10 Things You Need to Know About ChromeOS
Google's experimental Cr-48 Chromebook has been with me for a little over 10 weeks. It has been a complicated relationship so far, with ups and downs and there is plenty that has changed in what I believe the Cr-48 and Chrome OS are and what they can be.
1. The keyboard isn
't that great
Google is playing with new keyboard ideas. There is a search key instead of the CAPS key. There are no F buttons, but browser-related keys that directly relate to viewing content in the browser window instead. I have to admit that I used those keys exactly as often as the F keys, which is about zero. The search button is a silly idea. I know that this is just a prototype, but I should also note that I loved the rubbery surface in the beginning, but noticed that it is very difficult to keep clean as well. In fact, I don't really care about fingerprints anymore as the Cr-48 has changed roles from a go-to web browsing device to a pure workhorse device for research and authoring texts.
2. Community = News
A big deal about the Cr-48 and Chrome OS is that you stay informed about updates and what is happening in the background. Google does not provide any information and whatever comes out of Google is not worth mentioning. They did say they would be more engaged in the future, but for now your best bet is the Chrome OS Pilot Forum that has been set up by Google. Any news that may affect Chrome OS, any update, any product changes and rumors are discussed here.
3. Chrome OS is just a browser
Honestly, I stopped caring about the debate whether Chrome Os is an OS or a browser and whether Chrome is an OS or browser. The fact is that Chrome Os looks just like a browser and the differences are so subtle that they do not affect you when using Chrome OS. In fact, if you look at Chrome and its recently announced background apps feature, Chrome is more and more becoming an OS anyway. As far as everyday usage is concerned, Chrome OS is your Chrome browser.
4. There is free 3G!
One of the really cool privileges that come with the Cr-48 is free 3G through Verizon wireless. While it was announced previously that the connectivity will be offered from $10 per month, Verizon does not charge for 3G connectivity on the Chromebook for two years. Your bandwidth is limited to 100 MB per month, but that should be enough to keep you tide you over until you can connect to Wi-Fi again. I haven't touched the limit yet, but I am told when Cr-48 users exceed 100 MB volume, the 3G connectivity is simply shut off for the respective billing period. I found this basic connectivity useful on some occasions and I am actually convinced free, basic 3G should be built into the price of any mobile device for a period of two years - or offered as a $200-$250 option.
5. Without network connectivity, the Cr-48 is useless
Common sense. We are talking about a cloudbook here. If you can't connect to the cloud, the Cr-48 and Chrome OS have no purpose and are about as useful as a brick on your desk. There is no offline capability yet. I have learned to only bring the Cr-48 along when I know that I will have Wi-Fi network access at my destination. You won't get far without being able to connect to your Google account and access Chrome, your email and docs. If there is anything Google needs to fix, it is offline capability, especially for Gmail as well as Docs and offer the same kind of support to app developers.
6. 3G / Wi-Fi isn't ready for Chrome OS
When you use Chrome OS, you will be consuming a massive amount of data and you require lots of bandwidth. Your Wi-Fi network at home should be capable of handling everything you throw at it with the Cr-48, but public networks may not be enough. I have come across several places with shaky Wi-Fi access (hospitals and hotels, especially) and Verizon's 3G access is simply not enough in the area I live. Limited bandwidth turn the CR-48 into a frustrating experience. In some cases, I tethered my Android G2 phone to the Cr-48, which was fine in HSPA+ supported areas, but painful, when you ended up in rural areas and were limited to EDGE speeds. After 10 weeks of using the Cr-48 I am confident to say that public wireless networks aren't providing full coverage and simply aren't ready for the cloud computing age.
7. The battery life is amazing
Can we please have more of these? I know, there is just a weak single-core Atom processor in the CR-48 and you quickly can get to the limits of the chip even in web browsing (just try to play Flash games), but I found the battery one of the best hardware features. The other week I had to spend two days in a hospital and ended up being so bored that I decided to work. My netbooks get about 3 hours of battery time on average, the Chromebook gets well more than 10 hours. After 8 hours of continuous work, the battery had still 33% of capacity left. Sure, there is not much entertainment happening, but keep in mind that the Wi-Fi connection was on all the time and, given the circumstances, the Cr-48 was the perfect device as I had no concerns that I would need to recharge it during my stay.
8. Where is Netflix?
This is a deeply personal matter as I have grown addicted to Netflix movie streaming (I know there are other options such as Amazon.) Despite the fact that Chrome in itself supports Netflix streaming, Chrome OS is blocked by Netflix. Netflix says it is working with Google to work on this issue, but, for now, you can stream Netflix movies. A consumer cloud device that does not support Netflix has a problem. Google needs to figure this one out soon.
