Google Chrome Book

The New Google Chromebook - Truly Web Based Computing

June saw the release of the new Google Chromebook computer. That actual hardware part of this latest Google innovation i.e. the computer itself consists of one model made by Samsung, and another by Acer soon to follow. The operating system is essentially the Google Chrome browser. The Chromebook idea is essentially based on the ideas that:

Most people. are connected to the internet for the majority of the time whatever applications they are using.
Our normal computers take a long time do do things e.g. boot up and access the Web.
Our normal computers are open to many security risk e.g. viruses, malware etc.

What’s The Same About This New Computer?

It looks like a smaller version of a small laptop, you can use it to access the Internet, and there is some storage space – actually about 16GB which is a very limited amount. The price is roughly the same as that for a 15" laptop. Prices of the Chromebook on Amazon at the time of writing this were £399 for the Samsung Series 5 3G Chromebook, and £349 for the Wi-Fi version.

What’s Different About This Computer?

Lots of things. For example:

The Google Chromebook is purely for use on the Internet. The operating system is the Google Chrome Browser with its tab system. It boots up in very quickly - approximately 8 seconds.
It has limited storage space because your data is stored in 'the cloud' i.e. online, somewhere far way and not on the computer itself. Google argues that it developed this whole system with countering security threats in mind, and that the 'cloud' is secure. In fact may of us are already likely to be storing things in the the cloud e.g. if we use Facebook or if we have a Gmail account.
As all your data is web based i.e. stored in the Cloud, you can access your data from any Chromebook just by signing in with your Google account. This means that your information is safe and accessible whatever happens to your Chromebook computer and wherever you are (provided you have access to Chromebook and the connection is behaving itself).
It has no desktop (because it's purely for use on the Web), and it has none of you familiar programs on it. It does come with a Chrome Store link so you can buy and download apps, games, word processors, spreadsheets etc.
The connection is via WiFi and 3G. Although the 3G models have a100MB free mobile data per month, reliance on these types of connections will mean that the user faces many of their challenges and limitations e.g. speed, availability, terms and conditions etc.
It's physically light. The Samsung weighs only 3.26 lbs. Also, some areas of the keyboard are different as their not required with what is essentially a machine which just runs a browser - albeit a very good browser.

Comments Review and Criticisms

As with any new products which has subject to publicity there are bound to be many comment, and opinions expressed in the media, and the industry - and the Chromebook is no exception to this. Some examples of recent opinions of people who have and haven't tried the Chromebook are:

When its offline there is a very limited amount that you can do with it.
Tablet computers and smartphones could appear to be more forward looking devices for many people rather than a laptop style computer.
Some people may not feel comfortable with the idea of saving their data to the Cloud. Quite apart from not knowing exactly what or where it is, having all data in one place which is accessible through fast connection day and night could in theory be a very tempting situation for cyber criminals.
Other Notebook computers e.g. a HP Netbook can arguably do basically the same as the Chromebook, plus they allow the use of other applications (not just a browser), and they could work out cheaper.
The apps you can use with the Chromebook are limited to those available via the Chromebook store.

In its current form then the Chromebook is essentially computer designed purely for using the Internet and may require some getting used to, although it is likely to give a faster and as far as we know, a safer portable online experience.