Google's Cloud-Based Chromebook Boots Up in a Snap

Late last year, Google gave laptop prototypes to a few thousand chosen customers. Google was soliciting feedback for the Chromebook, a "cloud," or Internet-based, machine meant to buck the status quo of personal computing long propagated by Microsoft and Apple. The Chromebook's underpinning is Google's Chrome operating system software that resembles and behaves a lot like the Chrome Web browser. The pitch: Your apps, documents, settings and other data will be securely stored in cyberspace and accessible from any Chrome computer.

Google warned testers at the time that the pilot notebook was "not for the faint of heart." So true.

The first Chromebook models, from Acer and Samsung, went on sale Wednesday at Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. Acer's Chromia-branded Chromebook models include a Wi-Fi-only version for $379.99 and a Wi-Fi-plus-3G version for $449.99. Samsung's versions are the Series 5 Wi-Fi model for $429.99 and the $499.99 Series 5 with 3G the model I've put through the paces.

Chromebooks raise an important question: Are folks ready for a cloud computer largely crippled when there's a shaky online connection or none at all? My suspicion is that will be a tough sell, especially for non-techies.

Google isn't the only tech titan hoping to reign supreme in the cloud, of course. The search giant can expect spirited competition from Apple, among others. Last week, Apple provided the first glimpse of the iCloud service it plans to fully launch in the fall. Apple's OS X Lion operating system, coming this summer, also is expected to deliver features that overlap with Chrome OS.

The new Chromebook is a breeze to set up. Enter your Google account name and password, and your Gmail, calendar appointments and settings are synchronized. The machine starts up in less than 10 seconds. It wakes from sleep in an instant, and also has impressive battery life. Google...

Source: http://www.mobile-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=78985

gadget news uk gadget newsletter gadget shop gadget shop birmingham gadget shop carbondale co