Google’s new laptop could change the way we think by changing boot up times. Up until now when you were picking a laptop you were given three options, Linux, Apple and Microsoft. However, Google are getting in on the act using Chrome OS.
Google are trend setters and that can be seen just by looking at their recent history. For instance, they revolutionised the search engine with a small white box that hid away all the rather complex and detailed algorithms. Once again they followed this up with Google mail and Google docs which had its goal set on storing all our information in the cloud. As a result the users were given the ability, to store, edited and access their information wherever they are in the world. After this Google came out with their own internet browser, the rather fast and effective Google Chrome.
Now Google have got their hands in another piece of the action, this time it’s creating their own laptop. They realised that current laptops, even though built in with some of the latest technologies, were normally too fast unless you paid top buck. Furthermore, even if you do pay top buck most of us will soon realise that our once fresh and quick computer rusts out thanks to the operating system. As a result Google created Chrome OS to by pass all this hassle and get you up and running as fast as they could possibly manage.
Chrome OS launches this weekend when Samsung should start shipping out ‘ChromeBooks.’ This will be available with 3G and Wi-Fi options so in a sense we could argue that the new Chrome laptops are a hybrid of a tablet and a laptop machine. In terms of price we are talking around about $375 for a 16GB ChromeBook. However, you have to bear in mind that considering most of your information is stored online you won’t really need much storage space.
If we are honest Chrome OS is simply a browser running your laptop which helps to store all your information online rather than on the computer itself. As a result your stored items are accessible from pretty much any device that has an internet connection.
In harmony with the Chrome OS the keyboard has been given a make over. Unlike most keyboards present on say a MacBook or a Laptop the function keys, F1-F12, are removed and replaced with buttons that are more necessary for internet browsing such as forward and back. Along with that the Caps Lock button is removed and replaced with a button that will automatically open up a new tab.
The operating system is essentially just a chrome web browser. When you have open up your operating system you’re greeted by a web tab and allows you to either surf the web or access any one of the applications you can download from the Chrome store.
However, we have discovered a rather interesting feature of the ChromeBook, even though it features numerous USB ports you can’t just plug in a printer and print off. Nope, Google, in trying to make things easier, have actually made it harder. Instead you have to ensure you are wirelessly connected to a printer and via Google’s CloudPrint then print off what ever it is you need to print.
Yet, you can plug in your USB flash drive and it will be opened up, a very basic file manager, but unfortunately numerous file types are unable to be opened including Word docs and .mp3 files. We hope this is just a small problem that will be ironed but before the official release this weekend.
In all honesty this is rather a tactical move too as the Autumn of 2011 could very well see the release of Apple’s much anticipated iOS5 which would include the iCloud feature which again stores everything from apps to music high up in the clouds.
In terms of boot up speed the ChromeBook loads up inbetween 5-8 seconds. Now if you put most Windows 7 netbooks to sleep will take around 7-10 seconds to wake up.
In essence the idea is rather premature but will eventually, once tweaked and sorted, take over the world. However, until then we reckon Google are shooting ahead of themselves and are really not going to get that far. The ChromeBooks seem to be for those who just wish to really surf the web or watch YouTube.
But do not get confused there are two types different kind of ChromeBooks, the first is the ChromeBook the other is the ChromiumBook. The first is supported and kept under the control of Google. The ChromiumBook can be sold by anyone that Google gives out the Chromium OS to so therefore you would not receive support from Google at all but from those who sold it you.