Got a Samsung Google Chromebook 11.6 for testing

[pparks1]

Tonight I sit here typing up my responses on a Samsung Chromebook 11.6". I was extremely skeptical at first, but I gotta say, for the $250....I am really digging this device.

It's cheap enough that nobody would expect it to be a full fledged laptop and do what standard laptops can do. Therefore, it's easy to accept it's limitations and use it for what it is. I understand that there isn't much you can do on the device if you don't have an Internet connection (well you can do Offline Google Docs)...but because this is a device for mostly web surfing and is $250...that's easy to get past.

It seems to be built pretty well. I wish the resolution was higher than 1386x768...but it's an 11.6" screen...so you cannot ask for too much. It's got 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It has HDMI out, USB 2.0 port, USB 3.0 port, Headphone and Microphone jack. SDCard slot, and a SIM card slot in the back for future cellular options. The battery seems to last 6-8 hours, and it charges in about 30-45 minutes. It weights about 2.5lbs and the keyboard is a chicklet style like a MacBook. It boots up in about 12 seconds from being powered off, and is on in about 3 seconds from sleep. The touchpad itself isn't all that great, and the fact that you have to press with 2 fingers to right click is a bit odd.....but all in all it's usable.

It's perfect for my home web surfing. Can check email, facebook, these forums, listen to Amazon MP3 cloud player, etc. The kids love it for watching YouTube videos. It's like a tablet, but without having to use a touchscreen and an onboard keyboard. I can type just fine on this keyboard and i'm so much faster than I would be with my tablet or smartphone.

All in all, pretty slick little device. Does exactly what I would want a lightweight netbook to do, and it costs what I would expect for a device of this type.

Edit: Forgot to mention, you get 100GB of Google Drive space free for 2 years when you purchase a ChromeBook.

Edit2: And it's FANLESS..and I love quiet computers.

 

[Coke Robot]

Ew. chrome OS. Not a big fan of cloud based services like that.

I'd just throw 250 dollars more and get a Windows RT tablet. But that's just me!

I have to wonder though, does it look like the UI was inspired by Windows 7? I've seen some screenshots of it and it just looks a like Linux version of 7.

 

[Airbot]

Can't beat getting a device for tinkering on.

 

[pparks1]

Ew. chrome OS. Not a big fan of cloud based services like that.

It's really nothing more than a web browser that requires the Internet for most things. But since most people use email, facebook, twitter, YouTube, and forum sites...and they require the Internet anyway...it's no big deal.

I'd just throw 250 dollars more and get a Windows RT tablet. But that's just me!

Well, of course you would. However, for me, the $250 and the functionality of this device is pretty spot on. You would have to go to $600 for a Surface RT with a keyboard. That's another $350 more than what was spent on this device. It gets my gmail, it gets on the Internet, does Facebook, plays Amazon MP3's, has Google Docs, can use Microsoft Office Web Apps, etc. That's quite a bit of money saved, and this is pretty much a full sized keyboard and it's quite easy to type on. Much better than any touchscreen interface I have tried to type on with any tablet.

I have to wonder though, does it look like the UI was inspired by Windows 7? I've seen some screenshots of it and it just looks a like Linux version of 7.

I don't spend much time on the desktop or in the UI. It's in the Browser 98% of that time and that looks just like Chrome....as that is what it is.

 

[MrShowdown]

That Chromebook has USB 3.0? Darn it, why can't my Pavilion have it!

 

[pparks1]

Yes, it does have USB 3.0

 

[Coke Robot]

My angst against chrome books really comes down to what most of the cloud paranoid say: you have little control over your software and documents. I prefer using a more fleshed out Office version and keeping those files on my person, some in SkyDrive if I need to access it on my Windows Phone or elsewhere. It's just a little creepy for me. ESPECIALLY since it's google, if it were Microsoft I'd be a little less hesitant with it. Seeing how google has a good track record of user privacy concerns along with taking bits of personal data and using that to advertise better to YOU, and how they seem to try a tad too hard to look not evil, it's iffy to me.