9. I prefer the Cr-48 over a netbook
I never understood the purpose of 15" or 17" notebooks. They are too bulky to be brought on a plane and they are just not as powerful as a desktop PC, which is why I have stuck with a desktop and decided to use netbooks on the road. I had a 7" EeePC early on and lately used an 11" Acer Ferrari netbook, both of which I still enjoy. However, the Cr-48 turned out to be able to be the more comfortable form factor and it is small and light enough to fit in your briefcase. Most importantly, its surface can take quite a bit of abuse with suffering irreparable damage. Despite its shortcomings, I now use the Cr-48 on short (business) travel, if I know that I have a reliable Internet connection available.
10. Google isn't doing enough for Chrome OS
I admit that I have generally high expectations in such products, but Google wants to go head to head with Microsoft and Apple. As much as Windows is dissed and as limited Apple's market share still is, Chrome OS has to be perfect. There are holes in the feature set, including the missing offline capability as well as Netflix streaming. There is no unique selling point to Chrome OS. the simple feature to browse the web won't sell Chrome OS. There needs to be a standout feature and uniquely designed applications in the same way we have seen on Android. Right now, Google isn't talking enough to developers and testers. There is a certain level of public TLC that is missing.
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It's blocked but you can still stream movies?
Thanks for the rundown. Good info. I applied for one of these little beasties....still waiting.
They should put their Android Market on there, I mean all they need is some kind of specialized JRE.
Which reminds me, I bet this Chrome netbook doesn't support Oracle's JavaRE.
I agree, Google's got a lot of work to do on Chrome OS if they want to go head-to-head with MS and Apple.
I think that Google should have reviewed microsoft when they decided to get into the OS business. Microsoft had an OS and a mobile platform that they have been working for years to try to merge into some sort of hybrid product. Google should have just went out of the gate to make make the chrome OS a part of android.
Are you kidding? I love the search button! I pretty much never use CAPS LOCK and hitting the search button is just so convenient!
Wow, these are some great points. I'm a huge Google fan and generally don't take criticism directed at them all too well. However, my bitterness of not getting a Cr-48 and the fact that it DOES have to be perfect to compete in an industry that people are already used to are too strong to ignore.
Comment 1. I must disagree with a call to blame Google for netflix service blocking it.
Comment 2. Keyboard can be mapped to anyone's liking. Search key can be remapped to whatever quicker than it took to write down the complaint.
Comment 3. Faster and more prevalent networks are coming. Investing into "cloudbook offline capabilities" while it is an oxymoron is also a complete waste of resources.
I'm glad I'm not so worthless and weak as to be unable to carry a 15" notebook onto an aircraft
"Netflix says it is working with Google to work on this issue, but, for now, you can stream Netflix movies."
This is actually an issue with NetFlix streaming, which uses Silverlight (and microsoft's DRM suite... which is only supported for Mac OSX and Windows.) for playing movies over the web site.
While I find it interesting that everybody loves what Google does, if someone else did this, say MS, it would shitcanned so quickly it's not funny. There is no way I will be remotely comfortable storing my sensitive documents in the "cloud". They have way too much control over your stuff, and I find it disheartening that people just don't seem to care what this implies, look at what just happened to 150000 gmail accounts...
While I find it interesting that everybody loves what Google does, if someone else did this, say MS, it would shitcanned so quickly it's not funny. There is no way I will be remotely comfortable storing my sensitive documents in the "cloud". They have way too much control over your stuff, and I find it disheartening that people just don't seem to care what this implies, look at what just happened to 150000 gmail accounts...
nice report but I have to respond to:
"I never understood the purpose of 15" or 17" notebooks".
obviously you only look at computers from your own perspective and only consider your own needs. trust there is so much more to computing than you have seen.
for example (just a small take on this from my angle), some of us are using laptops for much more than checking email etc. i need computing power AND large resolution (and real graphic card). I do most of programming and development on a desktop but 20% of work is on site and I cannot carry desktop. netbooks just can't do what I need for work (no display resolution, no memory, no ports and no processing power). while i agree that 15" (and specially 17") is too big to routinely carry around, but there is no alternative. this why i use 15.4" (has all ports, plenty of RAM, dual core CPU, and one can find one with full HD resolution).
i would prefer 14" laptop if I could find one that fitts those criterias and has vertical resolution of at least 1000 pixel.
Ummm what about the Whole Premise of this being the First 'Consumer level Cloud Based OS that isn't restricted to a mobile platform' isn't unique. This thing is practically screaming unique, heck its a entirely new OS on the market, thats pretty bloody unique just by itself.
i have a feeling ChromeOS will be overshadowed by Android OS
dont chrome build on conectivity i thought parts of its os downloaded each time to the comp like you load a web page to load your operation system. well 100mb ewen tho free isent much but still free is always good ;b.
nice report but I have to respond to:
"I never understood the purpose of 15" or 17" notebooks".
obviously you only look at computers from your own perspective and only consider your own needs. trust there is so much more to computing than you and I have experienced.
for example (just a small take on this from my angle), some of us are using laptops for much more than checking email etc. i need computing power AND large resolution (and real graphic card). I do most of programming and development on a desktop but 20% of work is on site and I cannot carry desktop. netbooks just can't do what I need for work (no display resolution, no memory, no ports and no processing power). while i agree that 15" (and specially 17") is too big to routinely carry around, but there is no alternative. this why i use 15.4" (has all ports, plenty of RAM, dual core CPU, and one can find one with full HD resolution).
i would prefer 14" laptop if I could find one that fitts those criterias and has vertical resolution of at least 1000 pixel.
