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General discussion

What's your opinion on the new Chromebooks?

May 18, 2011 9:36AM PDT

Here are some recent annoucements on the Chromebook:

Google unveils first Chromebooks
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20061896-266.html

Samsung unveils details of Chromebook
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20061998-266.html

With so many netbooks and tablets out in the market already, how do you think the Chromebook will do?

They claim all these great features:

-- Instant on
-- Always connected
-- All day battery
-- Access your stuff anywhere
-- Gets better over time
-- Security built in

But are these features enough to win you over to buy a ChromeBook over a Netbook or tablet that is out in the market already?

I personally like the cloud computing aspect, but I can already do that over my laptop, tablet, and netbook. Instant on, doesn't MacBook have that already? What about the price point for these netbooks, fair or too expensive?

"The Samsung Chromebook will cost $429 for the Wi-Fi only version and
$499 for the 3G version. Acer's Wi-Fi only Chromebook will cost $349."


Tell us what you think about the new Chromebooks to come. Any predictions? Sound off below!

Note: This post was edited by its original author on 05/19/2011 at 10:51 AM PT

Discussion is locked

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Not much
May 20, 2011 11:33AM PDT

From what I have read from the links provided, not much. Until 4G speeds are available, I will not be parting with my money. 3G is too slow, and there are not now. nor will there ever bere enough WiFi hot spots. I feel the need...the need for speed! -Maverick

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If they were cheaper
May 20, 2011 1:44PM PDT

I might think about a Chromebook if it was cheaper than it is, maybe. They are really very limited in usefulness, so they should be a lot cheaper than they are. Selling up against the iPad is tough, even with a USB port, if you don't have native applications, and are stuck with just the Chrome browser as your world (and a weeny file utility). One of the problems with Chrome is that Google pays little attention to usability...when you have more than about 8 tabs, you can't figure out what each tab is from the label, for example. Google is going to have to pay a lot more attention to features that users need before a whole computer that runs on Chrome is going to be interesting, not to mention having apps that run locally.

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Agreed, the price is what gets me.
Jun 6, 2011 6:53AM PDT

I personally think that if they want to be competitive, the price has to be come way down. IMO I think this will only be niche product and it won't do very well, but that's just me.

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I've been through this a few times.
May 21, 2011 11:03AM PDT

Let's see. Java terminal, X terminal, 3270 terminal, ADM3A terminal, ASR33 teleprinter and such. Each had their place but none made a splash in consumer land.

I've been traveling more than usual and a Chromebook would be nothing more than a brick during 99% of the trip. Maybe it will find a place as replacements for those old terminals above.
Bob

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If
May 31, 2011 3:57AM PDT

I had one, I could tell you. Laugh

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Desktop
Nov 11, 2011 4:32AM PST

They should make a chrome os desktop or htpc. It would always be connected to the net since desktops don't move.

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Chrome OS
Nov 11, 2011 4:45AM PST

Oh, and yes, I think they are a good competitor to the ipad.