But then I have to wonder, what happens when you don't have internet?

 

[pparks1]

My angst against chrome books really comes down to what most of the cloud paranoid say: you have little control over your software and documents.

Well in the case of this device, or tablets...you don't really have that much software anyway...you really are using web based applications and those change as the companies update.

I prefer using a more fleshed out Office version and keeping those files on my person, some in SkyDrive if I need to access it on my Windows Phone or elsewhere.

Even with a Chromebook, you could elect to use the Microsoft Web Apps and you can save to a USB key or the internal storage of the Chromebook if you wanted to. SkyDrive via the website works fine too. I just took a local file from the Chromebook and uploaded it into my SkyDrive account.

But then I have to wonder, what happens when you don't have internet?

Well, if I don't have Internet, I have no use for a device that will let me visit facebook, read my gmail or come to this forum...because they would all be unavailable as well. In the event you were using Google Docs or Google Drive...you can enable offline mode which keeps a cached copy of your documents local so you can work on them when you don't have Internet access.

Remember, this isn't intended to be a full fledged computer. It's a $250 device that provides a solid web surfing experience. It comes with a real keyboard. For people like me who use Google Apps, Google Calendar and Gmail...everything is setup the second that I enter my password and hit enter. I won't keep files on this device, thus the device is completely disposable. If I lost the device, i would lose none of my information. You can reset it back to it's factory configuration in about 45 seconds.

I won't get rid of my laptop or my desktop, but for just sitting in the chair and wanting to hit my forums, my email, facebook, YouTube and such...I'll gladly grab this device and use it. It's perfect for those things. And the price is not a big deal. I haven't touched my tablet at home since bringing home the ChromeBook.

 

[Coke Robot]

My angst against chrome books really comes down to what most of the cloud paranoid say: you have little control over your software and documents.

Well in the case of this device, or tablets...you don't really have that much software anyway...you really are using web based applications and those change as the companies update.

I prefer using a more fleshed out Office version and keeping those files on my person, some in SkyDrive if I need to access it on my Windows Phone or elsewhere.

Even with a Chromebook, you could elect to use the Microsoft Web Apps and you can save to a USB key or the internal storage of the Chromebook if you wanted to. SkyDrive via the website works fine too. I just took a local file from the Chromebook and uploaded it into my SkyDrive account.

But then I have to wonder, what happens when you don't have internet?

Well, if I don't have Internet, I have no use for a device that will let me visit facebook, read my gmail or come to this forum...because they would all be unavailable as well. In the event you were using Google Docs or Google Drive...you can enable offline mode which keeps a cached copy of your documents local so you can work on them when you don't have Internet access.

Remember, this isn't intended to be a full fledged computer. It's a $250 device that provides a solid web surfing experience. It comes with a real keyboard. For people like me who use Google Apps, Google Calendar and Gmail...everything is setup the second that I enter my password and hit enter. I won't keep files on this device, thus the device is completely disposable. If I lost the device, i would lose none of my information. You can reset it back to it's factory configuration in about 45 seconds.

I won't get rid of my laptop or my desktop, but for just sitting in the chair and wanting to hit my forums, my email, facebook, YouTube and such...I'll gladly grab this device and use it. It's perfect for those things. And the price is not a big deal. I haven't touched my tablet at home since bringing home the ChromeBook.

Interesting.

But meh! I'd just use my Windows Phone!

 

[pparks1]

Yeah,.because a tiny ass on screen touch keyboard is super awesome., I could be on my galaxy s3 as well, but I choose not to.

 

[Coke Robot]

I'd rather use my little ass touch screen that I can tap type with real fast and pretty accurately in my mobile Office 2010 hub with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote with NO ads over buying a separate web based device that I'd probably use from time to time.

 

[pparks1]

That is fine, I don't like using my phone for hours at a time when i do forum stufff in the evening. My desktop computer is in the basement. The chromebook works perfect for this in my livingroom..for me at least.