Much as I don't like cloud computing. I love the idea behind this little bugger and I wish google the best on this endevor. All it need is a few sd slots along with offline mode and its set
No caps lock? NOW HOW DO I WRITE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS ATTENTION? PUSH THE SHIFT KEY THE ENTIRE TIME???
first post?
11. Using Chrome, all text on your screen will look fuzzy.
all chrome os needs to do is offer everything a pc can do internet wise and it will sell, expecialy if its priced right.
The article says 10 things about chrome os, i could care less about this particular hardware to be honest, its going to run on a multitude of different devices with support for netbooks currently out there already.
Also how about a more descriptive article about the actual operating system, from my research yes the operating system is just a browser, if im not mistaken the os comes with gnome window manager among other features which i imagine would in turn allow running of applications that would run on linux.
Anyway sorry but i just thought the topic was misleading,
Interesting.. thanks
My brother uses a reasonably powerful 17inch laptop. He just uses it as a mid powered desktop as well as a semi-portable device. i.e. not for going outside and typing something up, but carrying it between locations where he will be in the same location. So pretty much a mid powered desktop that is easier to carry between rooms I guess
i think Chrome OS cloudbooks will be a thing of the future very soon. I really like the ideea, wish i could get and test one here in Europe but they dont send here
...
This whole concept (cloud computing) is well ahead of it's time (and of the infrastructure available). Consider this: besides paying for the hardware, you have to keep paying for connectivity on a monthly basis. And that is only to be able to do stuff that any computer does nowadays for free and without any connection required! my laptop is NOT a brick if I happen to be out of range from any connection, and for my limited e-mail needs at a time there is no high-bandwidth required. There are HUGE changes that need to happen within the broadband delivery/access system in order for this to work.
There will be some people that can afford the type of always-on connected life, but even for those, issues of compatibility across networks will make it almost impossible to have a universally-compatible device. Consider traveling, for instance; you really want to pay roaming for that heavy bandwidth usage? And even so, not being sure if you can use it because of network compatibility issues?
Hi Wolfgang. For me, I can tell how you're able to list a number of annoyances through your experiences with Cr-48---at the same time as your usage of it has evolved from web browsing to a research and text authoring workhorse.
I've found that I'm using cloud services 20 time more than I was before I started with the Cr-48: for writing, then shared writing documents, spreadsheets, collaborative spreadsheets, presentations (If I plug in a VGA projector the Cr-48 has 1080 x1920 available), and with a USB mouse plugged in, for drawings.
I expect that cloud concerns will go the way of, um, let's see... There was once a time that people were very skeptical and uncertain about using ATM/debit cards to get cash. That time has passed, and concerns were overwhelmed by the convenience that has taken their place.
For cloud storage, I'm enjoying major convenience bonuses as I am able to work on the same document at work, at school, at home, and sitting down at a coffee shop. I don't carry around copies of the document, establish a connection other than an Internet one that's usually there anyhow, and I can collaborate in real time if need be, without having the file locked by whoever got there first. Both Google and Microsoft (Live) have recognized this as a really good model for how people manage ideas, and work together. Beyond the specialized niches of software development or other intensive computing demands, nearly all people benefit from better information management---not least of which are programmers when it comes to the documentation, client relations, or office management aspects of their work.
From my personal view, using Chrome OS has opened up my appreciation of how ideas and collaboration can be better served by computing than the desktop+file+file server+workstation model. It won't go away any more than human tellers at the bank---but there's plenty of information transactions where the cloud is a better solution. And for those aspects, Chrome OS and similar cloud-only devices with full-sized keyboards, a minimal screen, and maximal connectivity and battery life will have a place. Streaming audio (VoIP) and Streaming Video (Netflix et al.) seem to me like they will be reached first by the smartphone+4G+Apps model.
As I take the Cr-48 around, it's been a very rare thing to not have connectivity enough for document and collaboration work. I've taken it as far out into the hinterlands as GPRS, where I was looking forward to EDGE, then stopped at a restaurant (WiFi) before hitting the road again and being happy to return to 3G civilization.
Oh, and when you run out the 100 MB allocation, then and only then does Chrome OS present you with an opportunity to buy a 1GB-in-30-days offer from Verizon for $20. Meanwhile, your 100 MB/month allocation will roll over if you don't use it while on the prepaid data plan.