Google Chromebook: Great as long as you are online.

[dkf]

Late last year, Google gave laptop prototypes to a few thousand chosen customers. Google was soliciting feedback for the Chromebook, a "cloud," or Internet-based, machine meant to buck the status quo of personal computing long propagated by Microsoft and Apple. The Chromebook's underpinning is Google's Chrome operating system software that resembles and behaves a lot like the Chrome Web browser. The pitch: Your apps, documents, settings and other data will be securely stored in cyberspace and accessible from any Chrome computer.

Google warned testers at the time that the pilot notebook was "not for the faint of heart." So true.

The first Chromebook models, from Acer and Samsung, went on sale Wednesday at Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. Acer's Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. Acer's Chromia-branded Chromebook models include a Wi-Fi-only version for $379.99 and a Wi-Fi-plus-3G version for $449.99. Samsung's versions are the Series 5 Wi-Fi model for $429.99 and the $499.99 Series 5 with 3G — the model I've put through the paces.

Chromebooks raise an important question: Are folks ready for a cloud computer largely crippled when there's a shaky online connection or none at all? My suspicion is that will be a tough sell, especially for non-techies.


http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/google-chromebook-works-great-long-online/t/story?id=13850997

[patricia92243]

1. I've promised myself that I would not get to be one of those old ladies who "couldn't keep up with

all these new-fangled inventions." But I'm on the verge of doing that very thing. Cloud computers - sigh!

:(

[dkf]

2. Lol.

Personally I am leery of the cloud...I do not want to be dependent on a broadband or cell provider to keep streaming reasonable.

[Edweird]

3. No 'cloud' for me. Not only are you dependent on internet access, your DATA is out of your control.

There is NO WAY IN HELL I'm going to trust google not to spy and data mine. Would you trust a stranger with your diary and checkbook?

[SpiralHawk]

4. "Hey, you, get your cloud off of me..." - Rolling Stoners

[Edweird]

5. Give the rolling stoners some koosh balls and glowsticks on strings and they'll entertain themselves

[octothorpe]

6. Why spend $400 on such a limited machine?

I could get a netbook for cheaper and run & store shit "on the cloud", but also still have normal offline operation.

Give me a $50 piece of hardware and a very low subscription fee that has a wireless broadband connectivity, then I'd consider it.

[dkf]

7. $50 piece of hardware...Aka cell phone.

[octothorpe]

8. heh.. pretty much

[hobbit709]

9. I want my software AND my data where I can control it at any time.

And I certainly don't want to give Google any more information for their data mining than absolutely necessary.