Unsure why you mentioned ads..there are none in the chromebook.

It is all a matter of choice, preference and perceived value. I have a very capable smartphone, provided by my employer that I am required to carry 24x7. I am out with my kids right now, they are playing and I am using my phone to hammer out this post. But even with Swype installed, I'm far slower than I am with a real keyboard.

At home, I am usually on my work provided laptop, which I am also required to carry each day. For 90% of my home use, this is what I use. I have a gaming desktop, but it is in my basement and I don't like to sit down there all night away from my family. There is no real good place upstairs for me to place a desktop computer.

Last Christmas, we bought an Asus transformer tablet. We use that as a web appliance style device. My kids primarily use it for the web browser and to watch YouTube and Netflix. I use it sometimes for Facebook, my email and forums. But typing long responses on it is painfully slow compared to my speed and accuracy on a real keyboard. So, whenever I feel like typing, I set down the tablet and grab my laptop.

So, here is where the chromebook comes in. Typing on this, compared to my phone or tablet is a delight. I am probably in the 60-80 words per minute arena. It's small and very light. It boots in under 10 seconds and wakes up from sleep on less than 2 seconds. It doesn't get hot our make any noise. It lasts for more than 6 hours. It handles about 90% of what I do on the internet from my livingroom. And it's only 249 bucks.

I expected to not really care much for this device, but was pleasantly surprised when I actually sat down and put it through its paces. For the price and the amount of forum posting that I do, it has been truly excellent. It's not the best device in the world, but for my needs it provides tremendous bang for the buck.

Earlier, you said you would spend twice as much and buy a surface tablet instead. Now you say, you would just rather use your Windows 8 phone rather than spend more money on a web surfing device. So, which is it? It is it a case of you would rather just buy all of the MS devices and just bag on the alternatives. That is how I see it.

 

[azasadny]

I had to repair an Acer mini-something or other day and I just could not get myself to like it. I guess I'm just not a netbook/tablet kind of person. Keypad was too small, screen was too small, the CPU and RAM was too slow but surfing the web seemed responsive.

 

[Coke Robot]

That is fine, I don't like using my phone for hours at a time when i do forum stufff in the evening. My desktop computer is in the basement. The chromebook works perfect for this in my livingroom..for me at least.

Unsure why you mentioned ads..there are none in the chromebook.

It is all a matter of choice, preference and perceived value. I have a very capable smartphone, provided by my employer that I am required to carry 24x7. I am out with my kids right now, they are playing and I am using my phone to hammer out this post. But even with Swype installed, I'm far slower than I am with a real keyboard.

At home, I am usually on my work provided laptop, which I am also required to carry each day. For 90% of my home use, this is what I use. I have a gaming desktop, but it is in my basement and I don't like to sit down there all night away from my family. There is no real good place upstairs for me to place a desktop computer.

Last Christmas, we bought an Asus transformer tablet. We use that as a web appliance style device. My kids primarily use it for the web browser and to watch YouTube and Netflix. I use it sometimes for Facebook, my email and forums. But typing long responses on it is painfully slow compared to my speed and accuracy on a real keyboard. So, whenever I feel like typing, I set down the tablet and grab my laptop.

So, here is where the chromebook comes in. Typing on this, compared to my phone or tablet is a delight. I am probably in the 60-80 words per minute arena. It's small and very light. It boots in under 10 seconds and wakes up from sleep on less than 2 seconds. It doesn't get hot our make any noise. It lasts for more than 6 hours. It handles about 90% of what I do on the internet from my livingroom. And it's only 249 bucks.

I expected to not really care much for this device, but was pleasantly surprised when I actually sat down and put it through its paces. For the price and the amount of forum posting that I do, it has been truly excellent. It's not the best device in the world, but for my needs it provides tremendous bang for the buck.

