Google’s I/O conference today was all about Chrome OS, which is basically their browser extended into an operating system. (You can read some of my thoughts on using a Cr-48, the experimental Chrome OS laptop, here.) First, they announced offline support for Google Docs, Gmail, and Calendar, and introduced a file-manager system allowing users to more easily access the files that have been saved to the computer. These are long-awaited changes; When the Cr-48 isn’t connected to the internet right now, it’s basically not good for anything, and the current file management system is terrible.
Then they announced two Chromebooks that will be for sale, starting on June 15th. One will be from Acer, and that will cost $349, and one from Samsung will cost $429 for WiFi and $499 for a 3G model. (They hinted at a desktop Chrome OS box, too, but that’ll be further in the future.)
I don’t think I’d pay even $350 for my Chrome OS laptop as a primary device; I enjoy it, and the 3G has been great for mobile blogging, but I still consider storage to be an important part of my computing experience. But Engadget explains the best idea behind the Chrome OS launch: “Chrome OS laptops will be distributed on the basis of a recurring monthly subscription, which will cost $28 per user for businesses and $20 per user for schools. That includes regular software and hardware upgrades.” As I said when I reviewed my Cr-48, the thing I liked about it was it’s an impersonal computer, a device that doesn’t carry any of my information inside of it. If two people had Cr-48s, they could log off, switch the devices, log back in on the new devices, and keep working without missing a beat. It makes the computing experience not at all about the computer and entirely about the computing, which is perfect for some work and school situations, or for occasions when you’re traveling and a cheap, fast laptop is what you need. Renting a computer is satisfying on several levels; I especially like the idea of not having to worry about hardware upgrade. Chrome OS as I’ve used it doesn’t feel ready to be embraced by the mass market, yet, but I think that in a year or two, if Google keeps at the Chrome experience as doggedly as they’ve been upgrading Android, it’ll be a formidable player.
Laptops are upgradeable in a very limited sense, and they have a financial incentive to -not- do much in this regard. They should cut that not-very-credible part out, charge 2 or 3 bucks/month for the software part, and they’d have a really good chance. As this stands, it sounds like Google management has got a terminal case of The Redmonds.
Google does not mean that they’ll upgrade the laptop you have, but that you would get a brand new faster, up-to-date laptop every so often with no added extra cost. Every two years would be my guess.
Just like leasing a car, If you’re willing to pay $300/month, you can always drive a new car that you don’t own.
@Paul Constant
I don’t know if you watched the steam from Google I/O but the new ChromeBooks do have 16GB of storage baked in. There is also a file manager. So you do have the option to store stuff locally. You also can store stuff on memory cards or usb drives. The part that seemed great to me is that web apps could register as file handlers. You can everything synch to drop box or your amazon cloud drive. It all seemed pretty slick.
@Mr John
You are correct. I can see how this would be very attractive to IT departments. It’s fixed costs and almost zero support to the end users. Plus, the ability to run Citrix and VMWare means that you can still support legacy windows applications. This is exactly what Microsoft was petrified about when Netscape claimed that the browser was the OS. IT just took almost 20 extra years to get there.
This is a case where I wish someone with some real technical knowledge were asking the questions.
Obviously this computer is network dependent.
So…what network is it using?
Does the $28 include monthly data access or just the machine? Unlimited? Can the 3G stream movies? Can I use the same system for voice calls…unlimited for free?
Can I use my existing broadband wireless…Clear Wimax? The USB modem…does it have a driver for the Clear modem (or T-Mobile…or …)
I see the same information copied and recopied, but no one seems to know what the nuts and bolts are.
Acer fucking sucks. You’d be better off spending the extra cash on the Samsung.
@6: Not sure what you’re basing that on, but Acer laptops get consistently good marks, considering its price point.
Personally I’ll never buy anything sold by Samsung again.
Eh, I want to wait for a good couple of lawsuits on cloud copyfight problems. Google is a nice company but it can’t stay nice if the government requires it to go through our clouds.