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AG4IT
If you are considering Chromebooks but don't want to leave your Windows apps ...
SZA
Similar sentiments. The idea is indeed quite interesting. But a consumer who ...
Updated: Chromebooks challenge netbooks
Rick Merritt
5/11/2011 3:12 PM EDT
Samsung published few specs of its Series 5 Chromebook, a device Google said it will provide free in June to an estimated 5,000 attendees of Google I/O where it was launched. More details of the bill of materials of the Samsung system came out at a press event after Google I/O.
The Samsung Series 5 packs an Intel Atom N570 1.66 GHz processor (aka Pine Trail) with Intel embedded graphics. For communications, it uses an Atheros 2x2 MIMO 802.11n Wi-Fi chip and a Qualcomm Gobi 3G modem in the US or a Samsung 3G module in Europe.
Most of the other major components are all from Samsung. They include a 12.1-inch display, 2 Gbytes RAM, a 16 Gbyte flash drive and an eight-hour Samsung battery. Samsung designed the motherboard and makes it in a Shuzhou, China plant.
The system also sports two USB ports, a high def Webcam, support for removable flash cards and a full-sized keyboard. A version with Wi-Fi only will cost $429 in the U.S., and one also with 3G will cost $499.
Acer will ship a smaller system with a 6.5-hour battery life, an 11.6 inch display and 16 Gbytes flash starting at $349 for a Wi-Fi only version. A 3G version is expected to cost $429. Both company's systems will be available in June in the U.S. and Europe.
Samsung and Acer are expected to host their own product introductions closer to the product roll outs. More details of their specs, such as use of flash, are expected then. The initial systems are uninteresting from an industrial design perspective, looking like generic notebooks.
Google has conducted tests of an early version of the system, the Cr-48, with thousands of users worldwide. "We fixed some issues, revamped the track pad, worked with Adobe on flash and upgraded to a dual-core processor," said Pichai.
The company has also enabled a wide range of programs—including Gmail and Google Docs--to work when the system is not connected to the Web. Many non-Google apps also work using local cache memory including Angry Birds and many news services.
Chromebooks also support an API that lets Web services register as file handlers. Thus, for example, when a user plugs in a USB drive with pictures, the folder showing the pictures can also show a button linking to the user's online photo site.
"We're trying to open up your files to the world of the
Web," said Pichai.
Chromebooks aim to end management issues related to full blown operating systems, BIOS, antivirus software and the regular upgrades they require. "Most companies spend $3,000 to $5,000 per computer per year--it's really complicated," he said.
Several large companies are already piloting Chromebooks. Google's service will come with a unified Web management console IT managers can use to manage Chromebooks. The Google three-year contracts will even include support, warranty and hardware replacement services.
Brin said he is delighted both Android tablets and Chromebooks could compete in similar markets.
"It’s a great dilemma to have two fantastic successes on our hands," Brin said. "Chromebooks is venturing into a really new model of computing that I don’t think was possible even a few years ago," he said.
"I use an Android smartphone, a tablet and a Chromebook--they will coexist," said Pichai. "The Chromebook is a very different model, and if we didn’t do a model like this someone else would," he said.
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Warren
5/11/2011 5:08 PM EDT
It indeed will be interesting to see if they can succeed where others failed with thin client. Certainly the rapidly expanding "Cloud" and its broad acceptance, along with much improved wireless availability and speed, will aid greatly. Also interesting will be seeing in just what ways Google hooks consumers and creates an uneven playing field (assuming, of course that there is any of that)... either, say, by more rapid software updates for folks in their plan or something else along those lines.
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Duane Benson
5/11/2011 5:24 PM EDT
I don't see this as quite as revolutionary as some folks say it is, all of the prior attempts at thin client computing aside. This will end up being very similar to any other PC where the user has decided to store their personal files in the cloud.
The Chrome book still has to have mass-storage for the browser code and all of the helper applications. It needs the ability to constantly update those helper applications and the ability to install new helper applications. It needs local mass-storage for those times when using Gmail or Google docs when disconnected.
It is a bit of a shift in where some application code is stored, but plenty of folks are using Gmail, Google docs or similar cloud capabilities now.
The N570 1.66 is an Atom as you will find in most netbooks. $349 to $499 is nothing special price-wise for a netbook. Really, what we have here is just another netbook with a small "hard disk."
That being said, installing browser helper applications seems to be easier than installing big software on your PC and your photos will be guaranteed to be all in one place - in the cloud - instead of some local and some in the cloud.
I hope Google succeeds with ChromeOS. Thirty years into the PC revolution, we still need an operating system that truly is easy to use and manage. Linux is almost, but not quite ready for prime time. Windows works well, but keeping it clean, speedy and virus-free is too big a task for far too many people.
