who need their employees to use business specific applications, would have to rethink their plans of bulk purchasing the Chromebook. And at the price tag of US$400, they can simply get another Netbook with full-fledged Windows 7 and install their preferred software on it. Nevertheless, despite these shortfalls, the device might still be a hit, knowing the Google's huge user-base.
Pre-orders will start from 15th of May and it will be clear by June as to whether or not the Chromebook is successful. So with the Google's 'Cloud' gathering, let's see if it rains in June.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin said "The complexity of managing computers is torturing users, and is a flawed model. Chromebooks are a new model which doesn't put the burden of management on yourself". That's a nice thought. On the official Chromebook page, Google has written off the use of Anti-virus. They have also promised that the users will be ensured of the 'latest' and 'greatest' version of the OS, as the OS automatically updates itself without an update prompt.
Silicon & Metal for the 'Chrome':
Samsung and Acer are going to be the first ones to hop on the Chrome OS bandwagon. In general, the Chromebook follows the suit of Notebooks with 11-inch screen. The onboard processor is an Intel Dual Core Atom, coupled with 2 GB RAM. Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n is going to be a standard for all Chromebooks. Variants with 3G module would also be available. Chromebook would usually sport 2 USB 2.0 ports and a memory card reader. Unlike the Samsung s line up, Acer will have a Chromebook with HD-out feature. Both companies will be releasing two or more variants with minor differences.
The least expensive Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is set to cost US$429, while the Acer Chromebook would cost US$349 for the Wi-Fi version. The 3G version would be slightly dearer.
On a Cloud No. 9:
Price seems to be pretty fair considering the hardware involved. Both the manufacturers are offering a Dual Core Atom processor and 2GB RAM, which would be more than enough to run the Chrome OS. But at the back of our minds, a question lurks. Why get stuck in a browser, if the device actually has some decent specs?
Chromebook will boot in just 8 seconds, which is amazing; but what next? We'd be forced to stick to a browser for hours. Is it not worth to wait 15 to 20 seconds for Windows 7 to boot on Netbooks and have the flexibility to work with any application? Microsoft came under heavy fire for taking advantage of its Windows operating system to promote Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer, even though you can download any browser using the IE. Now how about sticking to the Chrome browser for the entire life cycle of your Netbook! That's really not a good Idea. People often criticize 'Apple' for crippling their devices off the features and for controlling the third party applications to generate more and more revenue. If that is bad, then have a look at Google's business model. They have outdone Apple in terms of crippling the usability. Google wants you to buy a Netbook with nothing but a Chrome Browser onboard. All the applications you'd run would be within the browser; all your family photos and videos would be directly saved on Google's server, multitasking is out of question (yes, there will be a new tab but that doesn't count as multitasking), and it will update automatically without giving you the option to decide whether or not you wish to download and apply the update.
Interestingly, Google is trying to get leads from enterprise users. Here we strongly believe that the IT department of any company would feel uneasy in keeping all the data on Google's cloud. Even a normal user may find worrisome, the prospect of seeing personal photographs getting listed in Google search. While we don't claim that Google would actually do that, but there has been a general loss of trust in Google after the Wi-Fi information theft scene in the U.K. And even if we trust Google unconditionally, do we really know how safe will be the safe? We have just witnessed Sony's online service getting hacked into.
Not allowing the installation of any standalone software means that companies who need their employees to use business specific applications, would have to rethink their plans of bulk purchasing the Chromebook. And at the price tag of US$400, they can simply get another Netbook with full-fledged Windows 7 and install their preferred software on it. Nevertheless, despite these shortfalls, the device might still be a hit, knowing the Google's huge user-base.
Pre-orders will start from 15th of May and it will be clear by June as to whether or not the Chromebook is successful. So with the Google's 'Cloud' gathering, let's see if it rains in June.
0 comments:
Post a Comment