Earlier, you said you would spend twice as much and buy a surface tablet instead. Now you say, you would just rather use your Windows 8 phone rather than spend more money on a web surfing device. So, which is it? It is it a case of you would rather just buy all of the MS devices and just bag on the alternatives. That is how I see it.

I mention ads as google's free online services have amounts of advertising off your personal data like email. I wouldn't see that with Office mobile or even Office 2013 RT, which by the way, I finally was able to try Office 2013 on a tablet PC, it really impressed me how well it worked with touch.

For me, I just want a keyboard to tap on. I HATE using swype, it confuses me and makes me think I'm spelling wrong. I wonder, have you tried using a touch keyboard on a Windows 8 tablet PC? I've never had good luck with the ipad's touch board or android's touch boards at all, as it feels awkward and sometimes feels like you're not hitting things correctly. But when I tried out typing with Windows 8's touch keyboard, it was near perfection. Even on a 10.6 inch screen, though a bit cramped, I was able to type pretty quickly and accurately.

It's Windows Phone 8, sorry, I have to say that as it's a peeve of mine. Well, if I had to choice between a chromebook or my Windows Phone, I'd just stick with my phone. My reason's being are that it's more of niche use than a general purpose. I can type pretty fast as it is on my current phone as it seems like Microsoft has really stuck a good touch keyboard on their products, at least for me. If I needed to do a Word document, I'd do it on my phone and continue it on my PC. I have little need to spend 250 dollars for something to run the chrome browser and a keyboard. But, if given the choice between a chromebook and a Surface RT tablet, I pick the Surface RT tablet. My reason being is that it's more bang for buck. It packs a pretty full fleshed Office Home and Student version that works real well with touch. It also has a larger screen for touch typing. Shoot, I probably could use my wireless solar paneled Logitech keyboard with it as it's a modern device that probably will work with the RT. I could just find an extra Logitech wireless receiver, pop it into the USB port, and take my keyboard from my desktop and use it with the tablet propped up on its kickstand. That, and I can use some neat apps with it, take notes with it, take video, have a Skype, print something, and on. It's more like a PC-lite than anything, and that's something I'd rather have over a pure internet device. I wonder again, is printing supported on chromebooks?

And I actually was thinking about this and using a chromebook over a smartphone because of the keyboard, it made me wonder if a wireless Bluetooth keyboard can be paired with such a smartphone...

 

[area 66]

I'd just throw 250 dollars more and get a Windows RT tablet. But that's just me!

No offence , but you don't even pay for your Windows 8 yet. It's easy to say I will throw $ 250 more for a surface , I will throw $ 1000 for a surface-pro, when it's time to pay, peoples look more at the price tag.

 

[Coke Robot]

I'd just throw 250 dollars more and get a Windows RT tablet. But that's just me!

No offence , but you don't even pay for your Windows 8 yet. It's easy to say I will throw $ 250 more for a surface , I will throw $ 1000 for a surface-pro, when it's time to pay, peoples look more at the price tag.

Ahh, interesting as you say as I've already ordered my upgrade a couple days ago. I still don't get as to why that would be anything as I downloaded and installed a 90 day trial and didn't want to do another OS upheaval and gave me time to see what I can do with it and if all my programs work nicely with it.

This is true that you do get what you pay for and people look price tags more. You get what you pay for. For 250 dollars, you get the chrome browser, a screen, and a keyboard a couple of I/O ports. For 500 with a Surface RT, you have more capability offered, and last I checked for 500 dollars for Windows RT, a nicely built tablets and 12,000 different supported devices; I go for the latter, but that's just new.

 

[pparks1]

Yeah for my purposes I will save the 250. Surface RT just doesn't make enough sense to make it worth the extra investment for what I am trying to do. I already have a tablet and don't really want another. Like the saying goes, sometimes less is more.

 

[area 66]

A lot of peoples do nothing else than browse on the web. I have a guy who just use the free Linux base OS "Express Gate" than come with is Asus motherboard, it boot in 5 seconds only and it as a Browser ( firefox I think ) , Skype and he even have is photos.