Maybe the revolution is really more of a strong evolution in the usability of operating systems.
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rick.merritt
5/11/2011 8:29 PM EDT
I have to admit if my company took away my ThinkPad and issued me a Chromebook I'd feel like a second-class citizen. There is still a wealth of Windows apps and peripherals they will not be able to tap. I am sure there are expanding use cases for a Chromebook-style thin client and that it will see some success. It will be interesting to see how broad or limited that success will be in the next year or two.
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vojo001
5/11/2011 10:27 PM EDT
so ignoring the marketing/positioning aspects, I hope this is actually something that works...not like Android (which needs a manual agent to clean up memory leaks) or Sketchup (which is not all that stable in terms of graphics painting). Both suggest not a lot of thought or expertise went into their respective architectures.
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rick.merritt
5/12/2011 1:01 AM EDT
Just back from a Samsung Series 5 press event with more details about the BoM of the Chromebook and other fresh techy insights added to the story. Enjoy.
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dylan.mcgrath
5/12/2011 4:12 AM EDT
This is an exciting concept (though as you say not a new one). I'll hold out some optimism that Google has this concept at a place where it can take off. But I am concerned about what you can do when you aren't connected, even though you can use some Gogle apps, etc.
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Frank Eory
5/12/2011 4:22 AM EDT
Exactly my thoughts. Checking saved Gmail messages, etc. is all fine and good, but when I'm not connected, I still want my computer to have major capability -- whether that computer is a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone or an MP3 player that straps onto my wrist while I'm jogging.
To be completely dependent on the cloud makes me more than a little nervous. Sort of like renting instead of buying...
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SZA
5/12/2011 11:21 AM EDT
Similar sentiments. The idea is indeed quite interesting. But a consumer who already has confusion of the middle must-have device between Laptop and smart phone, a yet another device with BOM of almost a netbook will further confuse Tablet vs netbook vs chromebook. I am wondering the statement of Pichai (Google) in article "I use an Android smartphone, a tablet and a Chromebook--they will coexist", in what situation a consumer will like to carry all 3 of them :).
I will prefer more of a hybrid possibility for my system, where i can switch to chrome mode when i want. According to Google it is already designed to remained sync. on multiple devices through chrome browser, so why not exploit it on existing laptop/netbook.
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chanj
5/12/2011 6:29 AM EDT
It looks to me like a Netbook loaded with Ubuntu Netbook edition.
"The complexity of managing your computers is torturing all of us--it’s a flawed model..." may sounds a bit extreme. On one hands, to a non-techie, a regular laptop with various peripheral upgrade may be a bit too much. Yet, usually, first year experience is like first year marriage. On the other hands, to a techie, taking away all the control is indeed torturing. Let alone talking about moving most application to the cloud.
To indeed moving applications and data to the cloud, the biggest obstacle is security. How does Google give consumers peace of mind using cloud services? How does Google secure the data?
Lastly, Steve Jobs introduced iPad aiming at replacing netbook, which is revolutionary. 1+ years after, iPad is not replacing netbook; yet, it is eating netbook market. Seemingly, it is a matter of time that netbook market will shrink to a much smaller if not completely disappearing. What does Chromebook equip that is so standing out? Would you rather to have a medium to high performance laptop or a Chromebook? Would you rather have a tablet or a Chromebook? I just can't wait to see what surprises Chromebook can bring us.
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prabhakar_deosthali
5/12/2011 6:29 AM EDT
The arrival of the Chrome book is bringing back the era of thin computing ( remember those dumb Ascii terminals with green monitors connected to the main frames over Rs-232-c cables). But this thin client is way different than that dumb terminal because it is not just one main frame it is connected to , but it is the whole cloud it has access to. And it is A-la-carte as far as the choice of services you want to use from that cloud . So this is really the open world concept and not just open source. Whether Chrome itself will become successful or not is debatable but the paradigm shift it is going to bring to the marketplace will have far reaching effects on the PC and other personal hardware market.
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AG4IT
6/21/2011 12:18 PM EDT
If you are considering Chromebooks but don't want to leave your Windows apps behind, you should look at Ericom AccessNow, a pure HTML5 RDP client that enables Chromebook users to connect to any RDP host, including Terminal Server (RDS Session Host), physical desktops or VDI virtual desktops – and run their applications and desktops in a browser.
Ericom‘s AccessNow does not require Java, Flash, Silverlight, ActiveX, or any other underlying technology to be installed on end-user devices – an HTML5 browser is all that is required.
For more info, and to download the beta, visit:
http://www.ericom.com/html5_rdp_client.asp?URL_ID=708
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